Archive for 'Localities'

Saffron is an ingredient and spice derived from the saffron crocus that is used to give incredible flavour and colour to dishes and for medicinal purposes. While its origins are debated, Iran, Greece, and Mesopotamia all have claims to the world’s costliest spice by weight. Italian varieties have since become famous for their quality and there is even a Tuscan area of production in the lands around the beautiful Medieval walled town of San Gimignano. In fact, some of the ancient towers for which San Gimignano is known were built by families who partially made their fortune through San Gimignano saffron and saffron was even grown on some of those same rooftops!

Certainly, for the discerning foodie who books a villa in San Gimignano, purchasing a little of this local luxury spice to add into your culinary exploits back home is a must. It really is a perfect souvenir to bring back with you – small, easily transportable, precious, and immediately evocative of wonderful memories with its scent and flavour!

Any cycling enthusiasts who have been considering a villa in Florence at the end of June 2024 should stop wondering and book their vacation immediately because, for the first time in 121 years, the race is kicking off in Italy and specifically from Florence before passing through the Apuan Alps and into Emilia Romagna.

The oldest and most celebrated by far of the three big Grand Tour events in cycling, this men’s multiple-stage race causes a true fever of excitement each summer in Europe, especially in the towns through which the speeding competitors pass.

Florence, as a city, seems especially fitting as a spot for this grand cycling event to begin as it is a place with a great passion for the activity and Emilia-Romagna, too, has long and impressive affiliations with the history of cycling as a sport. 

The stunning town of San Quirico d’Orcia is an exceptionally pretty and well-preserved historic gem surrounded by the lush greenery of the Orcia Valley, fertile lands where incredible wineries can be found. It should be no surprise, therefore, that this most beautiful swathe of the Tuscan landscape is where you will find one of the most exciting wine festivals in Italy each spring. Taking place from the 25th of April to the 28th of April 2024, the Orcia Wine Festival promotes the amazing wine of the UNESCO-awarded Val d’Orcia and introduces visitors to the most remarkable examples of wines from the region as well as hosting a vibrant schedule of all sorts of events for both adults and children. So, if you are a wine-lover considering a spring getaway in Tuscany, check out our vacation rentals in the Orcia Valley and pay a visit to the Orcia Wine Festival this April!

Tuscany is well-known for her beautiful landscape of rolling green hills, winding roads lined by cypress trees, vineyards, and pretty historic villages. The lush and charming countryside of the region is an utterly bucolic place that is perfect for those looking to slow things down, relax, and truly get away from it all with the ones that you love the most to spend some quality time unwinding and making special memories. If this is the kind if holiday that you are dreaming of, then the traditional but well-equipped Casale Belfiore is the ideal villa in Tuscany for you. Not only is it in a dreamy location with postcard-like vistas all around the home but it is a pretty and very Tuscan gem of a villa that also happens to have all of the mod-cons and amenities that you could need for your comfort and convenience throughout your stay!

The answer as to where the best place to go if you love the work of Leonardo Da Vinci varies year to year and month to month depending on your own specific area of interest and current exhibitions. Those who are interested in the inventor can see his creations brought to life in a museum dedicated to this task in Florence, those who want to see his most famous paintings can head to the Louvre, those interested in the man can go to his hometown of Alighieri. Until April 1st 2024, meanwhile, those interested in his drawings should consider booking a villa in Livorno. Plan a spring getaway on the Tuscan Coast and learn more about the great Renaissance master while you are at it!