Archive for 'Florence'

When one thinks of Florence, the first things that spring to mind tend to be art, architecture, beautiful public spaces and gardens and a rich historical heritage.

Ghosts probably don't feature too prominently in most people's idea of the city but considering its long and rich history full of political intrigue, conflicts, passion, anger and crime, there are plenty of stories of specters that are said to haunt the streets and buildings, spooky events and unexplained incidents.

With Hallowe'en fast approaching, why not find a luxury villa in Florence and spend All Hallows Eve tracking down ghosts in the city this year.

Read on for some scary stories that we have gathered together about the less well-known side of Florence.

In the past few articles, we have listed many different kinds of activities that families can enjoy while visiting Tuscany.

From exciting and educational trips to the aquarium to terrifying and electrifying outings descending into caves, viewing the beautiful Tuscan landscape from a zipline to unique water bike tours of Florence, the capital, there is a wide range of outdoor pursuits, adventures and educational experiences that are child-friendly and will ensure everyone in the group has a good time.

We have another article that lists some more activities so that you can make sure you have the perfect holiday once you have found the perfect holiday rental in Tuscany.

Sometimes a holiday in Tuscany can involve so much running around from place to place, lining up for museums and planning that it isn't actually all that relaxing. If you're the type that prefers to do nothing at all during a vacation than to spend all your time exploring, you might consider checking out a spa town and getting away from it all. Tuscany is home to a whole host of beautiful, characteristic spa towns with natural hot springs and wonderful facilities that have been attracting visitors from near and far for centuries.

Just find yourself a holiday rental in Tuscany and spend some time soaking in the warm waters, getting a massage or a facial, dining on good food and forgetting the outside world for a while in one of the following spa towns. Or, if you've got money and time to spare, maybe you could even do a tour of the towns.

Our last few articles have discussed activities in Tuscany that go beyond the usual trips to palaces, churches, museums, galleries and other cultural institutions. Instead, we focused on activities that you might not have thought of before and that will keep the entire family happy, not just the adults. This article also gathers together some child-friendly activities for you and yours to enjoy once you have found the perfect holiday rental in Tuscany.

If you are getting familiar with the city of Florence, for example, there are plenty of different sorts of tours that you can try, both conventional and more interesting and unique varieties. However, one of the most unique ways to see the city is probably by going on the water bike tour. While it may not be suitable for young kids and ten is the minimum age allowed, it's definitely something that older children and teenagers would enjoy and gets the whole family out and about together for an adventure. The bicycles are standard mountain-bikes which have been transformed into proper water-bikes. Tours depart at either 7pm or 9pm and last for a duration of two hours and an informative, friendly and professional guide takes small groups out, allowing for lots of attention and personalisation.

The Ospedale degli Innocenti, in Florence, was established in 1419 as the first lay institution in the world dedicated to infancy and childhood thanks to donations from Francesco Datini, “the merchant of Prato”. It became home to children abandoned by their families for various reasons, generally extreme poverty and those children then received the surname Innocenti. The prevalence of this name today indicates the importance and scale of the institution's work. However, the building that was home to this service, so ahead of its time, is one of the city's major attractions for more than its social and historical importance; it is also an architectural gem designed by the great Renaissance master, Brunelleschi. Now, a new museum is also being opened on the premises this summer that looks to both the past and the future. If you are interested in history, social issues, culture and art, this sight is a must-see as it manages to cater to all of these interests. Just find a luxury villa in Florence and you can visit for yourself.