Le Rondini

Previously in our listing of fantastic castles that are must-sees around Tuscany, we have mentioned Sarteano's giant castle, the foodie favourite Castello di Brolio in Chianti, Prato's iconic Emperor's Castle and the Rocca di Radicofani and its infamous inhabitants. Yet, there are still plenty of other beautiful and fascinating castles worth discussing all across the region.

Aghinolfi Castle is a beautiful Tuscan castle perched on a hilltop with stunning views all around the Lunigiana area and out across the Tyrrhenian coast. It was purchased by the nearby town of Montignoso just over a decade ago and was then restored and opened to the public.

Montignoso is a big town in the province of Massa Carrara that’s actually made up of a cluster of tiny hamlets including Cinquale and Renella. Over ten thousand people live in the commune of Montignoso and when you arrive here for a visit, you can see why they love it here so much! Browse our stunning holiday villas in Montignoso area and reserve your favorite for your stay.

This charming town was founded on a hilltop overlooking the Tuscan coast and is dominated by the magnificent Aghinolfi Castle. Its strategic position allowed a close view of the Tyrrhenian coast that stretched from the Gulf of La Spezia to Livorno.

Aghinolfi Castle is a beautiful Tuscan castle perched on a hilltop with stunning view all around the Lunigiana area and out across the Tyrrhenian coast. This position adds to the beauty and romance of the castle but has also made it an optimum strategic location which has made its history dramatic and complicated. It has also meant that the town in which it is located, Montignoso, has also had a much more colourful history than a town its size might normally have had. The town purchased the castle just over a decade ago and have restored it and opened it to the public as a perfect example of a Tuscan countryside palace. If you have a fondness for castles and beyond amazing locations, find a luxury villa in Montignoso and stop by!

Tuscany, as a region with an unbelievably rich cultural and artistic heritage is, unsurprisingly, home to many palaces, art museums, civic museums, churches, and religious collections that stuffed full of extraordinary works of art from throughout history. However, in addition to the old, the region also celebrates the new in contemporary art galleries and various other kinds of art spaces and the art scene is still very much alive and well. So, if you have found a luxury villa in Tuscany and you are interested in art, then be sure to seek out these newer institutions as well to dive into the current art scene and to experience it in real time for yourself! If you were considering a villa with pool in Lucca, in particular, and you are interested in more recent artistic innovations and practices, then you should definitely head to the ARKAD Foundation.

Located in the town of Seravezza, in an old marble sawmill across from the Medici Palace in town, the ARKAD Fondazione, or ARKAD Foundation, is a wonderful intercultural centre that promotes the creation of art and the spread of culture. Nestled between the Apuan Alps and the Versilia plain, this little town is an impossibly scenic part of the world – think lush hillsides covered in trees, towering peaks, verdant valleys swathed in morning fog, a silver river slicing through the town, and pretty streets lined with stone buildings and palm trees - and it seems fitting, therefore, that it is home to a space producing beautiful and fascinating works of art.

House-museums are dotted all over the globe and there are lots of them in Italy, in particular. These are a particularly insightful and interesting breed of museum in which objects by an artist are displayed in a space in which they grew up, lived, and/or worked. Often in a childhood or final home of an artist, they celebrate the full spectrum of the life and work of an artist and are a great way to get to know more about the maker behind the pieces.

In Rome you can find the Hendrik Christian Andersen House Museum, dedicated to the life and work of the Norwegian-American 20th century artist Hendrik Christian Anderson, in Milan there is the Manzoni House Museum, dedicated to 19th century Italian writer Alessandro Manzoni, and in Possagno, the Canova Museum, which is not a former home to the artist but is where much of his living and work spaces were transported, as well as works of art, after his death. Another, more recently established house museum dedicated to an artist is Forte dei Marmi’s Ugo Guidi Museum.

One of the most celebrated Italian sculptors of the 20th century, the museum is set in Ugo Guidi’s studio and home in this beautiful Tuscan seaside city. If you are interested in Italian art and fancy a Tuscan vacation by the sea, a holiday rental in Forte dei Marmi is a great idea as it will allow you to enjoy both at the same time! With over 600 sculptures, tempera paintings, drawings, and more by the artist on display, the Ugo Guidi Museum is a fine testament to his legacy that maps out the artist’s entire life and career inside the space in which he both worked and lived.

Tuscany is famous as a part of the world that birthed some of the greatest artists, architects, designers, buildings, works of art and objects in the world. Those who visit are astounded by the grandiosity of Florence's historic centre, enamoured with the sense of style and luxury clothing brands, wowed by the pretty villages, and amazed by the great paintings and sculptures.

This history of design and beauty extends into the present day and into some of our vacation rentals in Tuscany that have the most extraordinarily lovely interiors. This week, we've been discussing some of the best of the best amongst the many on our site and here are a few more of our picks of the most fascinating and incredible interiors:

6. Castello Leopoldo (Available from €1428 per night)

One of the most exceptional properties of all on our website, this 16th century castle is located in an extraordinary position in the hills surrounding Campiglia Marittima.