Archive for 'Activities'

The seaside town of Viareggio is the coastal gem of Tuscany and an excellent holiday destination for many different reasons from her rich traditions to her beautiful beaches. If you have chosen a luxury villa in Viareggio you will find plenty of things to see and do in the city itself and that day-trips to other Tuscan towns and cities can be readily organised as well. However, if you are looking to get out and explore Viareggio, in particular, and aren’t quite sure where to get started, then we might suggest heading to the Parco Pineta di Ponente, or Pineta di Ponente Park (Western Pine Forest).

If you have been thinking about travelling to Italy then be sure to browse our incredible vacation rentals in Tuscany and, once you do, you can start planning all that you will see and do while you’re there! In addition to beautiful little towns, buzzing metropolises laden with centuries of history and culture, stunning landscapes, amazing beaches, incredible mountain ranges, pretty islands, outstanding food and wine, architectural gems and breath-taking places of worship, stylish people-watching opportunities aplenty, and much more besides, the Italian regions also boast lots of excellent shopping destinations. Not only is it a veritable mecca for fashion lovers, it is also a place where tradition lives on and quality is very much prided. As such, it is a wonderful place to browse little local shops selling souvenirs to bring home, unique boutiques stuffed with all sorts of Italian gifts, and small local makers’ wares to find incredible things to buy in Italy. If you are planning a trip to Tuscany, you like great souvenirs and shopping for authentic, handmade, and beautiful things, and you are wondering what to buy then these are the items to remember to leave room for in your suitcase as you explore Tuscany and take day trips throughout the regions in Italy!

One of the most readily identifiable and iconic peaks in all of Tuscany has to be the incredible Monte Forato and her two summits, which are connected by a large, open, naturally-occurring arch. This picturesque peak and its incredible and suggestive characteristic arch is located along an excellent ring route in the Garfagnana mountains that makes for an ideal place to go hiking if you have found a vacation rental in Lucca and are looking for somewhere to go take in pretty views of Tuscany, to get some fresh air, to blow out the cobwebs, and to stretch your legs.

The trail along Monte Forato begins at the pretty little Tuscan mountain town of Fornovolasco, which is surrounded by lush greenery, is famous for the river that splits it into two parts, and is dominated by the arch at the top of the peak above. Follow the signs to Grotta del Vento from town, head over the bridge over the Turrite River, up towards the Foce di Petrociana pass, and then take the number six path for a kilometre to a small cave called the Tana che Urla (Screaming Den) or Vallisneri Cave. If you put your ear to the cave’s mouth you can hear an odd noise that sounds like a man shouting, who is, according to local legend, a miner that fell in love with a fairy and followed her deep into the cave, never to be seen again.

A few years ago, we wrote about a particular hill, located in a charming little town called Fiesole, just outside Florence. A long-time favourite holiday destination of noble families looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, including the Medici family, the town of Fiesole has continued to be a destination that attracts the rich and famous and normal folk alike who are looking to pop out of Florence and into the peaceful natural surroundings of this area for a while. The hill in Fiesole with which we were concerned, however, drew an incredibly famous visitor not for leisure but, instead, for experiments. Said visitor being Da Vinci, who, long before the Wright brothers, came to test out a flying machine on the hill of Monte Ceceri. This momentous and fascinating event in history is reason enough to draw Da Vinci fans and history buffs alike but there is actually plenty of reason for anyone to stop by if they have found a holiday rental in Fiesole.

As well as being the site of Da Vinci's would-be airport, Monte Ceceri is popular among hikers and those who like to admire scenery as it offers great panoramic views of the surrounding landscape of Tuscany and right over the city of Florence in the distance. In fact, it’s a perfect spot to spend some time out in nature and stretching your legs if you have found a vacation rental in Florence and are looking for some day trip ideas to explore some parts of Tuscany around the city.

Tuscany isn’t short on beautiful scenery or incredible views and ways to take them in. So many of her towns are built on hilltops, affording the most amazing sweeping vistas over the surrounding landscapes. There are also plenty of buildings all over that you can visit to admire the view from up on top of them. However, if you really want to admire a good view, the best combo is a nice hike to work up a little bit of a sweat, some fresh air and natural surroundings to admire along the way, and then a great view from the top of the trail as a reward for all of your efforts. Like hilltop towns and pretty vantage points, there is not a shortage of great hiking trails to choose from in Tuscany, however, if we were to recommend one today, it would be the Passo di Dante on Monte Pisano. If you have found a vacation rental in Pisa and you’re looking for somewhere to go for a pleasant and not overly challenging hike that boasts history and truly excellent views, then this is just the spot for you!

Monte Pisano has quite a few different routes to choose from and these routes are of various levels of difficulty, meaning that there is probably something to suit everyone, no matter their kind of previous experience with hiking or fitness level. All boast excellent views – with panoramas over the Tuscan Coast to one side of the mountain and across to the Lucca and Apuan Alps on the other side – and traverse through a stunning landscape made up of forestry dotted by ruins of ancient monasteries, pretty little churches, and old farmhouses.