If Italy (and Tuscany, in particular) is known for any single thing, it is art. Of course, fashion and food quickly come to mind upon mention of the country, as well, but it is the art that seems to stick out most in the international common consciousness. As Florence was at the heart of the Renaissance, the wider region of Tuscany was blessed with many great artists and works over the years. As such, there really is an endless list of things to see and do. One particular art form that is especially bountiful is architecture. The region abounds with architectural gems so why not find a luxury villa in Tuscany and explore these delightful structures for yourself? It promises to be a trip of a lifetime.
If you visit the city of Lucca in Tuscany, you should make sure not to miss a charming attraction that is located just outside it: the Acquedotto Del Nottolini. This impressive aqueduct is often mistaken for a remainder of the Roman Empire but is actually a neoclassical gem that is modelled after those older examples and dates to the 19th century.
If you visit the city of Lucca in Tuscany, you should make sure not to miss a charming attraction that is located just outside it: the Acquedotto Del Nottolini. This impressive aqueduct is often mistaken for a remainder of the Roman Empire but is actually a neoclassical gem that is modelled after those older examples and dates to the 19th century.
The need for an aqueduct became apparent during the 18th century and it was finally constructed some years later. Today, it is no longer so essential and stretches have been interrupted by more modern buildings but a large part of the aqueduct is still visible in the parkland of the Monumental Aqueduct of Guamo, all of it rendered in that elegant neoclassical style.
Pisa, meanwhile, may be home to the famous Leaning Tower but there is another architectural delight, right next to it that is also worth exploring. Just west of the tower and cathedral, there is the Baptistery of St. John . Construction under a Diotisalvi began in 1152 but was not completed until 1363 and the building is a mixture of Romanesque, Gothic, Byzantine and Islamic influences. It is the largest Baptistery in Italy, even taller than the Leaning Tower, and, like the tower, leans to one side as the sand of the Piazza dei Miracoli doesn't support the weight of such structures.
Pisa, meanwhile, may be home to the famous Leaning Tower but there is another architectural delight, right next to it that is also worth exploring. Just west of the tower and cathedral, there is the Baptistery of St. John . Construction under a Diotisalvi began in 1152 but was not completed until 1363 and the building is a mixture of Romanesque, Gothic, Byzantine and Islamic influences. It is the largest Baptistery in Italy, even taller than the Leaning Tower, and, like the tower, leans to one side as the sand of the Piazza dei Miracoli doesn't support the weight of such structures.
Florence, one of the world's great centres for art and architecture, has no shortage of architectural gems, among them, Alberti's Palazzo Rucellai Florence in the city's historic centre. After the Medici built their new palace in the 15th century, there was a boom of palace building in Florence. The Rucellai were another of the great families of Florence and mimicked the powerful Medici to express their loyalty. However, the heavy rustication of the Medici palace is missing in the Rucellai home and it is less rustic, more intellectual. Geometry and proportion are big concerns and classical elements from Alberti's study of antiquity abound; pilasters, rounded arches, string-courses with prominent entablatures. Only two thirds of the intended building was actually completed but it is still one of the finest examples of domestic Renaissance architecture in Florence.
There are, quite literally, thousands of other architectural gems all around Tuscany. These are but a few of our picks so be sure to read on for some more examples.
There are, quite literally, thousands of other architectural gems all around Tuscany. These are but a few of our picks so be sure to read on for some more examples.
Photo credits
picture 1: Myrabella / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 2: NotFromUtrecht / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 3: Giorgiomantoan / CC BY-SA 3.0
picture 1: Myrabella / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 2: NotFromUtrecht / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 3: Giorgiomantoan / CC BY-SA 3.0
