Archive for 'Pretty Views'

Those who have found a luxury villa in Florence and who are exploring the city and all that she has to offer will find themselves with no shortage of things to see and do. Like so many of the world's capitals of art and culture, those who seek out Florence will quickly find that one would need endless lifetimes, resources, and free time to see even a fraction of the innumerable beauties, attractions, works of art, views, and more that can be found in the city. Therefore, it is inevitable that there are choices to be made and itineraries to be carefully considered and planned. There are also highlights that most find themselves choosing to visit such as the Uffizi, the Duomo, the Bargello, the Boboli Gardens, and more. However, one of the other highlights that we personally recommend is a visit to the Forte di Belvedere, named for the truly beautiful sweeping view (“Belvedere,” means, “beautiful view”) that it affords over all that Florence has to offer. And, hey, if it was good enough for the wedding of Kanye West and Kim Kardashian (no matter what your opinion on either party may be), you know it's got to be something rather special, indeed. So, should you be planning a trip to Florence and Tuscany, be sure to set aside time for a visit to this fascinating building and to take in those famous views it boasts over the city.

Off the coast of Tuscany you will find some incredibly beautiful islands that can feel like a whole different world unto themselves, a little slice of what seems not unlike paradise on earth. Among the cluster of islands that hug Tuscany's coastline, the most famous is, undoubtedly, is Elba Island, the place to which Napoleon was infamously exiled. The second biggest island of the group, Giglio Island, is also well-known, particularly among those who have spent time in Tuscany and on the Tuscan Coast. However, the next largest island of the bunch, Capraia Island, is much less well-known, which is truly a crying shame as it, too, is a rather extraordinary beauty with lots and lots to offer the discerning tourist who finds themselves exploring the region.

Tuscany has a famously beautiful landscape that is often imagined as soft and pretty, all rolling hills topped by medieval walled towns and winding roads lined by cypress trees. However, in addition to these lovely pastoral panoramas, the region of Tuscany also boasts some more dramatic landscapes that are no less beautiful and perfect for hiking in order to work hard for the pay off of a truly astounding view at the end. While we may all be stuck inside right now and unable to actually go and explore these beautiful different kinds of Tuscan landscapes and take on those challenging and rewarding hikes for ourselves right now, we can browse this list of some of the best views in Tuscany, take them in (without the sweating, for now), and look forward to adventures to be had sometime soon in the future!

If you are a true art lover then you might be interested in art experiences in Tuscany beyond visits to the famous galleries and museums and churches; you may be interested in something more unique and something more behind the scenes. There are, for example, several childhood homes of great artists (like Michelangelo and Da Vinci) that are now preserved as museums and open to the public that you can visit. However, going even beyond the artist into the works themselves, there are sites and locations that have become famous as the backdrops of great works of art, which makes sense as the landscape of Tuscany is painterly in its beauty.

For some people, being on holidays means doing very little of anything at all and just laying around and relaxing but for others staying as active as they are in their daily lives or as active as they wish they had time to be in their daily lives is key to a good vacation. If you fall into the latter category and you have been thinking of booking a vacation rental in Tuscany then you might be wondering about some of the best outdoor activities in Tuscany. There are lots of different options from water sports to zip-lining to orienteering and more but the activity that best utilises the great beauty of the Tuscan landscape has to be hiking. There are lots of excellent hiking routes all around Tuscany that take in the incredible and picturesque nature of the rolling hills, rows of cypresses, vineyards, impressive forests, towering peaks, lovely coastline, and beautiful medieval hilltop towns of the region. One particularly picturesque area to hike in Tuscany is the Pratomagno Mountain Range which is located between Casentino and the upper Valdarno so, if you like to hike and want to make Tuscany your next holiday destination then why not browse our vacation rentals in Casentino and holiday rentals in Valdarno and get ready to take on this charming mountain range?