Archive for 'Museums & Galleries'

Love the cinema? Adore free events? Planning on enjoying a stay in one of our villas in Florence? Well, then you should definitely check out this year's edition of Apriti Cinema, which gives you the opportunity to attend outdoor screenings of interesting films in a unique outdoor location in the city – the courtyard of the world-famous Uffizi Gallery! If you’re already planning on seeing the masterpieces on canvas and paper and sculpted from stone within the gallery then why not also try and catch a cinematic gem as well? 

The grand cathedrals of Tuscany’s cities are generally an extraordinary collection of buildings, often with ancient origins, additions throughout various periods and architectural styles, contributions by named and famous architects, gilded interiors full of stunning objects, and artworks by the likes of Michelangelo, Giotto, and more. Those, therefore, who find a villa in Tuscany and visit any given town or city should always make time to pop into the local cathedral but, in particular, if you book a vacation rental in Siena, we really recommend a visit. This absolutely gorgeous church has lots of remarkable details touched by famous and beyond talented hands. Here are just five of its highlights that make it a must-see for those on holiday in Siena.

If you book a villa in Tuscany and decide on one destination – a vacation rental on the Tuscan Coast, for example, or a holiday rental in Florence – but you also want to see the famous city of Pisa on a day trip, then that is pretty easily arranged. Tuscany is a diverse, fascinating, and large enough region but not so big that day trips between different cities or areas is overly challenging. What can be more difficult, however, is if you want to see as much of the region as is possible and you only have a day to spend in any one destination. In this case, what do you prioritise? Well, we’re here to help with our handy guide of what to do if you only have a day (12 hours) in Pisa!

Tuscany is famous for several different craft traditions which continue to this day to a lesser or greater degree. There is gold-smithing of Arezzo, the leather-working of Mugello, the glass-blowing of Empoli, and the transforming of the marble of Volterra into all sorts of wonderful things, to name but a few. One of the most quietly impressive traditions of craft in all of Tuscany, however, has to be Montalbano’s history of truly extraordinary embroidery. For those who book a villa with pool in Lucca or a luxury villa in Florence and are planning day-trips in the area, the beautiful locality of Montalbano, in the province of Pistoia is worth visiting for its exceptional looks alone but is also a place where lovely things have also been made. 

It is important that everyone in your party can enjoy a vacation comfortably and safely and as we have a range of accessible villas in Tuscany to choose from, it is certainly possible to accommodate those who may have mobility issues or require the use of a wheelchair.

While a getaway in Tuscany can be enjoyed by everyone, it is certainly true that many historic buildings, attractions, and towns can pose difficulties to those who have challenges when it comes to mobility. Progress has been made and destinations like Florence are actively working on making sure that all tourists can enjoy the city by introducing paved areas through cobbled sections of the city, adding lifts and ramps to buildings, and more. Although not quite everywhere is up to standard yet, here is a list of some museums in Florence and their accessibility features so you can plan a trip during a holiday in Florence, worry-free: