Archive for 'Events'

As with any country where Christmas or any other holiday or religious festival is celebrated, Italy has many unique traditions when it comes to the festive season. From specific foods served and eaten for different meals and on different days to their own legends about who brings gifts (traditionally, it is a kindly witch and not a man in a red suit who does the honours in Italy) to Christmas markets to impeccable live nativity scenes and much more besides, there are all sorts of wonderful Italian Christmas traditions to engage with and experience if you have decided to try out a Christmas getaway in Italy. But if you plan on spending Christmas in Tuscany or Christmas in a villa in Siena, in particular, and you are after an ancient, dramatic, and exciting tradition to keep you busy on Christmas Eve then you should head to Abbadia San Salvatore in the province of Siena.

If you have found a luxury villa in Florence and you find yourself wandering around the beyond picturesque centre of the city, you get the feeling that you are inside a jewel box. No matter where you turn in the historic core, you will discover incredible artistic and architectural gems and within those architectural gems are even more astounding works of art and craftsmanship than one could even imagine. It would take lifetimes to see and discover it all. However, the reputations of some works are particularly well-known and precede them. Take, for example, the great Palazzo Medici Riccardi, already a lauded example of Renaissance palace architecture in Tuscany but hidden within its walls also happens to be one of the most extraordinary fresco cycles in the city – and that’s saying something in the birthplace of the Renaissance!

Christmas markets are one of the traditions that many people most missed over the last couple of years but, luckily, if you have found a luxury villa in Florence and are planning on spending Christmas there (or some time in the city over the next couple of months) you’ll be glad to know that this year’s dates for the city’s beloved Weihnachtsmarkt have been confirmed and it is set to return! Taking place in the Piazza Santa Croce, this staple of the festive season in Florence is one of the most famous and beloved Christmas markets in Italy and a wonderful chance to enjoy a German-style market even if you are travelling in Tuscany, rather than in one of the regions further north. Transforming this well-known square in the birthplace of the Renaissance and capital of the region into a magical little winter wonderland, the Weihnachtsmarkt is an absolute must-see and just one more reason to spend the Holidays on holiday in Florence!

The verdant landscape of Tuscany, with her rolling hills and valleys blanketed in olive groves, vineyards, oaks, and farmland, is famously picturesque and is also a highly productive agricultural area. Tuscany is, furthermore, famously a foodie capital, not just because of the dishes made in the region but also due to the incredible raw ingredients grown throughout her stunning landscape. As such, while there are plenty of cakes, pasta dishes, street food favourites, cured meats, cheeses, and other delicious specialties to be tried while exploring the foodie scene of Tuscany, there are also some delectable local fruits and vegetables to be tried as well. While you shop in grocery stores and weekly markets in the region, you should try and keep an eye out for these wonderful foodie fundamentals to try and incorporate into dishes put together while enjoying the experience of cooking in the stunning kitchens of our amazing luxury villas in Tuscany. From the rich chestnuts of Caprese Michelangelo and the sweet chestnuts of Mugello, to the colourful carrots of Pastinocello, to vibrant Certaldo onions, to the famous Queen peaches of Londa, there are all sorts of delicious local produce items to get your hands on (dependent on the time of year, of course) while on vacation in Tuscany. However, if you have found a luxury villa in Florence and are exploring the foodie scene of the surrounding area, be sure to discover the incredible figs of Carmignano.

Arezzo is a name that many international tourists may have heard of before but is likely far less familiar with than other beloved Tuscan holiday destinations such as Florence, Pisa, or Siena. It is, however, no less wonderful a place to spend your next vacation, with plenty of incredible things to see, do, and eat in the area. Read on to learn about why you should choose Arezzo as your next holiday destination and, once you have fallen in love with this stunning city, then be sure to go on and browse our beautiful vacation rentals in Arezzo and our villas with swimming pools in Arezzo to get planning your trip ASAP.