Archive for 'Activities'

We have discussed the stunning coastline of Tuscany on many occasions and highlighted the incredible resort towns, amazing beaches, and remarkable natural beauty of this part of the region that is often overlooked by tourists. While the famous landmarks and museums, the historic towns and gleaming cities, the rolling green hills and foggy valleys, the vineyards and endless excellent eateries of Tuscany are all lauded and well-known for a reason, the Tuscan Coast is a true must and a favourite of those in the know. Many of the above charms are just as common in this part of the world but if you find a villa on the Tuscan Coast and spend time in the area, you will also be able to enjoy the things we traditionally associate with the region, alongside some impossibly lovely seaside delights. 

Fashion-lovers often find themselves interested in a vacation in Tuscany as Italy is a well-known fashion hot spot with lots of stylish locals to admire, and Tuscany, in particular, boasts endless fashion museums to visit, incredible flagship stores and other wonderful boutiques in which to shop, and a long tradition in making astounding leather goods and jewellery, in particular. The region is also home to lots of little local sartorial gems from smaller fashion museums in various towns, to shopping outlets carrying brands like Prada, to artisans who have been working out of traditional workshops for generations, to more niche fashion specialities that can all be uncovered while staying in one of our Tuscany villas. One of these specialities is Chianti Cashmere.

While, of course, Chianti is best known for its wines and culinary heritage, as well as its lush and beautiful landscape, it is also home to one of the finest cashmere producers in the entire world. Chianti Cashmere is a sustainable, small producer making incredible objects that is a true must for the most discerning shoppers and fashion-lovers who are interested in a luxury villa in Chianti and a holiday enjoying the finer things in life from exquisite garments to unbelievable wines. 

Enjoy a good stroll? Love to eat? Want to plan a fall or winter getaway in a Tuscany villa that combines both? Then you should definitely head to the wonderful town of Prato for the Eat Prato festival! Starting on the 2nd of October 2022 and continuing right up to the 22nd of January 2023, this vibrant annual foodie festival perfectly combines thematic outings on foot – on which you are guided by knowledgable locals and told all about the area – with tastings of a truly extraordinary array of delicious food and drink from the region. Taking you to some of the most remarkable and fascinating architectural and historic gems in and around Prato, to visit artistic wonders, and into the beautiful countryside of the area, these brilliant walking itineraries are a wonderful way to get to know this part of Tuscany. If you decide to book a luxury villa in Florence but you want to delve into the countryside of Tuscany a bit more, a day in Prato attending one of these events would be just the thing!

Have you been looking at our Tuscany villas and considering a vacation in Florence? Well, if that is the case and you’re looking to dip into the city’s chic side then you should definitely plan a visit to the Luisa Via Roma store. Many fashion-lovers are already familiar with the brand as one of the best designer shopping experiences online – a place where you can pick up incredible pieces from the likes of Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, Max Mara, Prada, Gucci, and much more besides – but the in-person shopping experience offered by their Florence store is a must for any style obsessives who are thinking about booking a luxury villa in Florence. To be added to any serious fashionista or fashionisto’s itinerary of the city, along with a visit to the Ferragamo Museum, the Gucci Garden, the artisanal leather stores of the city, and more, the Luisa Via Roma store is located in the heart of Florence, on Via Roma, in between the Baptistery and the Piazza della Repubblica, and boasts three floors of gorgeous goods as well as an excellent restaurant.

Tuscany and Italy, in general, are both places famous for style, culture, and incredibly-made objects. There are countless heritage brands throughout the region that have existed for literal centuries and continue to produce stunning items. Of course, we know of the Guccis and the Ferragamos of the world but there are countless other amazing Tuscan brands to discover. In particular, there are lots and lots of wonderful homewares brands that produce the kind of stunning household goods that interiors lovers will lust over and even the totally uninterested will stop and admire in awe. Among these, the ceramics brand Ginori 1735 is an exceptionally brilliant example. Of course, with the expertise, impeccable design and construction, and gravitas lent by the age and reputation of the brand, the price tag associated with their goods in not insubstantial. For many, a large proportion of their pieces will fall well outside their usual budget for such things. However, if you like to invest in your homewares, or you really just want to own something from this beloved brand yourself, or you have a larger budget to play around with then you might be interested in the Ginori 1735 factory shop in Sesto Fiorentino. A brilliant way to get your hands on some stunning pieces at discounted rates or to really stock up if you are one of those people who have a larger budget, this is a must-stop spot for all interiors obsessives who find a luxury villa in Florence and are planning on spending some time exploring the area around the city or for those who find a villa with pool in Tuscany and are willing to make a specific day trip to the store.