Archive for 'Pretty Views'

A classic and elegant Tuscany villa, Villa Agata is a stunning property in a magical location in this lush and lovely part of the world. The villa and its sizeable garden are surrounded by green fields that can turn golden with sunflowers or rolled bales of hay (depending on when you visit), a thicket of trees that affords shelter and privacy, and a backdrop of mountains in Tuscany and the towers and spires of the town of Sant’agata. Located just 2km (1 mile) from this charming town and 34km (21 miles) from Florence, a stay at Villa Agata means a true escape to the peaceful and pretty Tuscan countryside, while being within easy reach of amenities and some of the region’s most appealing tourist attractions and destinations. Boasting a private swimming pool and various other amenities, the property sleeps up to 16 people in five bedrooms, with four bathrooms.

Given the name Villa Belvedere (literally meaning, "Villa of the Nice View"), it should be no surprise that this property may be our listing that boasts the most beautiful views in all of Tuscany. Positioned high up on a hill and surrounded by a 2-hectare park of lawns, trees, and gardens, this property takes in wonderfully-framed, sweeping views over the surrounding landscape. Not only is this landscape itself typical of the lush Arno Valley and the imagined Tuscan countryside – made up of a patchwork of fields, rolling green hills, and winding, cypress-lined roads – but it is charmingly showcased through the branches and between the trees of the villa’s estate. So, those who rent this impossibly picturesque villa in Tuscany will be able to admire fog draping the landscape cinematically in early mornings, the sun dipping behind those famous green hills, and the general splendour of this idyllic part of the world all throughout their vacation in Tuscany.

If you are planning an early summer vacation in Florence and are going to be wandering around the city, we recommend making the most of the green spaces of the Birthplace of the Renaissance while they are in full bloom. Time spent in the famously beautiful and elaborate gardens of historic palaces that are now open to the public for visits, hanging out in one of the large public parks with a picnic, or simply taking a little breather in one of the charming flower gardens run by the city, offers visitors a chance to pause and relax in peaceful and pretty surroundings. It’s very easy to book a vacation rental in Florence and then spend your entire trip dashing around in a mad effort to see and do it all but it is also important to take a moment, enjoy the atmosphere and the good looks of the city, and to stop and smell the roses...

The best place to do just that is the Rose Garden in Florence. A place where extraordinary blooms, interesting artwork, and stunning views over the city’s skyline all come together, it is a must-see for those who are staying in a holiday rental in Florence in May or June. 

Cortona is one of Tuscany’s famous medieval towns with Etruscan origins and a preserved historic centre that seems to almost have gone entirely untouched by time. It is the kind of destination where one could easily spend their entire vacation visiting local museums, admiring gorgeous churches stuffed full of incredible artworks and lovely architectural gems, wandering the winding cobbled streets and picturesque little alleys, strolling to a restaurant for long meals and glasses of wine enjoyed sitting out in a piazza, grabbing fresh pastries and delicious Italian coffee from nearby coffee shops and bakeries in the morning, and generally soaking up the wonders of Tuscan life. For those who want to visit other parts of the region, it is also a great base from which to explore Tuscany as a whole. The best way to really make the most of your time in Cortona, then? To find a vacation rental in Cortona, right smack-bang in its historic core, such as the lovely Appartamento Zefferini.