Archive for 'Localities'

The town of Buonconvento is one of the nicest places to visit in Tuscany! It dates back to the 10th century, and maintains a lot of its original charm to this day. Tourists wishing to stay in the area for a few days have a superb choice of local luxury villas where they can relax after some fascinating exploration.

The ancient walls that surround Buonconvento are a very impressive sight to behold! Some of the most noteworthy places to visit in the town include the Teatro dei Risorti, the Civic Tower, the Town Hall, and the Church of Saints Pietro and Paulo.

Another lovely tourist attraction worth visiting is the Museo di Arte Sacra della Val d'Arbia, which contains a glittering treasure of silver and gold artefacts and some stunning sacred paintings dating back to the 14th century. Admire the beautifully detailed architecture of this building and others in Buonconvento.

These historical monuments were created with such care and skill that those who gaze upon them can be nothing less than amazed at the craftsmanship. Be sure to bring your camera to take plenty of photos to take home and treasure!

Today we'd like to introduce you to a language, cultural and culinary school located in Siena, Italy called Dante Alighieri.  They have submitted this article as an introduction to the courses they offer.  If you're considering a cooking or language class while visiting Tuscany, we highly recommend you read this article to learn more about Danta Alighieri.

Ted Jones, the author of 'Florence And Tuscany: A Literary Guide for Travellers', was kind enough to write this introduction to his book. We highly recommend the book for all literary-minded travellers.

Perhaps no other city contains so many visual treasures than Florence. Painting, sculpture, architecture, gardens – a gilded gallery of a city so stunning it can cause visitors to collapse in their hotel rooms, not from exhaustion, but from inspiration overload.

In the midst of this mind-bending beauty, it is easy to forget that Florence is also the birthplace of modern literature. Dante Alighieri, in the 14th century, created the Italian language while writing what is probably the most iconic post-Homer poem in human history – The Divine Comedy.

If Helen of Troy was the “lady who launched a thousand ships,” Florence is the city that captivated legions of writers – John Milton, Charles Dickens, E.M. Forster, Mary Shelley, D.H. Lawrence, T.S. Eliot, Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Oscar Wilde, and countless others.

And why not?

Art lovers who admire the work of Leonardo da Vinci may wish to think about visiting the beautiful village where he grew up, Vinci. There are numerous holiday  rentals nearby Vinci to choose from, allowing you to visit the birthplace of Leonardo da Vinci and tour the surrounding olive groves and vineyards.

This small town is located not too far away from Florence, in the northern area of Tuscany. Although the town is comprised of only a gift shop, a museum, 4 houses, a church, and a restaurant, it is well worth taking half a day to visit if you want to reflect on Leonardo's work and learn more about the man and his life. Many of Leonardo's scientific designs were centuries ahead of his time, including a war tank designed way back in 1500. You can view many of his sketches in the fascinating museum dedicated to him here.

He was born back in 1452, in a farmhouse located just outside of town. You can visit this Casa di Leonardo as well as the Leonardo Museum. The Church of Santa Croce is another sight to see, built in the 13th century.