Archive for 'Florence'

Maggio Musicale Fiorentino is an annual arts festival in Florence, most notably important as an opera festival, which was founded in April 1933 by conductor Vittorio Gui.

Gui wished to stage both contemporary and forgotten operas in visually dramatic productions and his idea went on to become the first music festival in Italy. Today, it is a Florentine institution and is held each year usually beginning late April, continuing through May and into June.

Generally there are four operas staged over this period but lots of other events related to the festival also take place in the city over the two months. If you're a music lover and have a particular fondness for opera be sure to find a luxury villa in Florence and check this festival out for yourself.

There is never a lack of exhibitions happening at any given moment in time in Florence. However, some are a little more special than others whether the pieces are on loan from all over the world, have never been seen together, gain new meaning in an entirely new setting or have rarely been seen before. It is the latter reason that makes an exhibition currently running in the Pitti Palace so special.

“Rigour and Grace” sees pieces that are rarely on display being opened to the public in their home in the Palatine Chapel which is, likewise, rarely seen. For the next few months, this beautiful and exclusive space is being opened for visits. If you have found your luxury villa in Florence and are planning on visiting before May 17th, be sure to drop by the chapel.

Once you have found the perfect holiday rental in Tuscany, the googling begins as you try and make a list of the things to see and do in this beautiful region of Italy. Food is probably going to be high on your list as Tuscany, in particular, is known for her delicious, hearty, simple and wholesome cuisine. You have probably sampled Tuscan dishes already but there is nothing quite like the real thing, especially if you are on holidays and enjoying the pace of life and surroundings of Tuscany. In order to make your life easier, we've gathered together some of the best treats that the region has to offer in this one series of posts on sweets in Tuscany. So, when you go to order a coffee to enjoy some afternoon as you sit in a piazza in Tuscany, you'll know exactly what kinds of sweets to ask for as the perfect accompaniment.

Florence is the ultimate Renaissance city, the city where the Renaissance was born and where it still lives everywhere you turn in the city to this very day. From art, to architecture, to historical monuments, it is hard to forget the period that made the city truly great. If you're visiting Florence, you also probably have some Renaissance must-sees pencilled into your itinerary such as the artworks of the Uffizi, sculptures of the Piazza della Signoria and churches like the Duomo. However, in addition to these classic sights, you might want to consider something a little more off the beaten track that helps make your experience of the Renaissance fuller, that helps bring it to life and take it out of dusty history books. If so, you should consider the Renaissance Court Banquet experience. Just find a villa with internet in Florence and take a break from contemporary life to live it up like a Medici prince for an evening!

There are many, many different tours of the historic city of Florence and, with so much to see and do from food and wine-tasting to viewing art to visiting haunted hotspots, there is no shortage of different ways to experience the city. Depending on what you're interested in, what age you are, how fit you are, what language you speak, who you're with etc there are a range of different kinds of tours to choose from and a variety of modes of transport to get around. You can walk, run, take a bus, cycle, go on a segway or, even, take to the Arno River. Tours of an Italian city by water might bring Venice to mind but it is also a viable way to see Florence by cycling along the Arno. How can one cycle the Arno, you might ask? Well, by taking a water bike, of course! Just find a luxury villa in Florence and take this unique tour for yourself – it will be an unforgettable experience.