Archive for 'Florence'

If you have found a luxury villa in Florence and are planning on running around and seeing as much of her many sights as possible, it might also be a good idea to take some time to stop, breathe and relax. There is so much to see and do and we recommend making the most of your time in the city but don't forget that you're on holidays! Enjoy it and unwind. One of the best ways to do this is to hit up a spa, kick up your feet and indulge in some pampering – you deserve it!

Roberto Casamonti opened his first gallery forty years ago on the chic via Tornabuoni and there are now locations in seven in cities all around the globe. Having made his fortune in the art world, the 78 year-old has decided to give back to the world with art and purchased the piano nobile of the Renaissance Palazzo Bartolini Salimbeni in order to display and open his truly extraordinary private art collection to the public. Opened on the 25th of March this year, this gallery is located just off piazza Santa Trinità and free to visit (with an appointment) until the 31st of May, with a fee thereafter.

One of the many museums of Florence is the charming and singular Stibbert Museum. Less well-known to international tourists but with an astounding collection, it has an extensive collection of objects and art works from all around the world. Based on the collections of the wealthy Federico Stibbert who was the grandson of Giles Stibbert (Commander-in-Chief of the British East India Company and Governor of Bengal), inherited a great fortune, and then dedicated his life to accumulating an extraordinary collection of art, arms, costumes and objets d'art. He filled his home with these objects and after he died in 1906, he left the villa and everything inside to the city of Florence, and it was opened as a museum.

The Palazzo Pitti is a historic palace in Florence that is home to several museums, including the Costume Museum, Silver Museum, the Uffizi Galleries and more. Located on the grounds of the palace are the famous Boboli Gardens and, within those beautiful gardens, there is yet another museum. The Porcelain Museum is located in the Casino del Cavaliere, at the top of the Boboli gardens' slopes. A little retreat built as an escape for the Grand Duke in the 18th century, it is a charming and pretty pastel building that offers incredible views across the city and displays some equally pretty porcelain works.

It is a lovely little addition to a visit to the complex and something a little of the beaten track of regular visitors. If you have found a luxury villa in Florence and are planning to visit the Palace or Gardens, keep this gem in mind, as well, while you're at it!

A post shared by aria_ila (@aria_ila) on Sep 25, 2015 at 9:43am PDT

Every corner of Florence, as we have relearned time and time again, is steeped in history from the old churches to ancient palaces, the important works of art to the age-old piazze. It is also, as we have noted before a wonderful place for shopping of all kinds: with flagship stores of some of the world's biggest fashion labels; cute little boutiques; specialist stores selling local products, like leather goods; historic jewellery stores in ancient buildings; and long-standing shops that still sell the same products decades, or centuries, on. One of the most iconic among these stores that has remained opened for a very long time, seemingly untouched by the passing of time, is Bizzarri.