Archive for 'Lucca'

Continuing on from our previous posts, here are some more of our picks among our vacation rentals in Tuscany with the most extraordinary interiors. In order to ensure a perfect trip, these are the kind of homely, beautiful rentals that will allow you to sit back, relax and really enjoy your holiday, that will provide you with a base you can't wait to get back to each day.

7. Chiodo

Chiodo is a beautiful farmhouse set high in the hills between Lucca and Pisa, with magnificent views on the valley below. It is located very close to the small village of Vorno, renowned for its beautiful 17th century villas that were once summer residences for the oldest noble families in Lucca. The property has been a holiday for many years and was bought by a Dutch family in 2006, who spent more than three years of intensive renovations to transform the villa into an ideal holiday home.

Continuing on from our previous post, here are more of the most beautifully decorated villas that we have to offer in Tuscany. These vacation rentals in Tuscany are not only well-located and well-equipped for ensuring you have a wonderful holiday, they also have incredible interiors that will make your temporary home away from home so inviting that you'll barely want to leave the house at all!

3. Montoro

Montoro is a lovely villa that was built in the second half of the 19th century, and has been completely renovated. The views from the property are like a picture of typical Chianti landscape, rich with gently rolling hills covered with vineyards and olive groves. Within the well-maintained fenced garden with trees and flower beds, there is a swimming pool, surrounded by a terrace. The interior of the house is furnished with comfortable, traditional furniture, antiques and yet features a very well-equipped kitchen and modern bathrooms.

Continuing on from our last post, here are some more of Tuscany's best cakes that are a must-try for foodies visiting the region. While the cakes that we last discussed are all more dessert-like sweet treats, there is also a tradition of cakes in Tuscany that can be served as side-dishes or as main courses and at a variety of times of day and meals.

4. Chard Cake

One of these is the Chard Cake, or "Torta d'Erbe", that comes from the area of Massa Carrara. It is a typical salted cake that can be served either as side dish or as main course and is made of wheat flour, chard leaves, eggs, breadcrumbs, ricotta cheese, Pecorino cheese, olive oil, salt and pepper. Tasty and attractively amber coloured, it is a welcome addition to any table and is a must for all those foodies that have found a holiday rental in the Massa Carrara and are planning a holiday there.

Foodies flock to Tuscany year in, year out to enjoy her hearty and tasty cuisine. With roots in peasant cooking, it is a cuisine that makes the most of local ingredients to create something filling and comforting. It is mostly pasta, pizza and other savoury delights, however, that people are most familiar with and are most keen to enjoy. Tuscany's desserts are less well-loved and well-known internationally but, despite this, there are plenty of delicious treats that you should try while holidaying in the region. We have rounded up some of the best cakes that can be found in Tuscany so you can track them down after you've finished with the main courses.

1. Schiacciata alla Fiorentina

One particularly tasty example is Schiacciata alla Fiorentina. This is a very traditional Florentine cake which can be found in local pasticceria (pastry shops) all over the city.

Natural disasters, emigration, accidents and other unexpected events have led to the creation of quite a few ghost towns around Italy. However, the Italian iteration of the ghost town is often far more beautiful than their counterparts worldwide. Ghost towns are always intriguing and fascinating sights that people positively itch to explore but these Italian towns also capture hearts with their incredibly picturesque settings and poetically decaying buildings.

A good Tuscan example for those exploring the region and looking for an attraction that is a little different or for those intrigued by such things is the town of Isola Santa. Located near the Versilian Coast, just find a vacation rental in Versilia and drag yourself from the beach long enough to spend a day exploring this fascinating ghost town.