Archive for 'Activities'

For those who love to invest in local crafts as special, long-lasting, well-made, and unique souvenirs of their trips and as gifts to bring back to people at home, Tuscany is certainly a destination that has some really wonderful and numerous offerings. From ceramics, to straw hats, to leather goods, to cosmetics favoured by queens, to special cakes, to gorgeous gold jewellery, there are a range of stunning carefully-crafted products from Tuscany that continue to be made using traditional methods and are worth checking out if you have booked a vacation rental in Tuscany. 

While many of the regional crafts of Tuscany are well-known commodities that those who holiday in Tuscany know to seek out, there are many that are less familiar. Among these Casentino cloth (or Casentino wool) has, however, been becoming increasingly familiar as more and more famous brands have sourced it for the construction of their garments from Armani, to Stüssy, to Dior, and beyond. 

There are many destinations that have become famous as Christmas hot-spots due to their pretty markets, ice-skating rinks in gorgeous locations, impressive lights displays, festive events, and unique traditions. Tuscany is a place that might not immediately come to mind when one thinks of the Holidays but there are plenty of great reasons to visit at this time of the year; from the food and wine, to the picturesque towns made lovelier, to the Christmas markets. In particular, if you find a vacation rental in Arezzo, you will discover that this picture-perfect medieval city is transformed into the, “Arezzo City of Christmas.”

The Arezzo City of Christmas event sees the already charming historic centre get a very special Christmas makeover with light shows projected onto the ancient stone walls of the buildings framing the Piazza Grande, a traditional-style Tyrolean Christmas market with typical Alpine huts set up in the same square, a pretty Ferris Wheel towering in the Il Prato Park, Santa Claus moving into the Medici Fortress and transforming it into a Christmas village, and more. 

It may come as no surprise to some that Florence is the most visited city in Tuscany. Not only is Florence the capital of the region and the most populous city in Tuscany (with 364,073 inhabitants in the city itself and 990,527 in the metropolitan area as of 2024), but it is also very much the culture capital.

The birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence is only overshadowed by Rome due to its incredible age and sheer size but in almost any other place, this would be the uncontested titan when it comes to art, culture, history, tourist attractions, and more. As it stands, Florence is still considered one of the great cities of the world and a must-see. 

For those who book one of our Tuscany Villas and who come to the region, it is an unmissable spot for at least a day-trip or two but if you want to dive in a little deeper – though any one trip will only allow you to scratch the surface of what it is on offer – then you could book one of our vacation rentals in Florence, instead. 

If you find yourself enjoying a stay in one of our villas in Florence and you are looking to bring back a little of this extraordinary city home with you as souvenirs to remind yourself of your trip or as gifts for friends and family, then you are probably considering what kinds of things you might purchase. Of course, there will be all sorts of touristy bits and bobs to buy all over the city but Florence, in particular offers some really special crafts, goods, and specialities that make for very chic souvenirs. Here is our countdown of the best things to bring back from the birthplace of the Renaissance...

Are you a serious foodie planning a culinary escape in Tuscany? Are you booking a villa in Florence with us? Well, then you definitely need to visit Pegna dal 1860! Located in a former monastery building dating back to the 17th century, this incredible culinary institution of the city sells gourmet groceries that are bound to have your mouth watering. If you’re serious about eating well and you are planning on a vacation in Florence, you can’t miss it!