Archive for 'Localities'

In our penultimate post in the series, here are some more of the best luxury villas in Tuscany that we have to offer.

6. Al Seminario

Al Seminario is a lovely stone farmhouse that is situated in a private and beautiful position in the hills between Lucca and the coast. The house has been furnished in a charming and cosy way but the outdoor spaces are equally appealing. A wisteria covered pergola stretches along the front of the house and is an ideal place for al fresco meals. In front of this pergola, there is an incredible infinity pool that has been installed in the most panoramic spot on the estate.

Continuing on from our last post, here are the next number of properties in our list of 10 of our best luxury villas in Tuscany. As there are many more to choose from that have different numbers of bedrooms, locations and special features, be sure to browse all of our luxury villas in Tuscany and find something that is perfectly suited to you and your needs. For now, have a taste of our wonderful selection with these examples that we have carefully chosen.

3. Villa Di Montelopio

Villa Di Montelopio dates from the 16th century and still retains the atmosphere, though part has been totally restored in recent years. You still find the cotto floors and the beamed ceilings but with all modern comforts now a bonus.

As Tuscany Villas specialises in vacation rentals in Tuscany, there is a particularly rich selection of types of villas to choose from in the region. However, some of the most popular are the luxury villas and for a good reason: these villas look beautiful, often have a long history, normally offer great views, almost all have private pools and generally have lots of wonderful additional features and services that make them a step above the rest. Discover just ten of the hundreds available on our site now!

1. Torre del Cielo


Torre del Cielo is a great place to start this list. It ticks all of the boxes mentioned above, being a stunning historic property with a pool, amazing views and extra facilities and services like the hot tub and welcome buffet.

One of the things many people have in mind when planning a trip to Tuscany is trying the delicious ice-cream, or gelato (though there is a little bit of a difference between the two), that Italy is so famous for. If you are one of those people, then check out our picks of key places and shops that you need to check out.

If you feel like eating the best ice-cream in the world, you're going to need to find a luxury villa in San Gimignano. Located in the central Piazza della Cisterna, known all over the world and visited by a large number of celebrities is the Gelateria Dondoli or Gelateria di Piazza. The gelateria has won countless awards, invents flavour combinations that attract gourmet-lovers to the town on a regular basis and has made it World Champion on two occasions. Arguably, this is one of the best places in the entire world to try some ice-cream and is consistently mentioned in the most important travel and food guides. Produced daily with very fresh, dutifully selected ingredients, the quality of the product is beyond compare. Additionally, (and surprisingly) this gelateria happens to be one of the cheapest in all of Tuscany.

For those who trust Queen Bey in all things, you stop by Edoardo's once you have found a luxury villa in Florence. Beyoncé and Jay-Z documented visiting the parlour while in Florence in May 2015 and their recommendation is only one of many reasons why to choose it. Edoardo's uses natural ingredients and has a focus on quality, artisanal products. They are also the first certified organic gelateria in all of Tuscany. Designed to give off an old-school 1940s atmosphere from the ice cream in the carapina ice cream boxes, to the walnut furniture, to the counter full of drawers, to the vintage cash register and down to the retro clothing of the staff, it is a cool and photogenic spot that serves up good ice-cream.

Another spot worth visiting in Florence is Perchè no! (meaning “Why not!”) Located between Piazza della Signoria and Piazza della Repubblica, it is near many of the main museums and attractions in the city, which is handy, but it is the artisanal gelato made using all natural ingredients that really sells it. It even provides vegan and soy options which means everyone can enjoy their tasty ice-creams! With both complex and simple flavours, from matcha green tea to chocolate, there really is something for everyone.

So, next time you visit Tuscany, you know where to go!

Continuing on from our last article, in which we introduced some of the best cafés in Florence, here are some more locations that are a little younger, cooler, less dusty and historic but that still serve up great food and are perfect for sipping coffee and watching the world go by. Once you have found a luxury villa in Florence and are spending time exploring the city, dashing around from place to place, stop by one of these great locations for a little bit of peace and quiet.

5. Black Spring Bookshop

Black Spring Bookshop is not the type of place one would immediately imagine when thinking of Florence or fantasise about visiting as their holiday draws nearer and, yet, it is something special and well worth the visit. Just opened in 2014, it is a cool independent bookshop and coffee shop that is located in the quiet Via Camoldoli. Set in a beautifully lit space through an interior archway,