Archive for 'Events'

As the summer begins to wind down, some are thinking ahead to a fall getaway in Tuscany. In fact, some have likely been eagerly awaiting the season for their vacation in Tuscany. For many reasons, an autumn break might just be the best option for you!

For one, if you are the type of person who prefers to avoid crowds, the further into the season that you get, the more that other tourists will grow sparser. This will mean fewer queues, scenery that is less dotted by other travellers, more time and space to yourself, and generally being able to have the beauty of Tuscany more to yourself.

Right now, if you head on holiday to stay in one of our amazing villas in Tuscany, especially if you find a vacation rental in the Maremma area or a holiday rental in the Val D’Orcia, you will likely encounter the incredible sight of fields upon fields of golden sunflowers. Blooming from around the middle of July until around the middle of August, these stunning flowers may not be native to the area but are now actually a symbol for Tuscany. 

Vinci, the birthplace of beloved the Renaissance Master, Leonardo da Vinci, is an exceptionally beautiful and picturesque part of Tuscany. Surrounded by lush forests, vineyards, olive groves, and rolling hills that are often swathed in atmospheric fog early in the morning, the town is made up of charming old stone buildings topped by terracotta tiled roofs and overlooked by a fairytale castle (which plays host to a Leonardo Museum) and the church of Santa Croce, with its pretty campanile.

Those who browse our Tuscany Villas and find a villa in Vinci, however, who really want to lean into the fantasy and fairytale vibes of the city should plan their visit for the end of July, when the Festa dell'Unicorno will be taking place. Dedicated to fantasy culture, this annual event sees those picturesque streets become even more unreal with the addition of elves, angels, demons, orcs, dragons, dinosaurs, pirates, and famous characters from popular shows and movies and books wandering about. 

Livorno is home to another Venice, the Venezia Nuova, or New Venice of Tuscany. A stunning coastal town in Tuscany, this gem of a place features a series less-famous but undeniably lovely canals of its own.

Throughout the year, there is plenty to recommend the town for a vacation in one of our Tuscany Villas but there are a few annual events that make time staying a villa in Livorno and exploring the city all the more appealing. One of the most exciting of these events takes place each August and sees the canals made yet more lovely with music, performances, street art, light shows, markets, and more. The Effetto Venezia, or Venetian Effect, is an event with an almost 40 year tradition and is a thrilling and colourful festival that makes Livorno into one giant work of art and party.

Those who book one of our luxury villas in Florence will likely have a long list of tourist attractions to visit and things to see and do while in this magical gem of a city in Tuscany. However, we also recommend just taking the time to walk around and soak it all up. Simply wandering about the city is a delight in its own right because as you explore Florence on foot, you will be able to appreciate and closely admire its grand architecture and artistic treasures from magnificent palaces turned into museums, to its stunning churches brimming with art, to its lush gardens once privately owned by nobles and now opened to the public, to its picturesque piazzas with fountains and statues by famous artists and historic restaurants and cafés. Florence really is a feast for the eyes! And one stunning piazza that really shouldn't be missed during a vacation in Tuscany is the Piazza della Repubblica.