Archive for 'Localities'

If you’re planning to visit Elba Island during your next holiday to Tuscany then you might be interested to hear about its interesting ties with the famous military leader, Napoleon Bonaparte! Elba is the largest of the Tuscan islands and is extremely busy in July and August with holidaymakers.

Some visitors that want to come here for a few days prefer to come during the quieter months of April to May or September to October when they can relax in a more peaceful atmosphere and thrill in all the land and water activities available as well as lots of tourist attractions to visit!

There’s a huge selection of holiday villas on the Elba island.

Elba Island has been inhabited since the Iron Age by Ligurian tribes, followed by the Etruscans and then the Greeks. Pirates were regular visitors to Elba and many stories of their legacy remain behind in thrilling folklore.

Come and see all the wonderful tourist attractions and fun activities just waiting for you in Valdinievole, a hidden gem tucked in between the provinces of Pistoia and Lucca in Tuscany! This is a picturesque area of high mountains, low hills and foggy marshes that has earned itself the nickname, ‘Valley of the Mists’.

Tourists have many exquisite towns and villages to choose from here that provide superb accommodation, including luxury villas with swimming pools in Montecatini Terme.

Valdinievole is a cultural haven where many different kinds of people met and exchanged ideas, traditions and stories.

Each ancient hamlet and town you travel through here have their own unique and fascinating stories to tells; from the Valleriana Mountains to Montalbane. Tourists will enjoy the scenic views of the valley from high up; gazing over dense chestnut woods, thriving olive groves, ripening vineyards and the rolling Tuscan hills.

Discover the natural beauty of two lakes in the Valdichiana area of Tuscany during your next vacation here and learn all about the history and legends that surround them.

One is called Chiusi Lake and is located close to the town of the same name and the other is near Montepulciano.

From most of the towns and villages in the valley, tourists can usually see the glimmer of two beautiful lakes in the distance that mirror the clear Tuscan skies. They're both small lakes but support a huge ecosystem.



Lots of rare and colourful flora and fauna grow here. Those wishing to stay in the Valdichiana district for a few days have a huge selection of holiday villas in quaint Orange Flag towns like Trequanda, Sarteano and Montepulciano!

If you're spending any of your Tuscan holidays in the coastal province of Pisa then why not take a day to explore the spectacular walled town of Bientina? This beautiful place was protected from attack during the provincial wars of the Middle Ages by a deep moat that runs around its outer fortress walls and could only be entered through four drawbridges.

Why not stay a day or two in a luxury villa in Orentano, a nearby town, with excellent views of the area?

Bientina, meaning ‘Two Hedges’ is a very ancient town, with written records of its existence dating as far back as the year 793.

Visitors wishing to spend a day or two in or around this historical place have a fine selection of vacation villas and other great value holiday rentals to choose from.

Worth visiting on arrival to the town is the magnificent church of Santa Maria Assunta which has a massive nine altars! There are many exquisite oil paintings hung here that were created by famous Tuscan artists that date from the 16th and 17th centuries. Also here is a 17th century organ designed by Bartolomeo Ravani di Lucca.

Situated along the River Arno is a beautiful town called Montelupo that became famous during the Middle Ages for its production of ornate ceramics. This artisan town was at one stage probably Italy’s biggest ceramics producer and was once the place where noble families during the Renaissance ordered their crockery sets to be made with the coat of arms of their family name.

Visitors who would like to stay here for a day or two to fully explore the history and crafts of the town have a fine selection of vacation rentals in Montelupo to choose from