Archive for 'Parks & Gardens'

Florence is a city famous for its museums, galleries, churches, and palaces that are beyond gorgeous and stuffed full of incredible works of art but it is not merely the interiors of this incredible place that are utterly beautiful. The piazzas, the streets, the Arno with all of the bridges crossing over it, and the views over the skyline dotted with its landmarks that can be taken in from various rooftops and panoramic spots are all examples of the great appeal of the outdoor spaces of Florence.

Then, of course, there are also the gardens and parks. Like many of the great cities of Europe, Florence has endless wonderful parks to explore. Many of these parks are not large expanses in which one can walk their dog or play sports or bring children to a playground but, rather, exquisitely manicured gems full of rare blooms, perfectly tamed lawns, arches grown over with fragrant flowers, sculptures by some of the most famous artists in history, amazing fountains, and all sorts of whimsical follies and surprises. These parks or public gardens or gardens attached to museums may now be available to all but they were once the private gardens of the city’s richest and most privileged residents. Thankfully, most can now be enjoyed by everyone! So, whether you want to take in the extraordinary sculptural details of the Boboli Gardens, see the impressive collection of different varieties of roses in the Rose Garden, or the lush and rare plants from all around the world at the garden of the Stibbert Museum then be sure to plan a garden crawl once you have found a luxury villa in Florence. 

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As spring draws closer, many look forward to the blooming of flowers and, though it may not be the first place that comes to mind when thinking of famous destinations to enjoy spring blooms, Tuscany is actually an ideal place for those who like to wander in gardens and enjoy the scents and colours of life being breathed back into the land once more. In fact, there are lots of truly spectacular gardens dotted all over the region, many of which are former pleasure grounds that were once part of the estates of the nobles who used their wealth to adorn the countryside, cities, churches, and museums of Tuscany with incredible buildings, flights of fancy, stunning works of art, and magical things made or tamed by human hands. There is the Giardino di Boboli with its astonishing arrangement of fountains, statuary from ancient Rome to the 18th century, nymphaea, temples, grottoes, and plants; Florence’s Rose Garden which was commissioned in 1865 as part of a plan to redevelop the city when it became Italy’s capital and which boasts astonishing views over Florence as well as a whopping 400 different species of roses; and the English-style garden and classic Italian-style garden filled with the scent of the lemons and a colourful riot of blooms ripened by the sun at the former Medici villa of Poggio a Caiano in Prato; to name but a handful of examples. However, if you are a planning a vacation in Tuscany this coming spring and you have a special fondness for camellia flowers, in particular, then you should make a point to head to the town and comune of Capannori in the province of Lucca...

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The Tuscan town of Collodi, not far from Florence, is most famous as the place where the beloved children's character Pinocchio was created by author Carlo Collodi and featured in the 1883 book, “The Adventures of Pinocchio”. Propelled into fame on a global scale when the story was made into an animated classic by Disney in 1940, Pinocchio became an integral figure in the lives of many children throughout the world. Those who are particularly fond of the puppet who learned how to become a boy and his story and who have found a luxury villa in Collodi (or who have found a luxury villa in Florence and are planning a day trip to the area) will, no doubt, be sure to plan a trip to the theme park dedicated to character, Pinocchio Park. Throughout the town, too, you will find lots of different tributes to the story and plenty of souvenirs on sale from the massive statue of the puppet visible all over town to the little Pinocchio figures sold all over. However, if you are not merely interested in Pinocchio, you will find that the charming little town of Collodi actually has more to offer visitors beyond the park with its rides and whimsy, it is also home to the exceptional Garzoni Gardens and the Butterfly House, which are located just a few minutes away on foot.     Read More

One might associate the heavy scent of citrus on the air with holidays in the south of Italy, in particular, but if you have found a vacation rental in Tuscany and you want to take in that tangy smell, buy some incredible citrus products, and visit a unique garden then we suggest a visit to the Hesperidarium Il Giardino degli Agrumi (or Hesperidarium Citrus Garden). Just browse our luxury villas in Florence and our villas with pool in Lucca and plan a day-trip to the town of Castellare di Pescia, in the province of Pistoia to come explore this impressive and beautiful botanical garden for yourself.     Read More