Archive for 'Florence'

There is no shortage of palaces, gardens, and architectural gems in and around Florence, however, if you have found a luxury villa in Florence, you should make sure to set aside some time for a visit to Villa La Pietra, which combines all of the above. Set in the hills just outside Florence, it is one of the grandest villas in Florence, is surrounded by extensive gardens, filled with wonderful objects, and an extraordinary sight to behold.

Head into the hills around Florence – looking down upon the city, where the noble families of the area, like the Medici had their country estates in which to pull back from urban hustle and bustle and seek out rest and recuperation – and you will encounter a grand entrance and a long avenue lined by cypresses standing tall and proud. At the end of this driveway is a fifteenth-century villa and, arranged around it, 57 acres of olive groves, fruit trees, and incredible gardens.     Read More

You imagine a certain kind of rather traditional option for restaurants and coffee shops in Italy but, of course, there are more modern and cutting-edge options available and one thing that we love to do is track down all sorts of different kinds of places to eat on our next trip to various cities. With Florence currently in mind, I was looking at lots of places, hunting for something special, when I came across the magical and appealing interiors of La Ménagère.     Read More

Tuscany, with her rolling, picturesque landscapes, excellent food and wine, pretty villages and impressive cities, beautiful coast, stunning buildings, and truly incredible works of art is an inherently romantic destination. It birthed great poets and writers of singular devotion to one beloved such as Petrarch and Dante. It boasts some of the most spectacular sunsets in the world. It is overrun with gorgeous palaces and cathedrals. The pace of life is perfectly suited for focusing entirely on someone special. Really, Tuscany simply is a perfect place to dash to for a little city break for a long weekend or to escape to for an extended getaway with your Valentine.

If you were considering planning a Valentine's getaway in Tuscany together or surprising your love with a
vacation rental in Tuscany this Valentine's Day, you're sure to make incredible memories that will last a lifetime. Here are a list of some of the most romantic things to get up to in this impossibly romantic location....     Read More

Bottega Pecchioli is a highly-regarded family-run winery and vineyard in Carmignano, Tuscany, not far from Florence. If you have found a vacation rental in Florence and are thinking about setting aside a day to go wine-tasting and to learn some more about wine and Tuscan culture, then it is an ideal option.

The history of the winery is long and goes back to when the surrounding area of Poggio alla Malva was a small farming village. The first note of the family institution records the Bottega Pecchioli and its “storage area of salt, oil and wine, corn, candles and coal.” In the second half of the 18th century, it became a precursor to what we know a food store to be today and over the years it has been various kinds of business including a tavern, bakery, milk and butter shop, a post office, and wine bar.     Read More