La Casa

Lari is a small hilltop village located around 30 km from Pisa, that is thought to have been founded by the Etruscans. Its most distinctive feature is the castle that sits at the centre of the village and looks out over the whole area. Most of the present day castle dates back to the first half of the 17th century but records show that a castle has stood in the area since before 1200. It was an incredibly important military stronghold of the Pisan Republic and was caught up in the disputes between Pisa and Florence. When the Florentines took over in 1406, it became the residence of the vicars and was installed with a court room, prison and torture chamber. The prison was enlarged in the 18th century and remained in use until 1934. It was only in 1991, that the Municipality of Lari began restoring the castle and it was then opened to the public as a historic tourist attraction.

As one might imagine, a history filled with punishment, crime, death and torture has lead to a history of ghost stories and the town, at large, is also steeped in some spooky tales. Lari Castle is said to be haunted by the spirit of Giovanni Princi, a man who found hanging in his prison cell in 1922 after being jailed for his political views.

About 30km south of Pisa, you will find the pretty little Tuscan village of Lari. With medieval origins, it is dominated by the mighty fortress, the Castello dei Vicari (known as Vicari Castle or Lari Castle in English), which is perched as the crowning glory of the village. However, do not be lead astray by its pretty, if somewhat unusual, appearance, as it hides a long history of horror and hauntings within its walls. If you have found a vacation rental in Pisa and are considering planning a last-minute mid-term break, half-term, or Hallowe’en getaway to the area, then pencil a trip to the Castello dei Vicari into your itinerary. Perfectly spooky and a rare spot in Italy where you can usually find Hallowe’en celebrations, it is the ideal place to head to if you are in Tuscany in or around All Hallows’ Eve.

The first written records that we have of the castle date back to 732AD, though the castle that you see today is a very different building, having been rebuilt many different times throughout the centuries. It has also changed many hands throughout the years, from family to family, and lots of different kingdoms, rulers, and organisations. In the Middle Ages, it was under the control of the Republic of Pisa and then, in 1406, it came into the possession of the Florentine Vicari family, it was a prison, then it was home to Florentine vicars until halfway through the 19th century, then it was a jail again, and, finally, it came into the ownership of the Municipality of Lari, who restored it and opened it to the public.

If you’re holidaying in Tuscany in the province of Pisa, why not take a day to explore the charming triangular shaped fortress town of Lari! This perfectly preserved Orange Flag awarded town is walled all around and has a magnificent castle nestled in the centre of the town on a mound. Tourists wishing to visit here have a wealth of accommodation available in the Pisa province surrounding this enchanting place where they can easily explore all the historical, artistic and cultural delights that Lari and the surrounding area has to offer.

Podere La Chiesa is an instantly recognisable winery set amongst the rolling hills of the province of Pisa in Tuscany due to its main building with its unique architectural character: a beautiful modern structure that looks somewhat like a block of Swiss cheese with round openings that perforate the exterior. Located near the village of Casanova, 30km south-east of the city of Pisa, it is a celebrated place where excellent wines are produced and where said excellent wines can be sampled on wine-tasting tours of the premises. Just find a vacation rental in Pisa and make the trip out to this beautiful place to experience it all for yourself!

For some people, holidays are all about doing very little of anything at all and spending days relaxing on the beach or hanging out in one of our incredible luxury villas in Tuscany by the pool. For others, however, the name of the game is very much adventure and seeing and exploring and experiencing as much of a new place as is possible within the duration of your vacation. If you fall into the latter category and you are planning a holiday in Tuscany, then you are in luck as you will never be short of something to see or do in the region. From wine tasting at picturesque vineyards, to visiting world-famous museums and seeing wonderful masterpieces, to wandering beautifully preserved old town centres, to picking up bargains in shopping outlets, to eating the best ice-cream in the world, to hiking pretty peaks and taking in amazing sweeping views over the lovely Tuscan landscape, and more, there are all sorts of activities and attractions to enjoy in Tuscany.