Archive for 'Parks & Gardens'

The gorgeous Viareggio is one of the highlights along the Tuscan Coast, an incredible gem that is celebrated for its rich traditions and pristine beaches. And for those who book a villa in Viareggio, the city not only promises a plethora of attractions of its own but it also serves as a very convenient base for day trips across the Tuscan region, allowing you to both enjoy a seaside break and all of the charms of a stay in a villa in Tuscany. However, for those who are exploring Viareggio itself and are looking to make the most of the natural beauty of the area and to stretch their legs, maybe to even take a bit of a break from the sun on a hot summer’s day, then we recommend a visit to the Parco Pineta di Ponente, also known as the Western Pine Forest Park.

A distinctive feature of many medieval towns that you will come across while staying in one of our Tuscany Villas are remnants or great sections of the ancient walls that once protected these towns. In Lucca, for example, there are still large stretches of these old walls around and throughout the town that not only add to the romantic historic atmosphere but also boast charming walkways, great views, and even more. For those who book a villa in Lucca and particularly those who might be considering travelling during the autumn months, time should definitely be set aside to wander about and explore this incredible feature of this beautiful town.

Florence is an amazing city full of wonderful things to see and do from visiting museums to shopping in historic stores and designer flagships, from enjoying coffee in famous cafes to dining in authentic family-run eateries, and from sipping glasses of wine while enjoying the view from rooftop bars to going on guided tours of the city. All of these things, however, start to add up pretty quickly. If you have booked one of our villas in Florence and you’re looking for a way to stretch your budget so you can really splash out on the things you really care most about (whether this is chic Italian clothes to be brought home, fine-dining, good wine, or anything else), why not add some free attractions and things to see and do to your itinerary? Here is our round-up of the best things to do for free on a holiday in Florence:

There are an endless list of places to visit while enjoying a stay in a villa with pool in Tuscany that could compete for best view but many of these spots are in and around the famously picturesque area known as the Orcia Valley. This part of Tuscany epitomises the renowned beauty of the Tuscan countryside – think rolling green hills swathed in thin bands of fog in the early mornings and lit with golden light in the evenings, pretty and historic villages perched overlooking the valleys, cypresses lining winding roads, vineyards and olive groves stretching out to the horizon. It is an area of true pastoral perfection and one of the best places to enjoy these views, among all the amazing candidates, while staying in a vacation rental in the Orcia Valley, is from the gardens of the Palazzo Piccolomini.

April is a wonderful time to find a luxury villa in Florence or to book one of our Tuscany Villas and plan a day-trip (or two or three) to Florence for plenty of reasons! Not only do tourist crowds remain relatively smaller compared to the height of the summer but it finally starts to get a bit warmer and, importantly, the city finally goes into bloom. And, all of these flowers and this lush greenery that can be found in the gardens and parks and dotted throughout Florence only serve to make the impossible beauty of this incredible city all the more picturesque and to add splashes of colour amongst the grand architectural gems that are found all over. In particular, Florence is home to some of the world’s most famous and extraordinary historic gardens and most of them are best experienced in the spring.

Among this selection of stunning gardens that can be found by visitors who are planning on booking a vacation rental in Florence, one that is considered a must-see each April and which is regularly photographed at this time of the year is the Giardino Bardini. This is because of one particular feature: the extraordinary, “Wisteria Lane.”