Archive for 'Tourist Attractions'

If you would like to go somewhere on you Italian holiday that’s full of thrills and excitement, Massaciuccoli Lake in the Versilia area of Tuscany would be ideal for you! Located only twenty kilometres from the cities of Lucca and Pisa, this charming part of Tuscany is easily reached.

There are plenty of fascinating tourist activities available here and for those wishing to stay a few days to enjoy it fully; there is a fine selection of glorious luxury villa rentals in Viareggio town and all over the Versilia region to choose from.


Start the day with a beautiful drive around Massaciuccoli Lake from the town of Viareggio to Torre del Lago, less than four kilometres away. You will drive through a stunning avenue along the way which is lined with ripening lime trees that invigorates the senses!

Massaciuccoli Lake is actually the well drained remains of a lagoon that was formed a long time ago by the Serchio River. Its deepest point is barely more than two metres but its mineral rich waters have supported a colourful array of flora and fauna through the years.

If you are staying in or even passing through the Casentino valley in Tuscany, a worthwhile visit would be one to the town of Chiusi della Verna. The sanctuary of La Verna, founded by St. Francis of Assisi, is located near the top of Mount Penna above the town of Chiusi della Verna. It is said to be one of the most peaceful places to be on earth.

There are many visitors to these parts because this is where St. Francis of Assisi lived for his final years in solitude with his fellow Franciscan monks. The nearby Basilica Maggiore contains terracotta sculpture by the famous Andrea della Robbia. Also to be viewed by the tourist is the Chapel of Relics which contains possessions of St. Francis when he was alive. There is a tablecloth, some crockery and a walking stick.

The most unusual artefact found is a ‘disciplina’, an iron handle whip used in a common Christian practice of ‘Mortification of the Flesh’, where monks would routinely whip their own flesh in penance for their sins. A relic of the saint’s blood staining a linen cloth can also be seen here. It’s carried around Chiusi della Verna during holy celebrations. After a visit to this sanctuary, a half hour of hiking would bring you to the summit of Mount Penna where the views are breath taking!

Do you have an interest in learning about the history of places you visit? If so, then perhaps an enjoyable stay in the attractive region of Tuscany would be a perfect holiday spot for you! There are many available vacation rentals along the tuscan coastline and further inland that would be a perfect base for you to explore this fascinating area! Tuscany is a region in Italy whose name was inspired by the ancient Etruscan people known as ‘Tusci’ who thrived here from approximately 800BC until 390BC.

They were a powerful and prosperous civilisation that made their fortunes by exporting metals, mainly copper and iron which they mined from the area. There is a lot of evidence suggesting that the Etruscans dominated large areas of early Italy before forces from Rome began fighting them back within their borders. They eventually absorbed them into their territory during the Roman Republic Movement.

If you like to learn about the history of places you holiday to then perhaps a relaxing stay at one of many vacation rentals in Tuscany would be the perfect base for your enlightening stay?

Tuscany got its name from an ancient civilisation called the Etruscans who lived and thrived in this region between 800BC AND 390 BC. Although we don’t have many written accounts of the Etruscan civilisation, we’re lucky that they left so many clues behind them in the form of murals, pottery, metal artefacts and buildings to help us piece together how they lived. Tuscany has great many museums dedicated to the ancient Etruscan people; here are a few of the most popular.

The ‘Museo dell’ Accademia Etrusca' in Cortona is home to many ornate Etruscan treasures. It has a beautiful mural called ‘Musa Polimnia’ and includes most of the discoveries found at a tomb in nearby Sodo. One of the few bronze tablets left bearing one of the longest inscriptions in the ancient Etruscan language can also be admired here. There were also three significant tombs discovered here, one of which revealed a grand alter with a sphinx themed stairway leading up to the ‘Melone II’ tumulus. They also discovered a beautiful Etruscan oil lamp chandelier here.

To gain a perfect perspective of the beauty of Italy’s coastline, a holiday along the coast of Tuscany will fill any visitor’s heart with a sense of awe and admiration for its beautifully preserved beaches and coastal towns.

Much of the land layouts, building designs and winding roads have stayed true to the times when the ancient civilisation, the Etruscans built a prosperous environment for themselves between 800BC AND 390BC.

The Etruscan coastline could be described as a heaven for the senses!

Anyone who gazes out onto the crystal clear waters of the Mediterranean and breathes in the salty smell of the coast can fully appreciate the lengths that the Tuscan people go to protect their environment from pollution. As they turn to face the land, they’ll be greeted by the sight of prosperous growth of juicy green and black olives, ripening fruit and colourful fields packed with grains and vegetables bathing in the warm sunlight. The bouquet of smells wafting from the sea and land is like a tonic for the soul!