Archive for 'Tourist Attractions'

In the previous post, we discussed childhood memories of seaside vacations and the pure joy that they bring. We also showed you how to recreate those blissful moments with some of our very best seaside vacation rentals in Tuscany. Here are some more of our picks of just some of our excellent villas to choose from.

3. Isole

Isole is a striking semi-detached countryside property, surrounded by fields that is located in a quiet panoramic position on top of a hill, 5 km from the sea, in Livorno. Painted a bright red, it makes for a rather arresting sight against the lush green fields, blue skies and glimmering azure seas in the background. Rustic and comfortable inside, the property has similarly bright interiors that are charmingly typically Tuscan.

We all have memories of blissful childhood holidays by the sea, right? Even if it was just the nearest coast for a couple of days, or even a few hours, it was the highlight of the summer. As such, there is still something special about seaside vacations, isn't there?

The fresh air, building sandcastles, splashing about and messing around in the water, going for a proper swim to cool down, the smell of the salty water clinging to your hair hours later, warm sand between your toes, meals quickly followed by ice-cream and eaten hungrily after playing around; there's nothing else quite like it.

Tuscany has a lovely coastline with plenty of great seaside destinations so we have chosen some of the best seaside villas on the Tuscan Coast in which to relive your childhood.

If you are planning a visit to the Uffizi Gallery, or Galleria degli Uffizi, in Piazza della Signoria, we suggest that you seek out the works of Botticelli in the gallery, in particular.

The collection is home to some of his most famous and beautiful works that he ever produced and, as such, is a particularly good place to visit for both Botticelli fans and those with a casual interest alike. Just find a wonderful holiday rental in Florence and drop by.

The Uffizi is one of the oldest and most famous art museums in Europe and was originally begun under Vasari for Cosimo I de' Medici in 1560. The name comes from the Italian word for “offices” which is what the building was intended to house when it was first constructed. More and more space was dedicated to the display of artworks over time until that became its primary function and, in 1765, it was officially opened to the public.

If you have found a luxury villa in Florence and are busy planning your trip, you are probably wading through the long list of things to see and do, in and around the city. Most likely, your schedule will be full of plans to eats, drink coffee, grab ice-cream and begin wading through the unending wealth of museums, galleries, churches, palaces and other historic and cultural gems. However, it might be worth making time for something a little different and, maybe, even getting away from the city for a little while during your time in Florence. Trying something a little more active, taking a break from the sensory overload of all of those museums and the long lines and bustle of tourists, will leave you re-energised and ready to enjoy it all once more.

Luckily, Firenze Rafting exists; a Florence-based company that offers a variety of water-based activities and tours. These outings range in type, length of time and location; from an hour to several, an outing on the Arno to tours in the countryside outside the city, and from gentle kayak trips to white water rafting.

La Torre del Candeliere, or The Candlestick Tower, was erected in 1228 as both a watchtower and a symbol of the independence of the town of Massa Marittima, which had just been liberated from the dominion of a Bishop-Prince at the time. It was originally even taller, but was later greatly altered under Sienese rule in the 14th century, changing their symbol of freedom forever and connecting it to their own Cassero Senese, or Sienese Fort.

To get there is a bit of a trek. Once you leave the Piazza Garibaldi, there is a side street that climbs a very steep hill. At the end of the hill, there is a wall and an archway, which marks your entrance into the Sienese section of the city. This is where the Sienese expanded the city's borders beyond the medieval fort built by the Pisans and this is where you will find the Torre del Candeliere and Sienese Fortress, both part of this newer section of the city.