Archive for 'Must See Attractions'

It was not enough for the wealthy and educated noblemen and merchants of Europe to display their money, influence, and power, they also wished to show off their erudition and good taste. One of the ways that they began to do this was with the Cabinet of Curiosities, or Wunderkammer. Developed in the 16th century, though more rudimentary sorts of private collections had existed among such people earlier, these were rooms of collections of items that showcased an interest in art, learning, and the natural world. Objects that were part of such collections ranged from prints and drawings to books and manuscripts, from taxidermied animals and bones to shells and stones. The wealthier had larger and more elaborate collections in bigger rooms while less wealthy individuals had smaller amounts of objects in studies or even cases or cabinets. A form of entertainment, in addition to being an indicator of socioeconomic status, these collections were shown off to friends, guests, and business partners when visitors were over.

With the dawning of more official museums, many such collections were dissolved and sent to public institutions or sold. As such, this eccentric and eclectic form of display largely fell out of favour in order to make way for the more organised and standardised methods employed by professionals. However, if you have found a vacation rental in Arezzo and are interested in experiencing the sensory overload and highly personal curation of a cabinet of curiosities for yourself, there is one to be viewed in town; the Theatrum Mundi.

Tuscany is famously home to some of the prettiest towns and villages in the world. However, if you have found yourself a vacation rental on the Tuscan Coast and are spending time in that part of the region, you'll discover some especially charming little gems. Among them all, however, one of the most utterly picturesque has to be Suvereto. A perfect place in which to enjoy a day trip, it is a combination of stunning natural surroundings and a delightfully lovely village plucked from the pages of a storybook or from an image on a postcard. This is truly Tuscany at its most unbelievably idyllic, which is saying something in a part of the world that is famous for being almost too pretty to be real.

Art lovers of the world who want to holiday in Tuscany should definitely browse our luxury villas in Florence and get planning a trip to the birthplace of the Renaissance at least once in their lifetime. However, while there are lots of churches stuffed full of incredible works from the Middle Ages onwards, museums with works of art from all over the globe and all throughout history, rich collections of pieces by the city's great Renaissance Masters such as Da Vinci and Michelangelo, and much more besides, there is also still a lively contemporary art scene that lives on in Florence. If you are interested in also diving into what is going on in the world of art today, it is a wonderful destination with artists' and artisans' studios, little boutique galleries, temporary exhibitions, art fairs, art markets, and museums dedicated to modern and contemporary art. Among all of these resources, however, one of the most interesting contemporary art venues in the city has to be Murate Art District (MAD).

The perfectly preserved hilltop town of San Gimignano is a special jewel and looks like a scene pulled right from the pages of a medieval text (though a lot cleaner), boasting astounding views over the rolling green landscape for which Tuscany is now famous. Located 50km south-west of Florence, it is small but packs a serious punch. If you want to experience the great picturesque beauty and well-maintained historic charm of Tuscany but want to get away from the bigger cities in the region, then a villa in San Gimignano is just the thing. Boasting all of the cultural gravitas of any other Tuscan destination and far more to see and do than one might expect, it is a truly picturesque and wonderful gem that makes for an idyllic vacation spot to escape to on your next getaway in Tuscany. Here are just five of the many, many reasons why you should get browsing our vacation rentals in San Gimignanoand start planning your trip today...

There is no shortage of great views across Tuscany or panoramic spots from which to enjoy them; from the skyline of Florence seen from the tower of the Palazzo Vecchio to the view over the rolling hills and woods of the Crete Senesi as viewed from Monte Oliveto to the post-card perfect views over the famous Tuscan countryside taken in from the Podere Belvedere. Tuscany, with her endless vineyards, medieval hilltop towns, rolling green landscape, and stunning coastline, is just an impossibly scenic holiday destination, in general. Retaining lots of traditional charm, her towns themselves are also incredibly picturesque and wonderful places to wander aimlessly, soaking up the unique atmosphere and historic appeal of this lovely part of the world. If you have found a villa on the Tuscan Coast and are exploring the area, there is one particular spot that beautifully combines the region's scenic views and quaint old towns in a rather magical way: located in the coastal town of Piombino is the singular and utterly astounding Piazza Bovio.