Archive for 'Countryside'

At Tuscany Villas, we always strive to better our website, our services and the range of properties available all across Tuscany. Recently, we have had a lot of new additions to our portfolio of villas, farmhouses and apartments. In particular, we have some great new vacation rentals in Florence and the surrounding area. We have chosen just a selection of these properties for you that vary from centrally-located apartments to beautiful villas in the rolling Tuscan countryside and will suite everyone from solo travellers to couples to families. Here are some of our favourites among the latest listings on Tuscany Villas...

1. Volognano (Available from €639 per night)

Volognano, or Castle Volognano, is an incredible historic gem and actual 11th century castle, located 5km from the centre of the charming Tuscan town of Rignano sull'Arno.

Tuscany is a photogenic place with picture-perfect views and attractions around every corner. From the rolling hills topped by medieval villages and the valleys filled with vineyards, to the ideal Renaissance town of Pienza and staggering architectural gems of Florence, there are all sorts of must-see sights that you'll want to see with you own eyes and then capture on film forever.

Some of these things are well-known and obvious but there are some that you might never heard of before. This author has chosen some of her favourites to share with you; some of Tuscany's most photogenic sights and picturesque spots that you must track down!

1. The hills surrounding Dicomano

I recently wrote about the excellent Agriturismo Frascole, a winery in the Tuscan Apennines, where I had a wonderful day tasting wine with my family.

I'll admit something right off the bat: I like Italian food but I don't love it enough to eat it every day. So, when I recently spent a week in Tuscany, I quickly became tired of similar menus. Fattoria Il Palagio did not have a wildly different menu and, yet, it was the best dining experience that I had in Tuscany, by far.

Located just outside of Scarperia, a small and charming historic town in the northeast of Tuscany, around 25km from Florence, and famous for the production of knives, the restaurant immediately impresses upon first approaching it.

It is an old villa, sitting on beautifully maintained grounds and with excellent views of the surrounding landscape to the rear of the property. The building is surrounded by plant-draped pergolas and twinkling lights that make it atmospheric after nightfall and it is hard to decide if it is lovelier at night or during the day.

Tuscany is absolutely full of things to see and do but among this endless list of things, there are seven designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the region: the historic centre of Florence (initiated in 1982); the Cathedral square of Pisa (1987); the historical centre of San Gimignano (1990); the historical centre of Siena (1995); the historical centre of Pienza (1996); the Val d'Orcia (2004), and the Medici Villas and Gardens (2013). If you are planning a trip to Tuscany, a visit to any of these attractions would enhance any holiday.

In the last posts, we discussed some of the entries on the list so here are the last of those Tuscan UNESCO sites and why you need to visit!

Other customers' reviews are really helpful when booking from a new company or when narrowing down your choices among rentals. Here at Tuscany Villas, we are lucky to boast really engaged customers that leave excellent reviews on our properties that help us improve and others to learn about us as a company. As this is the case we decided to compile a list of some of our most reviewed properties. Here are some more of those well-loved rentals.

7. La Capinera

This charming little house was recently completely restored and equipped with all modern facilities, including air conditioning in the bedrooms and is located in a very quiet position 3km away from the village of Montopoli, in a particularly beautiful area. Surrounded by a very large and well maintained garden, with an unusually big pool, it is an ideal spot for a small family who want complete peace and privacy.