Archive for 'Pretty Views'

  

Bosco della Ragnaia
If you have found a vacation rental in Siena and are enjoying the sights of the city but are looking to spend a day or a few hours getting lost in nature, enjoying beautiful natural surroundings, and relaxing away from the hustle and bustle of humans, then you should head to the small village of San Giovanni d'Asso. There you will find the Bosco della Ragnaia, or Ragnaia Forest, which is a rather special and unique public park.

This magical place was designed by the American architect and landscape designer Sheppard Craige and created in 1996. The park is made up of wooded paths, a natural amphitheatre formed from cypresses and hedges, plenty of little sculptures – many humorous – dotted throughout and hidden here and there, gardens, water features, and moss-covered plaques with interesting quotes and messages in several languages. It is the perfect place to get a little lost, wander, and stumble upon surprise after surprise along the way.     Read More

  

If you have found a vacation rental in Livorno and are driving along the coastal road by the Tyrrhenian Sea, you will round a corner 9km down the road and take in the incredibly evocative sight of the lovely Boccale Castle. Located just south of the Antignano district, along the road to Quercianella, the castle is romantically and dramatically perched on top of a stop cliff on the Etruscan coast in a cove called the Cala dei Pirati (or “Den of Pirates”).

This charming castle was originally built as a defensive structure that was intended as a method of protecting the area from marine attacks, particularly those by pirates and other clans or rulers that might be contesting ownership of the lands in the area at any given time. The oldest part of the building dates back to the 16th century and was a Medici-built lookout tower but the complex that exists as we see it today resulted from building works that took place in the 19th and the 20th centuries.     Read More

  

Crete Senesi
The Crete Senesi presents the most iconic and beautiful of Tuscan landscapes, those that one sees on postcards and in travel guides. These are the rolling hills, the hilltop towns made of stone, the long and lonely country roads lined by proud and tall cypress trees, the golden fields of hay, and the broiling fog sweeping over it all in the mornings, only to clear away and reveal infinite vistas across the whole thing by afternoon. These are the images of Tuscany that have captured the minds and hearts of so many over the centuries and continue to do so. If you have found a vacation rental in Tuscany, no matter where you are staying, in the countryside or a city, you should make sure to hop in a car, venture out into that landscape and take the magic perfection of it in for yourself.     Read More

  

La Fabbrica di San Martino is a beautiful vineyard nestled among the lush rolling hills just north-west of Lucca around 5km from the city centre, in an area called the Colline Lucchesi (Lucca Hills), which is a DOC wine region in Tuscany. At the centre of the estate is an 18th century villa and surrounding it are grounds that stretch over 20 hectares and encompass vineyards, olive groves, a forest, gardens and more. The estate, itself, is a stunning place to explore and spend time but it is also home to a vineyard and winery that produce celebrated wines. If you have found a luxury villa in Lucca and are looking for the perfect setting for some wine-tasting, it is an excellent option. Come and sit back and relax, take in the wonderful views, sip some wine, try some local delicacies, and meet the friendly staff members and the cute furry pals that live on the estate.     Read More

  

A couple in Florence
Tuscany, with her rolling, picturesque landscapes, excellent food and wine, pretty villages and impressive cities, beautiful coast, stunning buildings, and truly incredible works of art is an inherently romantic destination. It birthed great poets and writers of singular devotion to one beloved such as Petrarch and Dante. It boasts some of the most spectacular sunsets in the world. It is overrun with gorgeous palaces and cathedrals. The pace of life is perfectly suited for focusing entirely on someone special. Really, Tuscany simply is a perfect place to dash to for a little city break for a long weekend or to escape to for an extended getaway with your Valentine.

If you were considering planning a Valentine's getaway in Tuscany together or surprising your love with a
vacation rental in Tuscany this Valentine's Day, you're sure to make incredible memories that will last a lifetime. Here are a list of some of the most romantic things to get up to in this impossibly romantic location....     Read More