Archive for 'July'

If you are planning on finding yourself a holiday rental in Tuscany this summer, might I suggest an activity that is just a little bit different? Each July the lovely city of Pistoia, a destination a little off the beaten track for tourists but close to both Pisa and Florence, plays host to a music festival called Pistoia Blues.

Established in 1980, with a brief interruption due to the economic climate in that decade, the festival continues to take place in the city annually to this day. The festival takes place over the course of nine evenings in July and is organised by the Associazione Blues in conjunction with the Comune di Pistoia, or City of Pistoia.     Read More

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?     Read More

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.     Read More

Continuing from our introductory article on Ten fantastic summer events taking place in Tuscany, here’s the rest of our exciting list! Why not book into a beautiful villa rental in Tuscany to enjoy relaxing at between your festival attendance?

6) Terre di Siena Festival – This marvellous events runs from June to September, most of which takes place in Siena city with some others hosted in surrounding towns and villages. It encompasses other Sienese celebrations like the Val d’Orcia Festival, Montepulciano’s International Art Exhibition and the Chigiana Musical summer Festival among many more. You could spend a very festive summer in Siena this year!     Read More