Archive for 'Siena'

  

Friday, March 31, 2017
Duomo, Siena
Continuing on from our last post, here are some more architectural gems around Tuscany that are well worth a visit if you are interested in art and culture. Once you have found a luxury villa in Tuscany and are planning your trip, be sure to pencil some of these beauties into your itinerary.

Siena's Cathedral is a perfect example. It was built between 1215 and 1263 and was designed by Nicola Pisano. His son, Giovanni, continued the design when more building was undertaken from 1285. The upper half of the facade was not added until 14th century, a time of great wealth and prosperity for Siena. At the time, plans were considered to transform the church into a giant masterpiece that could even rival the mammoth St. Peter's in Rome but this never came to pass.

It is still a stunning building, Gothic in style, and elaborately embellished inside and out. Its anachronistically Romanesque black-and-white striped campanile is particularly iconic.     Read More
Posted in: Architectural Gems, Castles & Palaces, Chianti, Churches & Religious Buildings, Localities, Siena, Tourist Attractions

  

Friday, March 31, 2017
Horti Leonini
In our final post in this series, here are two more of Tuscany's best and most beautiful gardens that make for wonderful places to relax and take a breather from the intense pace and tourist crowds that some people can experience.

First up is the Horti Leonini in the town of San Quirico d'Orcia, Siena. A late 16th century park, it was created according to the direction of Diomede Leoni (for whom it is named) with funding and the donation of lands by Francesco de' Medici. Built as part of a scheme of renovation in the town after damages caused during wars between Siena and Florence, it is an oasis of beauty. Wonderfully well-preserved, the gardens have maintained their original appearance and provide a perfect example of an Italian style garden.     Read More
Posted in: Localities, Must See Attractions, Parks & Gardens, Pisa, Siena, Tourist Attractions

  

Friday, March 31, 2017
Piazza Del Campo
As we all know how important the location is when choosing where to stay on a holiday, we have looked through all of the villas and apartments on our site and chosen ten of our best located vacation rentals in Tuscany. Here is the next batch.

6. Piazza Del Campo

In the last post, we had an apartment located in the heart of Florence and this beautiful and charming apartment is located in the historic "Piazza del Campo" in Siena, where every year the famous Palio takes place. On the third floor of an ancient, historic building with windows looking directly out on to the “piazza” and on the renowned “Torre del Mangia”, the town-hall civic tower, you couldn't find a better or more centrally located property in Siena.     Read More
Posted in: Beaches, Localities, Lucca, Siena, Tourist Attractions, Villa Spotlights, Villas and Farmhouses

  

Monday, March 13, 2017
Sword in the Stone
There are plenty of things to see and do in Tuscany – in fact, there is no shortage at all and a list that one could not complete in even several lifetimes – but alongside the famous churches, galleries, works of art, palaces, museums and other commonplace and famous attractions, there are some more unique and strange sights. Once you have found a luxury villa in Tuscany and are planning a trip, consider these attractions alongside the prerequisite visits to the Uffizi, Leaning Tower of Pisa and Palazzo Vecchio.

6. The Sword in The Stone, San Galgano Abbey

Galgano Guidotti was born in 1148 to a minor noble and was a self-centred, violent knight until he was visited by the Archangel Michael in a vision and told to renounce his ways when he was 32.     Read More
Posted in: Architectural Gems, Churches & Religious Buildings, Legends, Localities, Museums & Galleries, Siena, Tourist Attractions

  

Friday, March 10, 2017
Labyrinth, Chiusi
The little-known town of Chiusi in the Siena province of Tuscany is a bit of a hidden gem that offers stunning scenery, pretty buildings and a rich history. If you have found a vacation rental in Chiusi and are looking for a unique day out that is a little bit off the beaten track, it really is a perfect destination.

Between the 7th and 5th centuries BC, the area was one of the most important towns in the Etruscan Dodecapolis (league of twelve cities) and was where one of their most powerful kings called Porsenna is said to have been buried in an elaborate tomb within a complex labyrinth in an Etruscan burial site. In his Naturalis Historia, Pliny the Elder tells that the legendary Etruscan king Porsenna was buried in a majestic tomb inside an unfathomable labyrinth, with his sarcophagus laid to rest in a golden carriage that was guarded by golden statues of twelve horses, a brood hen and five thousand chicks, all also made of gold.     Read More
Posted in: Architectural Gems, History, Legends, Localities, Siena, Tourist Attractions