Archive for 'Florence'

If you are planning on heading to Florence and want to take in the big sights, you might need somewhere to go and take a bit of a break from the large and bustling tourist crowds, queues and warm rooms.

The Rose Garden in Florence is the perfect oasis of calm, quiet and relaxation. It brings together art from Belgian artist Folon, roses and stunning panoramic views across the city and, best of all, it's completely free to visit and is open from morning until nightfall.

Only open to the public year round for a few years now, it is a little-known gem and a must-see for anyone visiting the city. Once you have found a vacation rental in Florence, be sure to check it out for yourself!

The Parco Benestare is a park in the areas located in, and a collaboration between, the districts of Gambassi Terme (near Florence) and Montaione in Tuscany. It is a unique concept for a new kind of park land that has no strict territorial boundaries and takes in and celebrates the culture, beauty and history of both areas.

Composed of picturesque routes, the park brings visitors on interesting journeys through the Tuscan landscape and allows them to experience its uncommon beauty.

If you are looking to get away from it all, this is just the place! We have plenty of vacation rentals in Gambassi Terme and vacation rentals in Montaione as well as some in nearby towns. Check out our vacation rentals in San Gimignano, Certaldo and Castelfiorentino as well.

Gambassi Terme is a town in Tuscany, located in the south of Florence province, on the border with the province of Siena, which is home to famous thermal baths. Archaeological evidence indicates that the town has been inhabited since the Neolithic Age but it wasn't properly settled until the Etruscans arrived in the seventh century BC. It was later home to the Romans and there is evidence of a castle there in the Middle Ages, going as far back as 1037. Gambassi Castle then became property of the bishopric of Volterra until the end of the twelfth century before a newer castle was built next to the old in the 12th century. Disputes over the ownership of the town led to bloody battles until it finally came under Florentine rule in the 13th century. Only since 1977 has it been called Gambassi “Terme”, an addition to highlight the importance of its natural spas (the “terme”).

Gelato is a staple of most people's idea of Italy. One imagines children eating it while dashing around historic old piazzas and couples sharing some while walking pretty strands. It is deeply entwined with Italian culture and first appeared during banquets at the Medici court in Florence. It is said that Bernardo Buontalenti invented the ice cream for the court of Catherine de’ Medici in 1565. With a cold cream made from a base of milk, honey, and egg yolks with a splash of wine and aromatized with bergamot, lemons and oranges he wowed guests and the rest, as they say, is history.

Florence remains a great place to get gelato to this day with famous shops such as Edouardo's and Perche No! being musts. The Gelato Festival began in Florence last month and continues to travel around Italy, adding to why ice-cream lovers should find a holiday rental in Florence or in Italy and follow the delicious festival on its tour of the country this year!

If you are a perfume lover, Florence has an annual event that you will not want to miss, the Boboli Perfume Fair.

Florence is already a destination to go for highly unique cosmetics and perfumes due to one of the world's oldest active pharmacies being located in Santa Maria Novella which is still popular and continues to produce perfumes and remedies. Still located on-site, the pharmacy now also has branches in New York, Los Angeles and Tokyo and much is still made by hand. If you have stocked up on queen-approved cosmetics in Santa Maria Novella then you should head to the Boboli Perfume Fair.

Just find a luxury villa in Florence and treat yourself, and your nose, to a magic experience this May.