Archive for 'Activities'

Lucca is exactly the type of city that one can spend their entire time just wandering around and allowing oneself to stumble upon her various surprises and secrets. From crowds of locals standing around enjoying morning espresso and pastries at little family-run bakeries, to tiny pizza shops serving up piping hot and delicious pizza by the slice, to souvenir shops and perfectly curated clothing boutiques, to artisan’s workshops where beautiful things are handcrafted, to charming old churches, to museums full of fascinating objects, to architectural gems, to picturesque alleys with cats perched on walls...all this and much more besides can be found as you wander Lucca’s lovely historic streets. And then, if you’ve found your villa with pool in Lucca or your Tuscany villa, and you’re spending some time exploring all that she has to offer, you may find yourself on Via Chiasso Barletti, right in the heart of the Old Town. There, on this cobbled, narrow, shop-lined street, you’ll find Etta’s Bookshop.

Etta’s Bookshop is a real treasure and a must-see spot for bookworms who are on vacation in Lucca. An English-language bookshop that was opened in 2019, just shortly before everything was closed down, it has managed to survive the pandemic and we’re so glad. Stocking a wonderful curation of books, owner Giulia Rontani was able to keep going in those first few months due to her loyal customers who ordered books that she would drive around delivering to their homes (according to her interview here). Now, with her doors open once more, she is able to welcome in both those loyal customers and new visitors alike to wander around and browse the brilliant array of books on offer.

Tuscany is synonymous with art and incredible museums full of some of the most famous pieces of art ever created by human hands. Once you have found a villa with pool in Tuscany or Tuscany villa and you begin exploring the region, you will quickly realise that this is no exaggeration and that everywhere you turn there are astounding works of art to be found. From famous museums exhibiting paintings and sculptures by some of the biggest names in history to contemporary galleries showcasing works by leading artists of today, from street corners painted with murals by artists both celebrated and unknown to church walls and palace ceilings swathed in massive frescoes, from gardens dotted with statuary to little boutiques selling items by artisans still producing beautiful handmade objects: there is a wide array of types and styles of works of art to be found all over Tuscany. Observing these wonderful pieces with your own eyes, absorbing the culture and the history, learning more about it all, and maybe buying a reproduction or work of a local artist to bring a little piece of it all home with you are all great ideas and well and good. However, if you want to actually roll up your sleeves, get your hands dirty, get involved, and make something yourself then we have just the thing for those considering a vacation in Arezzo: a workshop to paint your very own fresco!

A must for the most serious art-lovers and creative types looking for unique activities and attractions to enjoy while on holiday in Arezzo, this workshop presents a unique and exciting chance to channel your inner Michelangelo and maybe even figure out just why Da Vinci had to go and invent his own disastrous alternative to the fresco process. Run by the company Tip Top Tour who host various experiences, tours, and workshops in Tuscany, the fresco workshop starts at €87.00 per person and can cater for up to six people at a time. Taking place in a workshop in a real restoration lab where great works of art are cleaned, protected, and reinvigorated and with current projects on pieces from throughout history underway in the surrounding space, this is probably the closest one can get to experiencing a Renaissance workshop for themselves today. 

Famous French perfumer Francis Kurkdjian once said that, “Perfume is the art that makes memory speak,” and it is certainly true that a fragrance can instantaneously conjure the most incredibly vivid memories. Here at Tuscany Villas, we’re all about memories or, rather, helping you find your dream Tuscany villa so that you can plan a perfect holiday and make wonderful memories of quality time spent enjoying a new place with the ones you love. We want these memories to last a lifetime and to be something brought up fondly over meals and at gatherings for years and years to come. One way to help preserve these precious moments of excitement, leisure, and relaxation and to be able to tap into them whenever you want is to connect them to a particular scent so, for those of our customers who are looking for a luxury villa in Florence and are planning on spending time in the famous artistic capital, we highly recommend a visit to the fragrant Officina Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella and the equally wonderful olfactory experience that is the Museo Villoresi. Discover the perfect holiday in Florence and the perfect scent for you while you’re there to remember your trip by forever more...

While culture and food are the two types attractions most raved about when it comes to a vacation in Tuscany, most planning a trip to the region are also looking forward to enjoying the incredibly beautiful landscape of the rolling green hills for which it is so famous. However, these pastoral landscapes shown in postcards and advertisements are not the only landscapes in Tuscany. Tuscany is a far more varied place than that: with towering peaks, perfect beaches, rocky gorges, dense forests, marshlands thrumming with life, and much more besides. As a result, there are a long list of incredible outdoor pursuits and activities that can be enjoyed while on holiday in Tuscany and, in particular, there are lots of great trekking, hiking, and walking routes to choose from all across the region. One of the best and most popular spots to go hiking for those who are pretty serious about the activity and are after a bit of a challenge - especially if you want to take in some truly gorgeous views along the way and if you have found a villa on the Tuscan Coast - is Pania della Croce in the Alpi Apuane, or Apuan Alps.