Archive for 'Localities'

Florence is one of those cities that, somehow, keeps surprising and delighting us all the time with new finds. Whether it is long-forgotten historic gems or new openings, there is always something new to uncover every time you find a luxury villa in Florence, which is why it is a perfect destination for both first time visitors and repeat offenders alike. One new discovery in our office that tickled everyone’s fancy has to be the buchette del vino, which were once-ubiquitous wine windows through which one could, for a long time, pass a few coins and receive a flask of wine in return. Most are now long gone and have been out of use for even longer but there is one that has been recently reopened. If you’re planning on spending time in Florence and want to try out this unique and historic resurrected foodie experience, then head to the neighbourhood of Santo Spirito and see for yourself!

Santo Spirito is where you will find a new restaurant called Babae that opened back in August and, along with its culinary offerings indoors, brought back with it one of Florence’s buchette del vino and the Florentine tradition of buying wine through a window. These date back to the Renaissance, when many noble families of the city, who lived in the grand palazzos that still characterise the centre of Florence, had their own vineyards either just outside the city walls or off in the Tuscan countryside.

One of the most photogenic and photographed attractions in the Tuscan countryside is probably the distinctive and memorable steaming cascades of the naturally-occurring thermal pools and waterfalls in the town of Saturnia and for good reason. One of the most charming and beautiful spa towns in Italy, it is an excellent destination for those who want to enjoy the culture, cuisine, and natural beauty of Tuscany, all while battling those daily aches and pains, relaxing, unwinding, and recuperating during your vacation. Just browse our vacation rentals in Saturnia and come have a spa getaway in this lovely Tuscan town!

Located in the Maremma area of Tuscany, atop a hill, the town of Saturnia has ancient origins and is noted by a Greek historian from 60BC as being inhabited by pre-classical populations of Greece. The name of the town is also rather old and, according to medieval legend, was so named as it was formed by lightning bolts, thrown by Jupiter during a fight with the mythological deity Saturn. These lightning bolts left scars in the earth that were portals to hell and from which steamy waters gushed out, creating the distinct and magical landscape, filled with incredible thermal pools, for which Saturnia is now so famous, according to these tales.

If you have found a vacation rental in Chianti and are exploring this beautiful part of the world, you might also want to look up and see what is in the skies above the lovely landscapes of Tuscany. And where better to do that than the Osservatorio Polifunzionale del Chianti, or Chianti Multifunctional Observatory? Located in Barberino Val d'Elsa, just over 30 minutes from Florence, it is the best place to view the starry skies of Tuscany, the Milky Way, Jupiter, and more, all while enjoying some small bites and a glass of wine. If you feel like spending a romantic evening stargazing in Tuscany, this is the place to do it!

Inaugurated in 2013 in the presence of Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli, this multipurpose institute is divided into four different observatories: the Astrophysical, Environmental, Geosismic and Agrometereological. Created by an initiative undertaken by the Municipalities of Barberino Val d'Elsa and Tavarnelle Val di Pesa, which are part of the Municipal Union of Florentine Chianti - Metropolitan City of Florence, and managed by the University of Florence, the observatory also has lots of research and academic partners including the Museum of Natural History of the University of Florence, the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, the Institute of Biometereology IBIMET - CNR and Laboratory for Meteorology and Environmental Modeling LAMMA, the National Institute of Astrophysics, and the Departments of Physics and Astronomy, Agriculture and Earth Sciences of the University of Florence.

A few years ago, we wrote about a particular hill, located in a charming little town called Fiesole, just outside Florence. A long-time favourite holiday destination of noble families looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, including the Medici family, the town of Fiesole has continued to be a destination that attracts the rich and famous and normal folk alike who are looking to pop out of Florence and into the peaceful natural surroundings of this area for a while. The hill in Fiesole with which we were concerned, however, drew an incredibly famous visitor not for leisure but, instead, for experiments. Said visitor being Da Vinci, who, long before the Wright brothers, came to test out a flying machine on the hill of Monte Ceceri. This momentous and fascinating event in history is reason enough to draw Da Vinci fans and history buffs alike but there is actually plenty of reason for anyone to stop by if they have found a holiday rental in Fiesole.

As well as being the site of Da Vinci's would-be airport, Monte Ceceri is popular among hikers and those who like to admire scenery as it offers great panoramic views of the surrounding landscape of Tuscany and right over the city of Florence in the distance. In fact, it’s a perfect spot to spend some time out in nature and stretching your legs if you have found a vacation rental in Florence and are looking for some day trip ideas to explore some parts of Tuscany around the city.

If you are looking for a winery that is synonymous with quality and timeless Chianti Classicos, then you need look no further than Castello di Monsanto. A must-see for wine-lovers that have found a vacation rental in Barberino Val D'Elsa, Castello di Monsanto is an elegant winery full of character that is set within the grounds of a castle and estate that dates back to the middle of the 18th century.

The story of wine at Castello di Monsanto is a little more recent and goes back to 1960 when Aldo Bianchi, a native of San Gimignano, came back to the area in which he was born and raised for a wedding at the castle. He became so enamoured by the view from the terrace of the castle – across the Val d’Elsa and right over to the famous towers of San Gimignano – that he fell madly in love with the place and had purchased it within a few months. Later, when Aldo passed on the castle to his son Fabrizio and his wife Giuliana, the couple planted new vineyards and restructured the surrounding hamlets. The first cru of Chianti Classico was then born in 1962. As of 1996, the estate and the production of wine has been passed down to the third generation of the family, Fabrizio and Giuliana’s daughter, Laura and since 2001, they have all worked in collaboration with the wine maker Andrea Ginovannini in order to continue on with the ever-innovative and experimental spirit of the brand.