Archive for 'Pisa'

Lari is a small hilltop village located around 30 km from Pisa, that is thought to have been founded by the Etruscans. Its most distinctive feature is the castle that sits at the centre of the village and looks out over the whole area. Most of the present day castle dates back to the first half of the 17th century but records show that a castle has stood in the area since before 1200. It was an incredibly important military stronghold of the Pisan Republic and was caught up in the disputes between Pisa and Florence. When the Florentines took over in 1406, it became the residence of the vicars and was installed with a court room, prison and torture chamber. The prison was enlarged in the 18th century and remained in use until 1934. It was only in 1991, that the Municipality of Lari began restoring the castle and it was then opened to the public as a historic tourist attraction.

As one might imagine, a history filled with punishment, crime, death and torture has lead to a history of ghost stories and the town, at large, is also steeped in some spooky tales. Lari Castle is said to be haunted by the spirit of Giovanni Princi, a man who found hanging in his prison cell in 1922 after being jailed for his political views.     Read More

Continuing on from our previous posts, here are some more of our picks among our vacation rentals in Tuscany with the most extraordinary interiors. In order to ensure a perfect trip, these are the kind of homely, beautiful rentals that will allow you to sit back, relax and really enjoy your holiday, that will provide you with a base you can't wait to get back to each day.

7. Chiodo

Chiodo is a beautiful farmhouse set high in the hills between Lucca and Pisa, with magnificent views on the valley below. It is located very close to the small village of Vorno, renowned for its beautiful 17th century villas that were once summer residences for the oldest noble families in Lucca. The property has been a holiday for many years and was bought by a Dutch family in 2006, who spent more than three years of intensive renovations to transform the villa into an ideal holiday home.     Read More

In our final post in this series, here are two more architectural gems that one might make time for when exploring the incredibly rich culture and artistic heritage of the region. Of course, there are many other wonderful examples of great architectural feats all around Tuscany but these are some of our personal favourites and are, largely, somewhat less well-known than the most famous works that every tourist seems to flock to magnetically. Fnd a luxury villa in Tuscany and explore these delightful structures for yourself.

Florence, of course, is packed to the gills with artistic and architectural gems. However, one of the most striking and theatrical is the Laurentian Library. Home to the most important and prestigious collection of antique books in all of Italy and one of the greatest scholarly legacies left behind the Medici family that is still in existence, it was born of the passion of Cosimo the Elder.

As he was an avid collector, it became necessary in 1523 for Pope Clement VII (Giulio de' Medici) to commission a new library to house the massive collection.     Read More

In our final post in this series, here are two more of Tuscany's best and most beautiful gardens that make for wonderful places to relax and take a breather from the intense pace and tourist crowds that some people can experience.

First up is the Horti Leonini in the town of San Quirico d'Orcia, Siena. A late 16th century park, it was created according to the direction of Diomede Leoni (for whom it is named) with funding and the donation of lands by Francesco de' Medici. Built as part of a scheme of renovation in the town after damages caused during wars between Siena and Florence, it is an oasis of beauty. Wonderfully well-preserved, the gardens have maintained their original appearance and provide a perfect example of an Italian style garden.     Read More