Archive for 'Florence'

If you have been considering a luxury villa in Florence and look forward to exploring the endless cultural pursuits, museums, galleries, architectural and artistic gems, boutiques, bars, coffee shops, restaurants, markets, street art, haunted spots, and more that can be found in the city but are also in search of some more peaceful days during your vacation, then you should definitely plan a day trip to the lovely area of Reggello. While a holiday in Florence means you'll never be short of things to see and do and experience, it can sometimes be a little tiring to constantly be surrounded by tourist crowds and to have to line up for various tourist attractions.

Cue a day or two or more set aside to explore the area surrounding Florence, where you'll find picturesque villages, impossibly pretty landscapes, fewer crowds, and a much slower pace of life just a stone's throw from the city. Reggello, in fact, is the quintessential example of one such nearby destination. So, book your villa with pool in Florence today, secure in the knowledge that you can have both the endless appeal of such a wonderful cultural capital full of history and heritage and cosmopolitan delights as well as easy access to sleepy little towns ideal for getting away from it all for a while, without compromising on one of the other!     Read More

Art lovers of the world who want to holiday in Tuscany should definitely browse our luxury villas in Florence and get planning a trip to the birthplace of the Renaissance at least once in their lifetime. However, while there are lots of churches stuffed full of incredible works from the Middle Ages onwards, museums with works of art from all over the globe and all throughout history, rich collections of pieces by the city's great Renaissance Masters such as Da Vinci and Michelangelo, and much more besides, there is also still a lively contemporary art scene that lives on in Florence. If you are interested in also diving into what is going on in the world of art today, it is a wonderful destination with artists' and artisans' studios, little boutique galleries, temporary exhibitions, art fairs, art markets, and museums dedicated to modern and contemporary art. Among all of these resources, however, one of the most interesting contemporary art venues in the city has to be Murate Art District (MAD).     Read More

We have previously written about the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence on many occasions and there are plenty of reasons to plan a visit to this historic gem if you have found a villa in Florence. The former town hall of Florence, this impressive fortress is an influential architectural work, steeped in the history of the city, home to incredible examples of Florentine works of art and craftsmanship from throughout the centuries, it is an excellent museum, and it is (supposedly) frequented by some intriguing ghostly figures. However, if you have found a luxury villa in Florence and you are coming to visit this highlight of the city, there is one other great reason to come: it is one of the best places to take in an incredible panorama over the stunning skyline of Florence.

Located in the Piazza della Signoria, the Palazzo Vecchio is a rusticated stone-faced castellated palazzo and a truly impressive and imposing solid mass of a building that is punctuated by two rows of two-lighted Gothic windows (and some other openings). On top of the building, a clock tower looms overhead. This clock tower is one of the most imposing of the medieval towers that still remain in Florence and it is named the Torre d'Arnolfo after the building's architect, Arnolfo di Cambio, who also designed Florence's Duomo and the Church of Santa Croce. At a height of 95 meters, it is the highest civic symbol in the entire city and boasts sweeping views over the city and the surrounding valley in which Florence is located. While you should definitely take the time to explore the rest of the building, heading up to the tower is a must. You can also decide to just visit the tower rather than go through the museum and there are separate entrance fees for both.     Read More

There are certain works of art that most of the world has grown up seeing all their lives. Many of these works come from the Renaissance and are still to be found in the so-called birthplace of the Renaissance itself, Florence. So, for anyone with even somewhat of an interest in European art, a luxury villa in Florence and a trip to the city at least once in their lifetime is an absolute must. In addition to enjoying the many other charms of Tuscany, a vacation in Florence ensures that you can see those so familiar works of art with your very own eyes and see how they stack up by comparison to what you imagined. One of the most iconic of all of these works in Florence and one of the definite must-sees has to be Michelangelo's idealised male form, his David.     Read More