Archive for 'Must See Attractions'

There is no doubt about it: Tuscany is impossibly picturesque. And the list of places and sights and gorgeous buildings and incredible views and amazing works of art that could be defined as must-sees is truly endless. However, most of us unfortunately do not have entire lifetimes to explore every little thing of beauty in this stunning part of Italy. Despite this, those who browse our Tuscany villas will be able to fit a lot of wonderful sights into a vacation in Tuscany. So, why not book your trip today and get started? To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most beautiful of this endless list of extraordinary sights to get you started, help you plan your itinerary, and whet your appetite!

1. Siena’s gilded cathedral

As there is no shortage of lovely sights in Tuscany, there is also no shortage of remarkable churches and cathedrals in this part of the world. Those, however, who find a villa with pool in Siena, should definitely make a point to see this city’s glittering Duomo. With its polychromatic stone, intricate carvings, luxurious marble floors, and array of stunning words of art, it is a thing of wonder. 

Fashion-lovers often find themselves interested in a vacation in Tuscany as Italy is a well-known fashion hot spot with lots of stylish locals to admire, and Tuscany, in particular, boasts endless fashion museums to visit, incredible flagship stores and other wonderful boutiques in which to shop, and a long tradition in making astounding leather goods and jewellery, in particular. The region is also home to lots of little local sartorial gems from smaller fashion museums in various towns, to shopping outlets carrying brands like Prada, to artisans who have been working out of traditional workshops for generations, to more niche fashion specialities that can all be uncovered while staying in one of our Tuscany villas. One of these specialities is Chianti Cashmere.

While, of course, Chianti is best known for its wines and culinary heritage, as well as its lush and beautiful landscape, it is also home to one of the finest cashmere producers in the entire world. Chianti Cashmere is a sustainable, small producer making incredible objects that is a true must for the most discerning shoppers and fashion-lovers who are interested in a luxury villa in Chianti and a holiday enjoying the finer things in life from exquisite garments to unbelievable wines. 

Tuscany is full of incredible public gardens – from formal arrangements surrounding palaces, to leafy parks where one can wander endlessly, to botanic gardens bursting with plants from all over the globe that are waiting to be discovered, and more – but one of the most impressive and lesser-known of the region’s gardens has to be the Fineschi Rose Garden in Cavriglia in the Valdarno. An ancient town surrounded by a scattering of picturesque little hamlets at the foot of the mountains of Chianti, Cavriglia is a land of olive groves and vineyards that makes for an ideal place to come and enjoy local produce and wines while admiring the natural beauty of the area. And, while you’re enjoying all of that natural bounty, you should also make a point to see the cultivated natural splendour of the Fineschi Rose Garden. Browse our villa in the Valdarno and Tuscany Villas and come see this lovely corner of the world for yourself.

The largest private (though open to visitors) rose garden in the world, the Fineschi Rose Garden was established by Professor Gianfranco Fineschi, a surgeon and teacher of medicine at the Catholic University in Rome, and has been collecting rose species and hybrids from all over the globe since 1967. A living museum, it boasts more than 8,000 roses and among them 6,500 species and varieties – from antique roses to modern roses, ramblers and climbers – which are organised into 21 different sections spread across an acre of land, following the classification of roses. Each example and variety is also clearly labelled with little plaques in the ground next to them, telling you the name, age, and who created the particular type in question.

The painter Masaccio was one of the most influential and important painters of the Quattrocento period of the Italian Renaissance, a key figure in moving from the more stylised and decorative aesthetic of Gothic art to something more naturalistic. Vasari, an artist and architect in his own right who was a great writer, historian, and chronicler of the Renaissance masters, notes that Masaccio was studied by all of Florence’s most celebrated painters and sculptors in order to, "learn the precepts and rules for painting well."

So, though his name is perhaps unfamiliar to many, his influence goes far beyond his life and work and his paintings, when viewed today, remain striking and impressive things to behold. Full of dramatic tension, stunning jewel tones, and impressive lifelike figures, his paintings and frescoes are a delight to devour.

If you are browsing our Tuscany Villas and are already a fan of his work, in particular, or are simply interested in the history of art and the Italian Renaissance, then this winter is an ideal time to plan a vacation in Tuscany as the master’s great works are returning to Masaccio’s home town of San Giovanni Valdarno for a very special exhibition!

Have you been looking at our Tuscany villas and considering a vacation in Florence? Well, if that is the case and you’re looking to dip into the city’s chic side then you should definitely plan a visit to the Luisa Via Roma store. Many fashion-lovers are already familiar with the brand as one of the best designer shopping experiences online – a place where you can pick up incredible pieces from the likes of Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, Max Mara, Prada, Gucci, and much more besides – but the in-person shopping experience offered by their Florence store is a must for any style obsessives who are thinking about booking a luxury villa in Florence. To be added to any serious fashionista or fashionisto’s itinerary of the city, along with a visit to the Ferragamo Museum, the Gucci Garden, the artisanal leather stores of the city, and more, the Luisa Via Roma store is located in the heart of Florence, on Via Roma, in between the Baptistery and the Piazza della Repubblica, and boasts three floors of gorgeous goods as well as an excellent restaurant.