Market Square, Greve in Chianti
Posted in: Activities April Events March Shopping
One of the things that define holidays for most people, along with having a bit of a lie-in in the mornings, tasting the local cuisine and seeing the sights, is doing some shopping and picking up souvenirs to remind you of your trip and to bring back as gifts for those who didn't go with you. Of course, it's always nice when there are bigger and better versions of the shops you like or impressive urban shopping districts but it's preferable to purchase things that you can't get anywhere else; crafts, locally-produced goods and other one-off items. This is one of the many things that makes the town of Greve in Chianti so desirable around Easter.
A couple enjoying a Christmas market
Posted in: Activities December Events Florence Localities Shopping
Once you've found your perfect villa with internet in Florence and are planning out what you're going to do while you're there, you'll quickly realise that there is a serious wealth of options – too much to do on a thousand trips there, let alone one! The amount of choices might even be a little overwhelming or intimidating. However, if you're going to be in Florence in the run up to Christmas, there's one thing that you will definitely want to pencil into your schedule and make time for – the Christmas markets, of course! Specifically, in order to have the most Christmassy experience possible, you'll want to head to the German Christmas Market, or Heidelberger Weihnachtsmarkt in Piazza Santa Croce.
Food stalls at a Florentine Market
Posted in: Activities Florence Localities Shopping
One of the best things about Florence is how every corner, piazza and street seems beautiful and steeped in history. Without even going inside any of the buildings, there is a wealth of culture and history and art all around you. Once you've found a luxury villa in Florence and have arrived for a holiday, it's key to find time to wander her streets and take in the atmosphere of the city. Traipsing all over a city is bound to make your energy dwindle and finding a market to grab some food and sit for a moment, maybe find some unique souvenirs, is key. It's also another part of the city's charms. We've already outlined a couple markets that you should swing by in a previous article but here are a few more.
View over the Arno in Florence
Posted in: Activities Florence Localities Shopping
Imagine, if you will, a holiday in Florence. Not one filled with stuffy queues and running around endlessly from tourist sight to tourist sight but one in which you utterly take your time. Of course, you'll still probably find time to catch a glimpse of Michelangelo's “David” or visit a Medici palace but calmly, leisurely. In the morning, you might forego breakfast at home in the luxury villa in Florence that you've found and, instead, wander to one of the many markets the city has to offer. You can grab some food at a stall, people-watch and then check out the other wares available. Maybe you'll spend the day doing so, in fact. Here are the best of them.
Gucci Storefront
Posted in: Activities Florence Localities Museums & Galleries Shopping Tourist Attractions
Following on from the last post which discussed Florentine fashion designers that you should know about and visit while in Florence, this will continue with two more historic and important designers. As noted previously, many of the city's important designers are still based in Florence and even when they don't have museums like as Salvatore Ferragamo does, they have large boutiques located nearby. With a history that is intrinsically connected to fashion and design, Florence's fashion heritage cannot be overlooked.

Find a villa with internet in Florence and explore, shop and learn all about the wealth of design culture that she has to offer.