Archive for 'Curiosities'

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. 

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While Tuscany is famous for beautiful views and you'll find incredible surroundings no matter where you turn, it is hard to get a proper eagle eye view of all of that loveliness unless you're willing to go hiking. Now, a hike in Tuscany makes for a wonderful day out, don't get us wrong, and you'll find plenty of excellent places to hike in the region with Garfagnana, Lunigiana, Casentino, and the Florentine hills all boasting famous trails. However, maybe you want a more thrilling way to appreciate the great beauty, maybe you don't want to have to sweat and walk for hours to take those most impressive of views in, maybe you want to have a special adventure while on vacation in Tuscany. Well, if that is the case and you have found a villa with pool in Lucca, then why not try out zip lining over a stunning valley with a jewel-toned lake, lush green forestry, pretty towns and villages, craggy cliffs and impressive peaks, and more besides?     Read More

It was not enough for the wealthy and educated noblemen and merchants of Europe to display their money, influence, and power, they also wished to show off their erudition and good taste. One of the ways that they began to do this was with the Cabinet of Curiosities, or Wunderkammer. Developed in the 16th century, though more rudimentary sorts of private collections had existed among such people earlier, these were rooms of collections of items that showcased an interest in art, learning, and the natural world. Objects that were part of such collections ranged from prints and drawings to books and manuscripts, from taxidermied animals and bones to shells and stones. The wealthier had larger and more elaborate collections in bigger rooms while less wealthy individuals had smaller amounts of objects in studies or even cases or cabinets. A form of entertainment, in addition to being an indicator of socioeconomic status, these collections were shown off to friends, guests, and business partners when visitors were over.

With the dawning of more official museums, many such collections were dissolved and sent to public institutions or sold. As such, this eccentric and eclectic form of display largely fell out of favour in order to make way for the more organised and standardised methods employed by professionals. However, if you have found a vacation rental in Arezzo and are interested in experiencing the sensory overload and highly personal curation of a cabinet of curiosities for yourself, there is one to be viewed in town; the Theatrum Mundi.     Read More

Tuscany is famously home to some of the prettiest towns and villages in the world. However, if you have found yourself a vacation rental on the Tuscan Coast and are spending time in that part of the region, you'll discover some especially charming little gems. Among them all, however, one of the most utterly picturesque has to be Suvereto. A perfect place in which to enjoy a day trip, it is a combination of stunning natural surroundings and a delightfully lovely village plucked from the pages of a storybook or from an image on a postcard. This is truly Tuscany at its most unbelievably idyllic, which is saying something in a part of the world that is famous for being almost too pretty to be real.     Read More