Archive for 'Events'

One of the most famous Italian Palio events is the Palio di Siena held in the city of Siena in the central Tuscany region. To celebrate their historic Palio event, the people of Siena stage a famous horse race twice a year; one on the 2nd of July and one on the 16th August. There is a great selection of luxury holiday villas and simple vacation rentals close to Siena where you can easily commute to witness this spectacular event.

The participants in this exciting race are horses and jockeys representing their ‘contrada’ or region of the city of Siena. The competition and rivalry between the contrade is fierce and attracts thousands of city supporters and tourists every year. There are seventeen contrade in total but only ten are allowed to race on each date for safety reasons. The ten that are chosen to race in one Palio are then replaced in the following one by the seven that didn’t race plus three that will be chosen by drawing lots between the other ten.

New Year’s celebrations take place on the 1st of January every year, but in the cities of Pisa and Florence, they’re also held on the 25th of March! For anyone who would like to experience a second New Year’s festival, why not book some beautiful luxury villas near Pisa and Florence and celebrate the Christmas festivities all over again!

The reason why the New Year is celebrated twice is because between the 10th century and 1949, New Year’s Day clashed with the holy day of the Annunciation on March 25th. The annual calendar wasn’t the same then as it is now; it was marked by a type of solar clock.

Are you planning your big day and wondering where to find the perfect wedding venue? Look no further than the spectacular region of Tuscany in Italy! The stunning cities and countryside towns of this region are full of ideal wedding venues to celebrate your special day.

Why not choose a rustic country wedding and choose from plenty of wonderful luxury villas in Tuscany for you and your close family and friends during your magical stay here! Tuscany has become one of the most popular wedding destinations in Europe thanks to its breathtaking scenery, fantastic climate, beautiful cities and county towns and of course, the delicious food!

The first thing you must decide before booking your dream wedding day here is whether you want to celebrate a legally binding ceremony at home and then come here for a ritualistic ceremony or decide to book the entire day over here. You can choose from a civil ceremony in many town halls across the region or in a catholic church.

If you’re planning to book a tuscan vacation rental, then why not visit the charming village of Piancastagnaio in Siena province whilst you’re here and take part in a famous chestnut festival that is celebrated here in late October every year! It is the oldest and most important festival in the Monte Amiata area and has been held in this lively little village since 1967!

There are some gorgeous luxury villas in Radicofani, a nearby town to Piancastagnaio if tourists want to stay close to the action! Radicofani is a beautiful Orange Flag awarded town that is well worth a visit in itself!

Held in the main square of Piazza Belvedere, the chestnut festival originated because of the importance surrounding this staple food in the area. High up in the mountains, the ground was fertile but the climate was too cold for some vegetables and grains to successfully grow.

Come and witness the most anticipated annual food and wine event in Pisa, the popular White Truffle Festival in the hill town of Volterra!

Why not plan to stay here for a few days and choose from some lavish villas in Volterra with swimming pools?

The Volterra festival takes place in late October and is packed full of food stalls and has lots of cookery demonstrations and entertainment to suit everyone.
Learn all about truffles and how they’re carefully harvested.


The courtyards and buildings of Volterra including the beautiful Palazzo de Luigi open their doors to the public and invite them engage in some truffle tasting as well as experiencing the delicious flavours and texture of other local foods like creamy cheeses, crsty breads and spicy home-made sausages! Also worth a visit is the fascinating ancient Roman stone theatre just outside the town where several music and theatre performances take place this time of year!