Archive for 'Pisa'

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

One of the most important things that we want when we go on holidays is to really relax and unwind. If you have found a vacation rental in Tuscany and are planning to get away from it all then why not plan to set aside a morning or two for a good yoga session to loosen up, get rid of all of your tension, and start a day of fun and sightseeing right? Breathe, relax your jaw, roll your shoulders, and get ready to enjoy a wonderful holiday in beautiful Tuscany…

Whether you are based in a city or in the country, there are plenty of different options to choose from all around the region. Tuscany is actually quite an up-and-coming yoga destination and there are new schools opening all over. Plus, as a famously relaxed place, Tuscany has a perfect atmosphere for practicing yoga and what better backdrop or setting than the rolling pastures and pretty hilltop towns of Tuscan landscapes and the historic grandeur and architectural gems of Tuscan city views? It couldn’t really get much more idyllic than that!

Here are some of the best places to attend some yoga classes and take a moment’s pause while you are exploring Tuscany.     Read More

Pisa has quite the calendar of incredible events and festivals that are steeped in local history and rich in Tuscan culture, which take place at various points throughout the year. One of the biggest of these events is the Luminara Festival, which takes place in June and is celebrated in honour of San Ranieri, the patron saint of the city. This sees the city get lit up magically by tens of thousands of candles upon nightfall and is a truly majestic thing to behold. The day after, however, there is another fascinating celebration: a historical regatta takes place on the same waters that were illuminated the night before, and the Arno plays host to an exciting boat race. To experience this exciting and colourful festival as a whole, just find a vacation rental in Pisa and plan a trip for the middle of June!

Dating back to 1688, the festival traces its origins to when the Grand Duke of Tuscany ordered that San Ranieri’s ashes be transferred from the simple urn that had thus far contained them to a more decorative and modern urn. As they were being moved from one urn to the other, a procession of pilgrims with candles walked alongside it as a mark of respect and the festival that continues to this day recreates these events in honour of their beloved patron saint.     Read More

Tuscany is a magical place full of incredible works of art, delicious dishes waiting to be eaten, pretty towns, wonderful views, a rich cultural and historical heritage, lots to see and do, and much more besides. However, it is also, oftentimes, quite a strange place with things you might not expect like Torture Museums, intestine sandwiches, dinosaur bones in church walls, swords stuck in stones, and other bizarre and unique places, attractions, and surprises. It is, furthermore, home to quite a few unique traditions and festivals that are must-sees for those looking to get off the beaten tourist path and experience a different, less-talked-about, side of Tuscany. If you have found a vacation rental in Tuscany and are looking for more unique and impossibly memorable experiences of the region, then check out this list of some of the most unusual and special events in Tuscany…

Watermelon Festival, Castellina in Chianti

For those planning on renting a holiday rental in Chianti at the end of August, you should aim to head the charming town of Castellina in Chianti for the Watermelon Festival, or Sagra del Cocomero. Like most festivals in Italy there is lots of foods and music but the main star of the show is the watermelon. So, if a whole festival dedicated to watermelons sounds good to you, then there could be no better fit! The best way to cool down during the hottest month of the year in Tuscany.     Read More