Archive for 'Events'

For a little under one more month the Palazzo Pitti boasts yet another attraction that further cements its place as a must-see for art-lovers who have found a luxury villa in Florence and are planning an Autumn getaway in Tuscany. Already a stunning Renaissance palace that is surrounded by the famously lovely Boboli Gardens and that houses incredible institutions such as the Palatine Gallery, the Silver Museum, the Gallery of Modern Art, and several other gallery spaces and exhibitions, the Palazzo Pitti is also currently ringed by 100 metal wolves by the Chinese artist Liu Ruowang.

This incredible sculptural installation is on display in Pitti Square and Santissima Annunziata Square and will continue to be shown until the 2nd of November 2020. Symbolising the aggression of man on the planet and a corresponding reaction from nature, these wolves have invaded the grounds of this cultural hub in Florence and work as a looming and foreboding presence.

Florence is home to some famously beautiful gardens attached to, and surrounding, the stunning former homes of important noble families, as well as lovely public parks and incredible outdoor spaces such as the Giardino delle Rose (Rose Garden). So, if you find a luxury villa in Florence and are a plant lover and a fan of wandering through magical gardens that have been expertly planned and arranged, you will find yourself very much in luck and with lots of extraordinary examples to visit. Another particularly lovely example among these is the Giardino dell'Iris, which is home to a vast array of different breeds of the iris flower, and is a wonderful slice of peace and tranquility in the city.

The Giardino dell'Iris is located on the corner of Viale dei Colli and Piazzale Michelangelo in Florence and is open daily without charge for a period between April and May each year when the flowers are in full bloom. Specialised in the cultivation of iris flowers, the garden is owned and run by the Società Italiana dell'Iris (the Italian Iris Society). Almost entirely devoted to the iris, there are thousands of varieties and even a pond with special aquatic varieties of the iris as well.

While the Mercato Centrale is Florence's biggest and most famous market, the Mercato di Sant'Ambrogio is a close second in both scale and reputation and is actually preferred by many locals. Local chefs, foodies, food writers, and savvy shoppers, in particular, favour the Mercato di Sant'Ambrogio and if you have found a luxury villa in Florence or a luxury villa in Tuscany and are planning on spending time in the city then it is definitely an excellent place to shop, wander, people-watch, and soak up the unique atmosphere of Florence.

Italy is famous for her food and for her food festivals. No matter where you go in the country or when you visit, you're bound to stumble upon a food festival if you look around for a bit. These festivals can celebrate specific local produce, local dishes, harvests, feasts, saint's days, other holidays, historic events, and more. And whether any sort of festival or event is specifically about food or not, food is always central to Italian celebrations! If you're looking for excellent, authentic, inexpensive dining experience while you holiday in Tuscany, these are the places to go!

Those who have found a vacation rental in Volterra or a vacation rental in Pisa and who are using their rentals as a base from which to explore the wider region of Tuscany should definitely note that both locations are around thirty minutes from a Tuscan town that we doubt you have ever heard of before but that many, no doubt, would like to visit! This is the town of Lajatico.

Not only is Lajatico a beautiful medieval Tuscan village but it also gave rise to one of Tuscany's most beloved and famous sons in recent decades: Andrea Bocelli. As the birthplace of the famous Italian opera singer it will certainly be a place of interest to super-fans but, also, once a year in July, it becomes a major pilgrimage spot for music-lovers from all over the globe when it holds an extraordinary annual concert.