Archive for 'Localities'

There are certain pictures of the lovely Tuscan countryside and landscape that get shared time and time again: the iconic winding roads and perfect rolling hills of the Val D’Orcia, Cypress Avenue in Bolgheri, and walled towns like Siena, as seen from a distance and with lush green surroundings. Amongst these “generic” images of the evocative Tuscan countryside, you are likely to spot one particular little chapel popping up time and time again, the Chapel of the Madonna di Vitaleta, or La Cappella della Madonna Vitaleta.

Located in the province of Siena, next to the village of Vitaleta, on the road between San Quirico d’Orcia and Pienza, this pretty little house of worship is one of the most photographed churches in Tuscany and is a picture-perfect gem. Framed by cypress trees either side of the single bay, white stone-clad gem, and surrounded by rolling green hills, it looks almost too idyllic for real life. But real it is, and it is also free to visit whenever you please. Just find a holiday rental in Siena and come see it for yourself.

Located not far from the town of Castiglione della Pescaia, in the heart of the Maremma, there is a particularly beautiful winery called Le Mortelle. Vineyards and wineries are dotted all over the area but this particular example is especially charming and set within the most extraordinary surroundings. It is an excellent spot to go and sample and purchase some delicious Tuscan wines and learn more about wine and wine-making so, if you have found a vacation rental in the Grosetto-Maremma area and are looking to indulge in some local vintages, make sure to head to Le Mortelle.

Named after the “mortella”, or wild myrtle, that grows all over the surrounding landscape of the area, the winery is on an estate that was once part of an even larger estate called La Badiola that is recorded on the maps of Grand Duke Leopoldo II of Tuscany in the 19th century. La Badiola was a pilot version of a model of an estate that the Hapsburg Lorraine rulers of the Grand Duchy hoped to establish, in which the marshy and malaria-ridden lands of this coastal part of Tuscany would be drained and repurposed for raising cattle. This land, however, has been since reappropriated once more and the 270 hectares of the estate have been planted with 170 hectares of vineyards of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, as well as more recently planted vineyards of white grape varieties such as Vermentino, Ansonica, Viognier, and a small area of Carménère by the Antinori family.

House-museums are dotted all over the globe and there are lots of them in Italy, in particular. These are a particularly insightful and interesting breed of museum in which objects by an artist are displayed in a space in which they grew up, lived, and/or worked. Often in a childhood or final home of an artist, they celebrate the full spectrum of the life and work of an artist and are a great way to get to know more about the maker behind the pieces.

In Rome you can find the Hendrik Christian Andersen House Museum, dedicated to the life and work of the Norwegian-American 20th century artist Hendrik Christian Anderson, in Milan there is the Manzoni House Museum, dedicated to 19th century Italian writer Alessandro Manzoni, and in Possagno, the Canova Museum, which is not a former home to the artist but is where much of his living and work spaces were transported, as well as works of art, after his death. Another, more recently established house museum dedicated to an artist is Forte dei Marmi’s Ugo Guidi Museum.

One of the most celebrated Italian sculptors of the 20th century, the museum is set in Ugo Guidi’s studio and home in this beautiful Tuscan seaside city. If you are interested in Italian art and fancy a Tuscan vacation by the sea, a holiday rental in Forte dei Marmi is a great idea as it will allow you to enjoy both at the same time! With over 600 sculptures, tempera paintings, drawings, and more by the artist on display, the Ugo Guidi Museum is a fine testament to his legacy that maps out the artist’s entire life and career inside the space in which he both worked and lived.

Bolgheri is probably most famous to many as a wine area. Located in the province of Livorno, it was a long-time producer of wines but none of its makers were especially well-known. After an event organised by Decanter, in 1974 in which a 6-year-old Sassicaia won over an assortment of Bordeaux wines, the area has become much more well-regarded, though still not especially well-known internationally. However, in addition to her respected wines, Bolgheri has a lot more to offer visitors. This beautiful little town is impossibly charming and quite the looker, full of character, a foodie haven, steeped in history, and rich in culture, plus it’s only 10km from the Tuscan Coast. So, if you’re looking for a relaxed destination that has it all but is also a little off the beaten tourist track and incredibly peaceful, just find a vacation rental with a pool in the Bolgheri area and come explore all that the village has to offer for yourself.

Podere La Chiesa is an instantly recognisable winery set amongst the rolling hills of the province of Pisa in Tuscany due to its main building with its unique architectural character: a beautiful modern structure that looks somewhat like a block of Swiss cheese with round openings that perforate the exterior. Located near the village of Casanova, 30km south-east of the city of Pisa, it is a celebrated place where excellent wines are produced and where said excellent wines can be sampled on wine-tasting tours of the premises. Just find a vacation rental in Pisa and make the trip out to this beautiful place to experience it all for yourself!