Archive for 'Events'

Maggio Musicale Fiorentino is an annual arts festival in Florence, most notably important as an opera festival, which was founded in April 1933 by conductor Vittorio Gui.

Gui wished to stage both contemporary and forgotten operas in visually dramatic productions and his idea went on to become the first music festival in Italy. Today, it is a Florentine institution and is held each year usually beginning late April, continuing through May and into June.

Generally there are four operas staged over this period but lots of other events related to the festival also take place in the city over the two months. If you're a music lover and have a particular fondness for opera be sure to find a luxury villa in Florence and check this festival out for yourself.     Read More

Monte San Savino is a beautiful little Tuscan town located halfway between Siena and Arezzo and each year, it is home to a delicious food festival: the Sagra della Porchetta.

Food festivals are a penny a dozen in Italy with most towns having at least one but this one, in particular, promises some good eating. A well-known and popular event, it centres around suckling pig and is celebrated each September with a big festival and market where you can try the star of the show (the pig) or sample countless other local products and dishes.

Just find a luxury villa in Monte San Savino and you will be tasting the best pork of your life this September.     Read More

There is never a lack of exhibitions happening at any given moment in time in Florence. However, some are a little more special than others whether the pieces are on loan from all over the world, have never been seen together, gain new meaning in an entirely new setting or have rarely been seen before. It is the latter reason that makes an exhibition currently running in the Pitti Palace so special.

“Rigour and Grace” sees pieces that are rarely on display being opened to the public in their home in the Palatine Chapel which is, likewise, rarely seen. For the next few months, this beautiful and exclusive space is being opened for visits. If you have found your luxury villa in Florence and are planning on visiting before May 17th, be sure to drop by the chapel.     Read More

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.     Read More