Archive for 'Pisa'

Many, when browsing among our Tuscany villas, end up deciding to book one of our villas in Pisa, which is completely and utterly understandable. Pisa, as a holiday destination, has so much to offer a visitor: visits to the impossibly famous and iconic landmark of the city that is the Leaning Tower of Pisa, trips into the stunning rolling hills and lush plains of the surrounding typical and picture-perfect Tuscan landscape, days tasting wine at any of the large number of nearby vineyards, strolls through the pretty and historic centre of the city, time playing in the water at the nearby beaches of the Tuscan Coast or hiking in the nature parks and reserves that are close by, attending the local festivals and celebrations that take place throughout the year, exploring the endless architectural gems of the city, and trips to the range of incredible museums that can be found in Pisa. Among these museums, many of which we have mentioned before, there is the National Museum of San Matteo, a must-see treasure trove of gorgeous objects and works of art for those who snag one of our amazing holiday rentals in Pisa.

When one thinks of lavender, Provence is likely the European destination that first comes to mind and while it is a brilliant place for lovers of this sweet-scented bloom to experience purple flowers unfolding endlessly in front of you across a landscape and the aroma permeating the air all around, there are other options, including in Tuscany. In Tuscany, there is one main spot to go to experience impressive lavender fields, in the hills around Pisa. Therefore, if you want to breathe in lavender fields, capture some stunning photographs of the landscape and use it as a backdrop for lovely commemorative photos of you and your fellow travellers, and to stock up on some lavender-infused products then you should browse our last-minute villas in Tuscany and head there in the next couple of weeks. The lavender fields of Tuscany begin to bloom fully around the middle of June and last until they are harvested at the end of July, leaving you just enough time to still catch them this summer. Or, if you’re looking ahead to next summer and you want to inject some lavender into your vacation in Tuscany then you can browse our vacation rentals in Pisa, in general. 

If you are a music-lover and you are considering one of our Tuscany villas this summer then you will quickly discover that there is a rather wide array of incredible different music events and festivals that take place all across the region each year during the season. These events vary widely in genre, style, scale, setting, and cost from local celebrations that are more like parties and can be free to attend, to festivals dedicated to specialist genres for serious super fans, to more mainstream and larger-scale events and concerts featuring world-famous acts. No matter what kind of music or concerts you like, in particular, you’re sure to find some suitable event in Tuscany. If, however, you are a particular fan of opera and you were planning on finding a villa on the Tuscan Coast or a vacation rental in Pisa or a holiday rental in Lucca then the various wonderful perfomances of operas that are put on as part of the Festival Puccini each July and August will likely be of interest. In an utterly charming setting, dedicated to a musical genius from the area, and boasting some truly incredible productions, this is one of the best opera events to attend in Italy.

This year’s 68th addition of the Festival Puccini will take place between the 15th of July 2022 and the 29th of August 2022, giving you just enough time to take a look through some of our last-minute villas in Tuscany to make a wonderful Tuscan getaway full of culture and art happens for you this summer if you have yet to book your vacation this year. 

A Tuscany villa is an excellent idea for those who want to enjoy a relaxing getaway as the entire region is home to lots of natural hot springs and the charming and historic spa towns that have grown up around these destinations. Drawing generations upon generations of both locals, Italians from other parts of the country, and tourists from all over the globe to enjoy the restorative waters and a range of other relaxing and holistic treatments, these are the places that you want to go to if you are looking to truly unwind and rest on your next vacation. We have discussed many different naturally-occurring hot springs, thermal parks, spas, and spa towns previously but one of the most luxurious spots in the entire region to enjoy a day at the spa and in the hot spring waters that we haven’t mentioned before has to be Bagni di Pisa. The day spa here, at this stunning 5 star hotel in a beautiful 18th century building, is a real slice of heaven and is ideal for those who have found a villa with pool in Pisa and are looking to treat themselves to a properly luxurious spa experience.

Located in the spa town of San Giuliano Terme, about 5km from the city of Pisa, the Bagni di Pisa spa is a serious looker, with the thermal pools and baths set in an elegant courtyard of the building, framed by lovely architectural details such a pilasters and arched windows looking into the old palace. This setting is a wonderful and atmospheric place to soak in the restorative waters and is an especially refined counterpart to the famous outdoor springs such as the iconic example in Saturnia – though we would highly recommend a visit to both types if you can manage it! 

You may have noticed a type of wine increasingly in stores and restaurants in the last few years, in particular, that seems new and strange to you: orange wine. These wines are actually part of a very old tradition of wine-making that has been revitalised in recent years and basically involves the macerating of white wines with their skins and the treating of white grapes as one would red ones. While white wine is usually made by pressing the grapes, separating the juice from the skins, and then fermenting this juice, orange wine (or, sometimes, called amber, ramato, macerated, or skin-contact wines) is made by allowing both the skins and juice to ferment together.

Ranging from a golden hue to a richer, redder colour, orange wines have the complex flavour profile and tannins of a red wine but are similarly refreshing to white wine. It is a type of flavour that some find strange at first but it is worth familiarising oneself with as it is a perfect summer drink to enjoy while visiting a vineyard or to pair with a wide variety of meals and foods while dining in the region. And, while the region is not the first that comes to mind in Italy when thinking of orange wine, those who have found a villa with pool in Tuscany or a Tuscany villa will find that many wineries throughout Tuscany are producing wonderful orange wines.