Archive for 'Must See Attractions'

If you have found a vacation rental in Pistoia and are spending time exploring the surrounding area and the beautiful, lush landscape of this part of Tuscany, then there is one special little spot that is perfect for those who want to get a little off the more traditional beaten tourist path for international visitors. While famous among locals and other Tuscans, the Ponte Sospeso di San Marcello Pistoiese is likely unheard of to most foreign tourists. Therefore, you can expect busy crowds on weekends but you’re going to take in something a little more unusual and that you didn’t expect to find.     Read More

About 30km south of Pisa, you will find the pretty little Tuscan village of Lari. With medieval origins, it is dominated by the mighty fortress, the Castello dei Vicari (known as Vicari Castle or Lari Castle in English), which is perched as the crowning glory of the village. However, do not be lead astray by its pretty, if somewhat unusual, appearance, as it hides a long history of horror and hauntings within its walls. If you have found a vacation rental in Pisa and are considering planning a last-minute mid-term break, half-term, or Hallowe’en getaway to the area, then pencil a trip to the Castello dei Vicari into your itinerary. Perfectly spooky and a rare spot in Italy where you can usually find Hallowe’en celebrations, it is the ideal place to head to if you are in Tuscany in or around All Hallows’ Eve.

The first written records that we have of the castle date back to 732AD, though the castle that you see today is a very different building, having been rebuilt many different times throughout the centuries. It has also changed many hands throughout the years, from family to family, and lots of different kingdoms, rulers, and organisations. In the Middle Ages, it was under the control of the Republic of Pisa and then, in 1406, it came into the possession of the Florentine Vicari family, it was a prison, then it was home to Florentine vicars until halfway through the 19th century, then it was a jail again, and, finally, it came into the ownership of the Municipality of Lari, who restored it and opened it to the public.     Read More

If you have found a luxury villa in Umbria or a luxury villa in nearby Tuscany and are planning an Autumn getaway in Italy to enjoy the fertile and lush landscape, pretty towns, and hearty cuisine of the region of Umbria, then you might also be looking for something a little spookier to add to your itinerary as October unfolds ahead of us and Hallowe’en approaches. Italy, as one might imagine of a place with such a long and vibrant history and so rich in well-preserved historic towns, castles, palaces, churches, and other architectural gems, is full of tales of ghosts, goblins, ghouls, witches, demons, and more. There are plenty of supposedly haunted spots to visit, places where witch trials took place or deals with the devil are said to have gone down, and sites of famous superstitious traditions. However, if you are thinking of heading to explore Umbria and are in search of somewhere where you’re guaranteed to see something spooky this Hallowe’en, then look no further than the crypt beneath the Chiesa di Santo Stefano, or Church of St. Stephen, in Ferentillo.     Read More

Elba is an impossibly beautiful island off the coast of Tuscany that is famous as the place to which Napoleon was exiled. It is full of stunning beaches and excellent hiking routes across its lush and characteristic peaks and valleys and there is much to be seen if you have found a luxury villa on the Tuscan Coast and are exploring the island. However, if you don’t quite feel up to a hike or it’s a particularly hot day or you want a more unique experience and a bit of a thrill, then why not head to the Cabinovina Monte Capanne?

The Cabinovina Monte Capanne is a cable car that makes the journey from Pozzatello, just off the centre of the town of Marciana, to the top of Monte Capanne. Monte Capanne is the highest mountain and point on the Italian island of Elba and the lift takes you on an 18 minute journey over the stunning landscape of the area, offering the most spectacular of views along the way.     Read More