Archive for 'Pretty Views'

When one thinks of lavender, Provence is likely the European destination that first comes to mind and while it is a brilliant place for lovers of this sweet-scented bloom to experience purple flowers unfolding endlessly in front of you across a landscape and the aroma permeating the air all around, there are other options, including in Tuscany. In Tuscany, there is one main spot to go to experience impressive lavender fields, in the hills around Pisa. Therefore, if you want to breathe in lavender fields, capture some stunning photographs of the landscape and use it as a backdrop for lovely commemorative photos of you and your fellow travellers, and to stock up on some lavender-infused products then you should browse our last-minute villas in Tuscany and head there in the next couple of weeks. The lavender fields of Tuscany begin to bloom fully around the middle of June and last until they are harvested at the end of July, leaving you just enough time to still catch them this summer. Or, if you’re looking ahead to next summer and you want to inject some lavender into your vacation in Tuscany then you can browse our vacation rentals in Pisa, in general. 

Walks on warm late spring or summer days, when the air is heavy with the scent of blooms and your surroundings are abuzz with the movement of bugs and bees busy going about their day, are often when one might be lucky enough to spy a butterfly floating past. These beautiful creatures are a wonder to behold and if you’re particularly interested in them and how they add to the ambiance and loveliness of a place then you should probably head to an area known to be rich in them or to an actual butterfly sanctuary. These are the best places to be sure to spot colourful and impossibly delicate little wings gliding and bobbing past. So, if you’re out to go for a stroll with some butterflies likely included in the process and you are looking for a villa on the Tuscan Coast this summer, then we highly recommend a visit to the Santuario delle Farfalle "Ornella Casnati", or Ornella Casnati Butterfly Sanctuary on Elba Island. There are plenty of reasons to plan a day trip to Elba while enjoying a vacation rental on the Tuscan Coast or a Tuscany villa as it is but an idyllic wander through this especially charming and scenic part of the island is another great attraction.

Florence is a city of remarkable art and galleries, with wondrous examples to be found at every turn, but those who find a luxury villa in Florence will quickly discover that it is also a city of rather spectacular gardens. We have mentioned many of them previously – from the breathtaking sculptural marvels of the Boboli Gardens to the heavenly aromas and wide spectrum of shades of the Rose Garden – but if you are planning to find a Tuscany villa or a villa in Florence itself in May and you have an interest in gardens and blooms then one of the gardens that should top your list of things to see and do in the region has to be the Giardino Dell’Iris, or Iris Garden.

Poised in a panoramic position, east of the Piazzale Michelangelo, boasting truly incredible views over the lovely and iconic skyline of Florence, this unique gem of a garden is only actually open to the general public during the month of May (though visits can be arranged outside this month by appointment or on a guided tour), during the international iris show and competition organized by the Società italiana dell'iris, or Iris Society of Italy. 

You may have noticed a type of wine increasingly in stores and restaurants in the last few years, in particular, that seems new and strange to you: orange wine. These wines are actually part of a very old tradition of wine-making that has been revitalised in recent years and basically involves the macerating of white wines with their skins and the treating of white grapes as one would red ones. While white wine is usually made by pressing the grapes, separating the juice from the skins, and then fermenting this juice, orange wine (or, sometimes, called amber, ramato, macerated, or skin-contact wines) is made by allowing both the skins and juice to ferment together.

Ranging from a golden hue to a richer, redder colour, orange wines have the complex flavour profile and tannins of a red wine but are similarly refreshing to white wine. It is a type of flavour that some find strange at first but it is worth familiarising oneself with as it is a perfect summer drink to enjoy while visiting a vineyard or to pair with a wide variety of meals and foods while dining in the region. And, while the region is not the first that comes to mind in Italy when thinking of orange wine, those who have found a villa with pool in Tuscany or a Tuscany villa will find that many wineries throughout Tuscany are producing wonderful orange wines. 

There is a vast wealth of attractions to draw visitors to the lovely historic city of Pisa but there is also plenty to be seen across the wider region by those who find a villa with a swimming pool in Pisa and are looking ahead for things to see and do during their holiday in Tuscany and while enjoying a Tuscany villa. Boasting a landscape that features those famous rolling hills and pastoral views for which Tuscany is so well-known, a whole host of wineries to be visited, great hiking routes to choose from, pretty little villages waiting to be explored, some exceptionally lovely gardens to wander, and much more besides, this is a particularly scenic part of the world that utterly abounds in natural bounty and beauty.

However, while the whole region features charming scenery and great swathes of unblemished natural splendour, there are several protected areas where nature remains largely completely untouched and these make for the perfect spots to get out and get active and leave the stresses of the modern world behind for a time. One such area is the Natural Park of Migliarino San Rossore Massaciuccoli, or Parco Regionale Migliarino, San Rossore, Massaciuccoli, a truly extraordinary nature park that is located just a few kilometres from the city of Pisa and extends along the coast, taking in parts of the municipalities of Pisa, Viareggio, San Giuliano Terme, Vecchiano, Massarosa, and Livorno. With much to see and do and plenty to keep kids and kids at heart alike happy, it is the perfect place to enjoy outdoor pursuits and to immerse oneself in the calming surroundings of Mother Nature.