Archive for 'Localities'

The University of Pisa is one of the oldest universities in the world and it is also home to a Natural History Museum that is also one of the oldest museums in the world. It has a surprisingly impressive and rich collection that could compete with any natural history museum in the world. If you have found a vacation rental in Pisa and you are looking for somewhere to spend a couple of hours out of the sun and learning more about the natural world, this is a fun and educational spot that is perfect to do just that!

Located in the Pisa Charterhouse (the Carthusian Monastery of Calci), 10km from the city of Pisa in the comune of Calci, the Natural History Museum of the University of Pisa (Museo Di Storia Naturale dell'Università di Pisa) was founded in 1596 by Grand Duke Ferdinand I of Tuscany. Originally composed of specimens sent from the Florentine palaces of the Medici and the Uffizi, in particular, it was somewhat fashioned on the German idea of a “wonderland”, meaning that it gathered together a variety of natural curiosities and oddities. This selection of minerals, zoo animals, skeletons, fossils, and more eventually expanded into a proper institution in its own right and became an early example of a natural history museum, which boasted a rich and impressive collection.     Read More

Tuscany isn’t short on beautiful scenery or incredible views and ways to take them in. So many of her towns are built on hilltops, affording the most amazing sweeping vistas over the surrounding landscapes. There are also plenty of buildings all over that you can visit to admire the view from up on top of them. However, if you really want to admire a good view, the best combo is a nice hike to work up a little bit of a sweat, some fresh air and natural surroundings to admire along the way, and then a great view from the top of the trail as a reward for all of your efforts. Like hilltop towns and pretty vantage points, there is not a shortage of great hiking trails to choose from in Tuscany, however, if we were to recommend one today, it would be the Passo di Dante on Monte Pisano. If you have found a vacation rental in Pisa and you’re looking for somewhere to go for a pleasant and not overly challenging hike that boasts history and truly excellent views, then this is just the spot for you!

Monte Pisano has quite a few different routes to choose from and these routes are of various levels of difficulty, meaning that there is probably something to suit everyone, no matter their kind of previous experience with hiking or fitness level. All boast excellent views – with panoramas over the Tuscan Coast to one side of the mountain and across to the Lucca and Apuan Alps on the other side – and traverse through a stunning landscape made up of forestry dotted by ruins of ancient monasteries, pretty little churches, and old farmhouses.     Read More

Carrara Marble is famous worldwide. It adorns counters in the fanciest kitchens around the world and was the material of choice of the great Renaissance genius, Michelangelo. To this day, the area in and around Carrara is steeped in the tradition of marble quarrying and of parcelling it off to make beautiful things. You can go on exhilarating 4x4 tours through the glittering marble quarries of the region to see where the journey of so many famous art objects and buildings began, you can explore the stunning and exquisitely carved marble gem that is Carrara’s Cathedral and how the material can be used to its fullest and most extraordinary extent, you can wander around the many marble beauties in the town of Carrara, and you can also seek out the exceptionally lovely sculptures made of Carrara marble in churches and galleries and museums all over Tuscany, Italy, and the world.     Read More

The Tuscan Coast is less well-regarded and famous internationally than its inland counterparts, from famous cities like Pisa and Florence to its iconic rolling green hills and lines of cypresses. Yet, despite this, it is an excellent place to holiday, offering unbridled opportunity to explore. With a holiday rental on the Tuscan Coast, you can spend time discovering the different islands (each with their own unique characters), the charming and sleepy little seaside villages, the bustling promenades and bright lights of the larger resort towns, the natural wonders of the Orbetello Lagoon and the Maremma, and the absolutely picture-perfect beaches. The area in and around Monte Argentario, in particular, boasts a lot of exceptional beaches. Just find a vacation rental in Monte Argentario and come discover her many incredible beaches for yourself!

Located in the Tyrrhenian Sea, nestled between Giglio Island and the mainland Tuscan province of Grosseto, Monte Argentario was once an independent island but, around 4,000 years ago, two narrow strips of land called Isthmuses formed with water on either side and connected the north eastern and eastern side of Monte Argentario Island to the mainland, making it into the peninsula and comune that exists today.     Read More