Archive for 'Castles & Palaces'

Stop off for a day in the hilltop village of Fosdinovo, built upon a mountain overlooking the spectacular Tuscan coast in Massa Carrara province. From the Middle Ages onwards, Fosdinovo prospered thanks to the powerful Malaspina family who lived in a fortressed castle.

They established strong trading ties across sea and land and attracted business due to the castle’s proximity to the famous pilgrim route to Rome called Via Francigena.

Stay in a fabulous villa rental in Rometta, which is located only nine kilometres from Fosdinovo.

The vibrant town of Porto Ercole is situated on the eastern promontory of Monte Argentario which juts out on the Tuscan coastline.

Monte Argentario was once an island but several thousand years ago two strips of land called tombolos were formed by waves and tides pushing sand together and upwards above the water’s surface.

These two strips connected the island to the mainland and since then its two main towns have become popular tourist spots to visit. Porto Ercole is the most popular tourist hub with its stylish shops and classy restaurants. It’s also renowned as being one of the finest nightlife districts in the Maremma!

Spend a few delightful hours exploring the hilltop town of Bucine in Arezzo province. Close to the communes of Montevarchi and Civitella in Val di Chiana, Bucine is a truly authentic Tuscan town with lots for tourists to see and do.

Begin your exploration here with a visit to the cultural museum in San Leolino, a frazoni of the Bucine municipality.

Admire the sacred artefacts on display here in one section before strolling over to another area to become immersed in the history and development of cultural traditions in the Bucine area through the centuries.

If your holiday in Southern Tuscany brings you anywhere close to the ‘floating’ town of Orbetello in Grosseto province then be sure to take an hour or two to visit Albinia.

This quaint little hamlet is a frazione of Orbetello and can easily be explored from the ancient Roman road called Via Aurelia nearby.

It’s perfectly situated as a stop off for tourists along their scenic exploration of the Maremma as Albinia lies only 10 kilometres from Orbetello and 33 kilometres from Grosseto.

Sail out to Elba Island of the Tuscan archipelago to explore the fascinating ruins of Medici fortifications built here. In the 16th century King Carlo V gave ownership of the island’s town, Portoferraio to the Grand Duke of Tuscany, Cosimo de’ Medici who then named it ‘Cosmopoli’.

Soon afterwards Cosimo sent a team of skilled architects to transform Portoferraio into an impressive walled town of towers, bastions and ramparts.

This fortified town was to act as a military defensive post against Turkish attacks.