Archive for 'Architectural Gems'

Tuscany, as a destination, is full of stunning rural landscapes, pretty historic towns perched on hilltops, and awe-inspiring cities stuffed with artistic and cultural gems. There are, as a result, countless excellent holiday destinations to choose from within the region, if you are looking to plan a vacation in Tuscany. We have recently discussed the appeal of a holiday in Pisa, a vacation in Arezzo, and a villas in Cortona, but another gorgeous setting for a getaway in Tuscany that we highly recommend is Volterra. Volterra, an utterly picturesque walled hilltop town with Etruscan origins and a Medieval appearance, is an ideal place for a getaway for those who want to experience the most characteristic, authentic, and scenic version of Tuscany. So, browse our villas in Volterra and read on to discover just five reasons as to why you should definitely make the town your next vacation destination in Tuscany...

If you are a movie-lover, then the cinematic beauty of Tuscany is very appealing and makes it a perfect place for a vacation but so, too, does its history as a destination where famous films have been set and made. Fans of Roberto Benigni's beloved 1997 Oscar-winning masterpiece, “La Vita è Bella,” can head to a villa in Arezzo to see many locations from that movie, those who have always wanted to see the heavenly land from the end of the Russell Crowe vehicle, “Gladiator,” can wander it themselves with a vacation rental in the Orcia Valley, and Hannibal can be followed around Florence. In fact, we have a whole section of articles based around films and books set and made in Tuscany that you can browse and use to plan all sorts of adventures and holidays in Tuscany. However, if you have been considering a luxury villa in Florence, in particular, but are in search of somewhere to actually go and see some films while you are on holidays, then you will find yourself very much in luck. Florence happens to be home to a rather exceptionally beautiful and special cinema called the Cinema Odeon Firenze that any self-respecting movie buff will tell you makes for a magic place to relax and see a film while on vacation.

Arezzo is a name that many international tourists may have heard of before but is likely far less familiar with than other beloved Tuscan holiday destinations such as Florence, Pisa, or Siena. It is, however, no less wonderful a place to spend your next vacation, with plenty of incredible things to see, do, and eat in the area. Read on to learn about why you should choose Arezzo as your next holiday destination and, once you have fallen in love with this stunning city, then be sure to go on and browse our beautiful vacation rentals in Arezzo and our villas with swimming pools in Arezzo to get planning your trip ASAP.

Tuscany is home to some exceptional old palaces that were once the elegant dwellings of the wealthy and the nobility of Italy in the past but are now open to the public to explore and are also home to some important and fascinating museums, venues, and other cultural institutions. One particularly great example of this is the Palazzo Chigi-Saracini, also known as the Vestri Palace, which is located in the stunning historic centre of the city of Siena. If you have found a luxury villa in Siena and are spending some time wandering and exploring this very charming Tuscan town, then stopping into the Palazzo Chigi-Saracini to have a look around this exceptional beauty and the, not one, but two incredible cultural gems housed within it is an absolute must.

Built in the 12th century, the Palazzo Chigi-Saracini is an architectural gem that was first erected by the aristocratic Marescotti family of Siena on top of the site of a castle that they owned in Siena. So central were the Marescotti to public life in Siena that before the eventual construction of the Palazzo Pubblico, this building was even used as a seat of the Council of the Republic of Siena. Of this earlier form of the palace, only a tower that stands next to the present palace still exists. Reconstructions, alterations, and additions that came later eventually created the Gothic beauty that is the present Palazzo Chigi-Saracini on the Via di Città in the Terzo di Città, which is composed of two floors: a ground floor in stone and a first floor in brick, with two orders of trifore windows. On the façade, a reminder of the Marescotti family remains in their emblem of an eagle with outstretched wings that is visible on these windows.

In the previous article, we discussed the main attraction to the beautiful spa town of Monsummano Terme in Tuscany, which is the spa resort and cave system with natural hot springs and therapeutic steam of Grotta Giusti. While this is the main attraction and soaking in the waters, going for a facial, having a massage, trying out cave-diving in the thermal waters, and more all are things that anyone who has found a vacation rental in Monsummano Terme must pencil in during their visit, there are some other great things to see and do in town. One of these other wonderful attractions in Monsummano Terme is the excellent Museo di Arte Contemporanea e del Novecento.

The Museo di Arte Contemporanea e del Novecento, or Museum of Contemporary and Twentieth Century Art (also known as Mac, n), is an excellent museum located inside the pretty and historic Villa Renatico Martini in Monsummano Terme. Opened to the public in 2000, the museum hosts a permanent collection, the Civic Collection, that is made up of paintings, other graphic works, engravings, videos, photographs, installations, sculptures, and more, created with different techniques and materials, largely by Italian artists from the 20th century onwards. Artists represented in this collection include Pietro Annigoni, Vinicio Berti, Ferdinando Chevrier, Lamberto Pignotti, Eugenio Miccini, and Ketty La Rocca and there are works by international artists also on display including works from France, Holland, Greece, and more. In addition to this fixed collection, the museum regularly holds temporary exhibitions and events.