Archive for 'Localities'

People zipping around town on Vespas, immaculately dressed, past historic buildings and pretty piazzas, on the way to meet friends for coffee. It is one of those idealised images of Italy that many of us have and there is no doubt that, no matter how accurate a picture this may or may not be, Vespa is one of the most iconic products to come out of the country. It is intrinsically Italian. If you are a bit of a Vespa fanatic, there is surely one Italian destination that will have decided itself: Pontedera in the Province of Pisa, where you'll find the Piaggio Museum. Piaggio is the fourth largest producer of scooters and motorcycles in the world but it was the world renown of the Vespa that put the company on the international map.

If you have diverse interests, Tuscany is a holiday destination that really tends to provide. It is an immensely cultured place, full of art, architecture, history, traditions and music, the food is delicious, the scenery is stunning, the attractions are various and fun, and there are endless outdoor pursuits to enjoy. If your interests lie in taking in the great outdoors, getting some exercise and taking in great views as well as all things a little darker and spookier, then there is one particular Tuscan location that you are bound to enjoy. Monte (or Mount) Matanna, a mountain in the Apuan Alps, in the province of Lucca, offers some rather starkly different activities: hiking and witch hunting. Just find a villa with pool in Lucca and combine the two interests in one trip.

Chiusi is a town in the Siena province of Tuscany that is beautiful, intriguing and steeped in fascinating local mythology. As a result, there is plenty to see and do, even though the town is not that large. It is the perfect place to have a fun, interesting and exciting holiday off the beaten tourist track and away from lines and bustling crowds. Just find a vacation rental in Chiusi and explore this charming town for yourself.

In our last article we discussed how wine is a good reason to visit Tuscany and mentioned some of the best places to learn about, taste and fully experience wine and the culture of wine in the region.

However, we had a few more suggestions that we couldn't squeeze in so here are two more places that are a must for any wine lovers doing a tour of Tuscany.

Montepulciano is famous for its Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, one of three great Sangiovese DOCG zones in Tuscany. The wine was first documented in 789 AD when a cleric, Arnipert, offered the church of San Silvestre some vineyards attached to the castle of Policiano.

A city like Florence is old enough and so rich in history that it has to be at least a little bit haunted. If you are to believe the reports, it appears to actually be rather haunted, indeed. From windows left open for a ghost still awaiting her lover to piazzas still haunted by executions that happened long ago, there are many buildings and spaces around the city that are said to be plagued by the dead. However, there is one ghost that is thought to haunt two different locations in the city. If you feel like going ghost-hunting, just find a luxury villa in Florence and follow him around the city.

Once the Palazzo Vecchio closes for the day, all the tourists have filed back out the door in search of dinner, all of the staff returns home and night falls, the sound of footsteps and squeaking in the supposedly empty building is not uncommon. It is said that there are many ghosts in the Palazzo Vecchio, but one is more famous than others: Baldaccio d’Anghiari.