Archive for 'Tourist Attractions'

One of the most famously beautiful parts of Tuscany is the UNESCO-awarded Val D’Orcia. This part of the region that extends from the hills south of Siena to Monte Amiata and is home to the towns of Pienza, Radicofani, and Montalcino. It is the place from which our perfect postcard pictures of Tuscany, the very first images of the region that come to mind when you think of Tuscany, come from. These are the undulating green hills broken only by roads winding throughout and the odd tree, old farmhouse, or beautiful hilltop medieval town or village that have made the countryside of Tuscany so iconic and famously stunning worldwide. If you have found a vacation rental in the Val D’Orcia, however, and are exploring the region, there is one particular spot to head to in order to take in perhaps the most famous and most beautiful panorama in all over Italy: the Podere Belvedere.

For those who like to travel when tourist crowds are at their smallest, winter is a great time to visit Tuscany: it is when you can readily visit the most famous and popular tourist attractions without having to queue for long periods of time, when prices for things and various travel costs are often at their lowest, when things are most authentic and locals have the most energy for visitors as they aren’t coming in their swathes, and it is when the whole region seems like a different place entirely without the tourist crowds that arrive in summer.

However, you might also wish to experience many of the traditions and festivals that only take place during the high season in Tuscany. If this is the case, then fear not as the town of Buti, near Pisa, has the answer for you and makes for an ideal winter destination in Tuscany. If you are looking for the best time of year to visit Pisa, then come in time for the Palio di Buti. Find a vacation rental in Pisa and head to this town and this festival to get a slice of the palio tradition while enjoying the most peaceful time of the year in the region.

If you have found a luxury villa in Florence and are looking to delve into, and explore, some of the beautiful Tuscan countryside around the city and if you are interested in abandoned places and history, then you should probably head to Semifonte. Located in the province of Florence, within the modern day comune of Barberino Val d'Elsa, Semifonte was once a grand fortified city that was built during the 12th century. If was destroyed in 1202 in a siege during conflict with Florence and little remains today as the peace treaty brokered with Florence required surviving inhabitants to demolish their own city and prevented rebuilding on the site. In fact, the stones used to build Barberino Val d'Elsa were taken from the destroyed city and repurposed, leaving very little of the city behind today.

Have you ever wanted to visit the real secret garden? Were you a child obsessed with the Secret Garden in the nineties or the other movies and original novel that came before? Or a parent forced to watch any version of the film or read the book endless times? If the answer to any of the above is, “yes”, and you have found a luxury villa in Florence, then we would suggest setting aside some time for a trip out of the closely gathered attractions of the city centre to the lovely Villa Capponi, which is home to a beautiful secret garden.

Located in Arcetri, a little hilly area to the south of the centre Florence, the Villa Capponi was originally built in the 14th century but is named for the Capponi family who purchased the property in 1572. A wealthy merchant, Gino di Ludovico Capponi bought the Renaissance villa from its previous owner, Niccolo Del Nero, who had gone bankrupt and extended and enhanced the property, making it a noble residence.

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.