Archive for 'Localities'

The small, picturesque town of San Miniato was located on the important via Francigena during medieval times, linking it with northern Europe and Rome. It was also located on the route between the Lucca-Siena and Florence-Pisa roads, giving it a wide range of influences from around Italy as well as abroad.

Yet this interesting town's history goes even further back than that, because archaeologists have found evidence that the city has been settled since the Paleolithic era, surviving through the Etruscan and Roman periods. Its long history of settlement may be due in part to its strategic location, on top of three small hills in the province of Pisa, Tuscany.

With a central location in the Tuscan countryside, world-famous culinary traditions, and beautifully preserved architecture, Lucca has much to offer its visitors.

One of the reasons why this architecture is so well-preserved is that while other cities in Tuscany have had battle pass through, Lucca remained virtually unscathed by warfare. No matter what time of year you choose to visit this beautifully picturesque city, you'll find something going on, whether it's the Puccini opera festival, the flower festival, or Carnival. This liveliness is what keeps people coming back for more, because once you have visited Lucca you can't help but fall in love with it.

If you choose to stay within the city limits of Lucca, you will be well-placed to explore the surrounding region of Tuscany. From here, you can take day trips to beautiful areas such as Garfagnana, Barga, and the Tuscan coast.

One of the most popular type of villas we rent in Tuscany are  luxury villas. Typically these vacation rentals are large restored farmhouses in Tuscany countryside although there are also luxury accommodations located in many of the popular city destinations like Siena, Florence, Lucca, San Gimignano and Cortona.

If you plan on staying in a large luxury villa with pool in Tuscany next season we recommend you book it as soon as possible.

The supply of these villas is limited and the demand is always high. October and November are the best time to reserve a luxurious villa because the availability for the next season is just coming online and your choices won't be limited. If you wait until next spring to book, your choice of villas will be much more limited.

We are often asked about the rating system we use to rank our villas and how we determine the star rating. Our ratings are from one star to five stars with five stars being the best. We take into account the quality of the villa and furnishings, the location and views, the amenities like private pool, en-suite bathrooms, maid service, etc. All these factors and many other criteria are evaluated before a villa specialist assigns a rating to the villa.  Only villas that are rated 5-stars are considered to be luxury vacation rentals.

To learn more about individual properties visit our luxury villas in Tuscany page to view a complete list of our 5-star accommodations. If you're interested in renting a luxury villa in a specific area, please visit these pages: Florence luxury accommodations, Siena luxury villas and farmhouses, Lucca luxury vacation villas, Chianti luxury holiday rentals and Cortona luxury villas.

The Tuscan coast is filled with sandy beaches that fill up during the summer months. Just outside of the mainland, you'll find a variety of islands to visit. The islands of Giglio and Gorgona are two of the most beautiful destinations to choose from in the archipelago that lies just off Tuscany. If you're looking for a place to enjoy the beach without being surrounded by hundreds of other tourists, these relatively isolated and well protected islands are the ideal destination.

From viewing rare marine life to taking a dip in the Tyrrhenian Sea, you can soak up the sun's rays and enjoy all that the waters off of Tuscany have to offer.

Visitors can arrive in Giglio by taking a ferry that leaves Santo Stefano port on an hourly basis, usually every day of the week. With the high volume of demand during the busy summer months, this ferry departs even more frequently.

There are many reasons to visit the small town of Barberino Val d'Elsa, which is located in the vicinity of the larger city of Florence in Tuscany.

Not only is it a prime example of medieval architecture that retains its original walled fortifications, but it also is home to many important works of art, exquisite chapels, and other sights to visit.

You can learn more about the history of the famous Barberini family, who have their origins here in this exciting municipality. The town is named after the valley of the Elsa, which surrounds it in lush splendor.

Within town, you'll find many things to see in Barberino Val d'Elsa. This includes the Church of San Bartolomeo, for example, which has fragments of a painting by the famous Giotto, as well as a bronze bust crafted by the artist Pietro Tacca. By following the Via Francesco da Barberino, you will work your way through the well-manicured streets up to the Sienese Gate, or Porta Senese, which dates back to 1365. Those interested in learning more about the area's ancient past can visit the Antiquarium Museum, which holds Etruscan artifacts found in the different necropolises scattered throughout the area. If you have seen the famous Cupola in Florence, you may want to take a look at the Chapel of San Michele Arcangelo, which has a perfect reproduction.