Archive for 'Pretty Views'

A post shared by Alessandro Collecchia (@alessandro_collecchia) on Apr 9, 2018 at 1:02am PDT

The village of Fosdinovo is a historic and charming medieval hilltop town located in the Tuscan region of Lunigiana. While the area has been inhabited since prehistory, Fosdinovo experienced its golden age between the 14th and 18th centuries and its appearance largely reflects Medieval and Renaissance architectural styles and town-planning, as a result. The centre has changed little since the 16th century.

If you have been planning a trip to Tuscany, why not consider the lovely medieval walled town of Monteriggioni? Located near Siena, this already historic and beautiful town is transformed into a festive gem each summer with its famous Monteriggioni Di Torri Si Corona festival. Just find a vacation rental in Monteriggioni and you can take part in the celebrations and get a real taste of the authentic Tuscan experience this summer!

The festival takes place over two weekend in July each year and is one of the oldest medieval festivals in Italy, which evokes Dante’s famous quote about the town that praises its round surrounding wall, crowned by towers: “Monteriggioni che di torri si corona“.

Palazzo Casali is a palace located in the Tuscan town of Cortona that was built by the Casali family, who ruled over the town in the 13th century. It was only a family residence until 1409 and, thereafter, became the Palazzo Pretorio, which was occupied by the city’s Florentine captains. Today, it houses the City Museum and, on the first and top floors, the library and museum of the Accademia Etrusca. A beautiful building and an excellent and historic museum, it is a worthwhile little visit to pop into your itinerary if you are a culture vulture that has found a vacation rental in Cortona.

The façade that is visible today can probably be attributed to Filippo Berettini and was executed at the beginning of the 17th century and the rear façade, looking onto Via delle Carceri, is particularly lovely. From the main Palazzo Casali entrance, you pass through a 17th century carved doorway, into a large atrium that is decorated with coats of arms and opens into a courtyard. Particular architectural elements to take note of are the two staircases and the 16th century sandstone fountain commissioned by Bettino Ricasoli.

The lovely town of Grosseto, located in the heart of the Maremma area of southern Tuscany, is a lesser known beauty that is filled with architectural gems and more attractions and things to see than one might imagine.

If you're looking for a charming destination off the beaten track that will appease all of your artistic and cultural yearnings, while keeping you far from the regular tourist crowds of Tuscany, just browse our incredible vacation rentals in Grosseto.

Situated around 14km from the coast on a flat plain, the town is a collection of beautiful and fascinating religious, civil and military buildings, all surrounded by a hexagonal wall that wraps around the historic centre of Grosseto. Architecture-lovers take note because there is a lot to see in this lovely town and here are some of our highlights.

There is much to see and do in Florence. It is positively stuffed with tourist attractions and cultural gems. In between the mad dash from museums to churches to sculptures to famous square and streets and more, be sure to take a moment to pause and take the city in as a whole. Florence is many things but it is also, undoubtedly, a city with a very pretty skyline. Taking in her views is a must for anyone visiting Florence so browse our beautiful luxury villas in Florence and, when you visit, make time to take in some of the best views in Florence. Luckily, we've been compiling a list of some of the ultimate spots to take in said views so take note and get planning your trip.

5. Giardino Bardini

The Giardino Bardini, or Bardini Garden, is a Renaissance garden that is still a bit of a well-kept secret devoid of crazy crowds of tourists. Filled with beautiful canals, fountains, flowers and sculptures, it also boasts some exceptional views over the city.