Archive for 'Events'

The Puccini Festival is an annual summer opera festival that is held in the town of Torre del Lago in July and August. Celebrating, commemorating and presenting the work of the famous Italian composer Giacomo Puccini, the festival showcases four or five performances of up to four operatic productions each season. Attracting around forty thousand spectators to the town's open-air theatre, it is one of the most popular opera festivals in the country and is the ideal place to experience opera in Tuscany. If you have found a vacation rental on the Tuscan Coast, or a vacation rental in Viareggio (which is located just 4km away from Torre del Lago), make sure to check it out!

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“.

Florence is full of things to see and do and, among them, there are a number of gardens and parks that are especially beautiful and worth exploring. One that we haven't mentioned before is the Giardino dell'Iris, or Iris Garden, a botanical garden that, unsurprisingly, specialises in the cultivation of iris flowers. Just find a vacation rental in Florence and come explore this lovely Tuscan garden for yourself, as a nice moment of quiet and calm amongst all the darting around busy tourist attractions.

The iris has been a symbol of Florence since 1251 and this garden, near the Piazzale Michelangelo, celebrates the city's bloom rather magically.

Twinkly lights bouncing off historic walls, children screaming in delight at the sight of Santa or Befana (the kindly witch who delivers Christmas gifts in Italy), the smell of mulled wine and freshly made food wafting from a market, warming cold hands on hot drinks after ice-skating, tables laden with local delights, live cribs filled with cute animals...all of this and much more, besides, can be found all throughout Tuscany each Christmas.

However, you will also find that every city and town has its own unique traditions and areas of expertise and offer a slightly different experience.

Whether you're all about the food, the sweets, family fun, traditional markets or some other specific facet of festive fun, there is a different town that will best cater to your whims.

Tuscany is a wonderful and magical place at Christmas; historic cities all lit up with twinkling lights, traditional Christmas markets, incredible live crib scenes, Santa's grottoes and chances to meet Befana (the kindly witch who traditionally delivers gifts at Christmas in Italy), and absolute piles of delicious food all over.

If you are thinking of spending Christmas abroad, it is an ideal destination that is full of festive cheer!

In this series, we have been discussing different cities and towns across the region, each of which has their own unique selling points that can suit you whether you are interested in markets, Christmas sweets, ice-skating or other specific festive activities. Here are more of our picks of great Tuscan destinations this Christmas.