Archive for 'Events'

Each year on the 25th of July, thousands of spectators flood the Piazza del Duomo of Pistoia in Tuscany in order to witness a very special sporting event.

This is the “Giostra Dell Orso”, or Joust of the Bear, a jousting contest that was so named in 1947 but has existed in one form or another since c. 1200.

Tied to celebrations in honour of the city's patron saint, St James, on whose feast day the Giostra Dell'Orso takes place, it sees the piazza transformed into an oval race course for the day.

Why not witness the event for yourself and stay nearby in a tuscan luxury villa?

Visit a museum with a difference in the scenic province of Pistoia. Tucked under Monte Libro Aperto, the quaint little town of Rivoreta is the home of the ‘Museum of the People of the Pistoia Apennines ’.

What makes this cultural attraction so unique is that the knowledge that can be shared with you here doesn’t just come from interesting still displays in the museum, it can be observed through townsfolk of Rivoreta! Witness intriguing demonstrations of how the people of this land forged a living for themselves throughout the centuries.

Spend a delightful few hours in the town of Quarrata in Pistoia province. This town is actually made up of seventeen frazioni including the village of Casini and the hamlet of Olmi.

Stay in a gorgeous villa in Seano which is only four kilometres away from Quarrata.

There are several enchanting attractions in the town including the ideally named ‘Villa Magic’.
This was an ancient castle that dates back to 1320 and in 1583, was acquired by the Medici family.

Visit the lively town of Vernio during a day trip of Prato province. This charming commune is situated about 20 kilometres north of Prato and is actually a union of three villages and their frazioni. They are called San Quirico, Mercatale and Sant ‘Ippolito.

Book into a charming villa in Barberino di Mugello which is located only twelve kilometres from Vernio and enjoy visiting this town and others like Poggio a Caiano and Vaiano nearby.

Spend a delightful few hours exploring the town of Impruneta in Florence province. This large busy commune has some splendid sights for tourists to explore and excellent hand crafted souvenirs to buy. Stay in a pretty vacation rental in Impruneta and explore this charming town for yourself.

Impruneta is well known for its superb production of terracotta which is made from reddish clay and hardened in a hot oven to create pots, vases and even statues. Begin your tour of Impruneta with a visit to the magnificently designed Sanctuary of Maria.