Archive for 'Small Towns'

  

Venturina Terme, pool

The charming image above may look to you like any other pretty public pool at first glance but it is actually something a little more special than that and is, furthermore, something for which many of the more discerning tourists know Tuscany: it is a thermal bath. Though many rate the region of Tuscany as a top tourist destination because of the rich cultural heritage, the incredible foodie culture, and the beyond belief, picture-perfect scenery, spa-lovers and those looking for therapeutic and relaxing treatments have been coming on holiday to this part of Italy for literal centuries. Long before the modern tourism industry even existed, travellers were seeking out Tuscany and its abundant hot springs and thermal spa towns. Today, it still remains one of many really great reasons to browse our Tuscany villas and to get planning a vacation in this part of the country ASAP. The large and impressive thermal pool pictured above, meanwhile, is the one that visitors will find if they decide to explore this strand of Tuscan tourism and plan a trip to the spa town of Venturina Terme while staying in a villa on the Tuscan Coast

     Read More

  

Streets in Pienza
One of the most-Googled questions about Tuscany, and a question that many thinking of planning their first vacation in Tuscany may have, is, “What is the prettiest town in Tuscany?” This, of course, is quite a contentious query with many potential answers depending on of whom you ask it (lots of patriotic locals will be quick to boast about their own hometowns and nostalgic visitors who fondly remember their own trips will choose places that mean something to them, in particular), when you're planning on travelling, what things you like to see and do, what kinds of scenery you prefer, and more. To single out just one town is not only selling Tuscany short – as it truly does boast seemingly endless stunning towns just waiting to be explored and to endear themselves to you – but it will also lead to the traveller asking it to potentially miss out on many other perfectly charming and utterly picturesque spots.

However, if you want a list of some especially lovely examples to get you started on your quest to uncover and discover some of the prettiest towns in Tuscany, then read on to our picks of just some of the best of the best among them...just don't complain if you're one of the aforementioned locals or Tuscany aficionados who don't happen to find their choice on the list!     Read More

  

Reggello, countryside
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

  

Buonconvento
Italy is home to lots and lots of pretty little historic villages and those that are set amongst the rolling hills, lines of cypresses, and vineyards of the Tuscan countryside are especially charming. In fact, the most beautiful villages in the country are officially awarded with this title and can be readily found listed online. However, if you were thinking about booking a luxury villa in Siena and spending time exploring the wider area of the province, then we have a suggestion of one such town to pencil into your plans: the impossibly lovely medieval walled town of Buonconvento.     Read More

  

Cascate del Mulino
One of the most photogenic and photographed attractions in the Tuscan countryside is probably the distinctive and memorable steaming cascades of the naturally-occurring thermal pools and waterfalls in the town of Saturnia and for good reason. One of the most charming and beautiful spa towns in Italy, it is an excellent destination for those who want to enjoy the culture, cuisine, and natural beauty of Tuscany, all while battling those daily aches and pains, relaxing, unwinding, and recuperating during your vacation. Just browse our vacation rentals in Saturnia and come have a spa getaway in this lovely Tuscan town!

Located in the Maremma area of Tuscany, atop a hill, the town of Saturnia has ancient origins and is noted by a Greek historian from 60BC as being inhabited by pre-classical populations of Greece. The name of the town is also rather old and, according to medieval legend, was so named as it was formed by lightning bolts, thrown by Jupiter during a fight with the mythological deity Saturn. These lightning bolts left scars in the earth that were portals to hell and from which steamy waters gushed out, creating the distinct and magical landscape, filled with incredible thermal pools, for which Saturnia is now so famous, according to these tales.     Read More