Archive for 'Pretty Views'

Wine-lovers planning a trip to Tuscany will find themselves truly spoiled for choice when it comes to ideal destinations for sampling and shopping different wines and for visiting wineries. However, if you’re interested in the big hitters in life and seeing if they live up to the hype, then you’ll likely be interested in visiting the famous Chianti wine region of Tuscany. In particular, a villa with pool in Greve in Chianti makes for a perfect base for wine fans who want to learn more about wine, try some excellent vintages, enjoy incredibly scenic surroundings, and be able to discover other nearby famous destinations and attractions in Tuscany.

The utterly picturesque and wonderfully historic town of Greve in Chianti is considered to be a doorway into Chianti and is located right along the SR222 provincial road that is known by locals as the Chiantigiana road, just 30km south of Florence and 40km north of Siena, making it very easy to plan day trips to either of those famous and beloved cities while on holiday in the area. It is also perfectly located to begin delving into the many incredible wineries of the region. One such nearby winery that is well-worth mentioning and definitely worth visiting is Montecalvi Winery...

Tuscany is actually a rather excellent hiking destination, though many travellers do not realise this as there are so many other incredible things to see and do across the region. However, if you are planning a vacation in Tuscany and you are thinking about travelling in the next couple of months then you should definitely consider going on a hike or two during your trip as the autumnal weather and golden scenes are just perfect for outings. With lots of different mountain and forest routes to choose from that are well-marked, peaceful, pleasant, and boast the most extraordinary views over the famously picturesque landscape of the region, Tuscany really is an idyllic place to stretch your legs, get some fresh air, forget the rest of the world, and reconnect with nature for a few hours!

While Tuscany is famous for beautiful views and you'll find incredible surroundings no matter where you turn, it is hard to get a proper eagle eye view of all of that loveliness unless you're willing to go hiking. Now, a hike in Tuscany makes for a wonderful day out, don't get us wrong, and you'll find plenty of excellent places to hike in the region with Garfagnana, Lunigiana, Casentino, and the Florentine hills all boasting famous trails. However, maybe you want a more thrilling way to appreciate the great beauty, maybe you don't want to have to sweat and walk for hours to take those most impressive of views in, maybe you want to have a special adventure while on vacation in Tuscany. Well, if that is the case and you have found a villa with pool in Lucca, then why not try out zip lining over a stunning valley with a jewel-toned lake, lush green forestry, pretty towns and villages, craggy cliffs and impressive peaks, and more besides?

As the landscape of Tuscany is so pastoral and lovely in its beauty – all rolling hills, picturesque historic villages, vineyards, oak woods, and golden light – it is easy to forget that great sections of the region are far more dramatic. For those interested in geology or striking views, you need only look a little closer and you'll quickly discover a whole other side of Tuscany that, though less celebrated, is no less stunning. Particularly, if you find a villa with pool in Lucca and head into the Apuan Alps, you will find craggy peaks, fascinating rock formations, and deep caves. Among these caves is the incredible Grotta del Vento, or the Windy Cave.

Named for the strong air currents that flow through the cave system from the entrance that tourists use at 627m to the other, impassable entrance 800m higher up at 1400m, the Grotta del Vento remains at a constant temperature of 10.7 °C and has been known to people in the area since at least the 17th century. Records from the time show that a sharp gust was noted emanating from a fissure in the rock. The cave was then subsequently used by locals in order to store food and keep it cool. Located in Fornovolasco, near Vergemoli, right in the middle of the Apuan Alps Nature Reserve and directly underneath the Pania Secca, this is a rather unique and extraordinary system of caves and grottoes that is noted as one of the most interesting in Europe and is home to some fascinating natural phenomena. With several tour routes to take through the cave, it is a wonderful, beautiful, educational adventure to undertake and a rather different perspective on Tuscany for those who have found a villa in Lucca and are spending time in the area...

The rolling green hills and pretty medieval towns of Tuscany get mentioned a lot around here and for good reason; these iconic images of the region, as presented in books and on screens are often the motivating factor for people to first have an interest in visiting Tuscany in order to see it for themselves and they are, indeed, truly stunning. While a villa in Tuscany and a drive in almost any direction on almost any road is likely to produce incredible scenery sooner rather than later, there are, of course, some areas that are among the most visited, photographed, and written about for their particular aesthetic merit. One such area is the impossibly picturesque Lucciola Bella Nature Reserve in Pienza, at the heart of the Arcadian Val d'Orcia.