Archive for 'Must See Attractions'

Tuscany is famous for her rolling green hills, vineyards, sleepy villages, medieval hilltowns and cultured cities. The views over this distinctive countryside adorn endless postcards, lockscreens, books and walls across the world and, if you are planning a trip to Tuscany, you probably want to finally see them with your own eyes. Of course, there are some spots in the region that are particularly good for taking these views in and, as such, we have compiled a list of some of the best views in Tuscany to help you out. Here are some more of them!

3. San Gimignano

The medieval town of San Gimignano is famous for its towers, built in Medieval and Renaissance times by wealthy families, adjacent to their homes, to show off their wealth and compete with each other.

If you have dreamed of going somewhere for a very long time, it can be hard to believe, once you're there, that it's actually happening. Tuscany is one of those locations for many. The best way to make it all very real for yourself is to find a great viewing spot and to take in the scenery that you've always seen in books and pictures and your own imagination.

Once Tuscany – be it cities or rolling countryside – is laid out before your eyes, you can truly take it all in and appreciate its beauty. We have compiled a list of some of the best views and panoramic locations in the region to help you experience Tuscany in all her majesty; and maybe even take some excellent shots to make everyone back home jealous.

Two spots in Florence, in particular, offer amazing views over that beautiful Renaissance city. Just find a luxury villa in Florence and make it a point to head to both.

Google seems to have the answers to all of life's questions, right? Whether you are looking for directions or somewhere good to eat, want to know when a museum closes or when to avoid peak crowds, having the internet at your fingertips takes the work out of holiday-making and makes your life a hell of a lot easier.

In fact, they've gone a step further now and Google has even compiled all of their data to generate automatic itineraries of destinations based on the post popular attractions, their locations and the distances between them. Based on the amount of days you will be in the place you have chosen, there are a variety of itineraries to choose from and one can't help but wonder at how well an algorithm might plan a trip.

So, here is Google's suggestion for what to do with 24 hours in Florence. Just find a luxury villa in Florence and see for yourself how suitable it might be.

La Torre del Candeliere, or The Candlestick Tower, was erected in 1228 as both a watchtower and a symbol of the independence of the town of Massa Marittima, which had just been liberated from the dominion of a Bishop-Prince at the time. It was originally even taller, but was later greatly altered under Sienese rule in the 14th century, changing their symbol of freedom forever and connecting it to their own Cassero Senese, or Sienese Fort.

To get there is a bit of a trek. Once you leave the Piazza Garibaldi, there is a side street that climbs a very steep hill. At the end of the hill, there is a wall and an archway, which marks your entrance into the Sienese section of the city. This is where the Sienese expanded the city's borders beyond the medieval fort built by the Pisans and this is where you will find the Torre del Candeliere and Sienese Fortress, both part of this newer section of the city.

Most likely, anyone who has found a luxury villa in Florence and is planning a trip to the city has already made plans to visit the Palazzo Pitti and pencilled it into the itinerary. However, if we might, we would make a suggestion. Take a whole day for the excursion, take your time and make sure to set some aside for the Gallery of Modern Art.

The Palazzo Pitti is a vast and elaborate Renaissance palace in the city of Florence. It was originally the luxury home of a wealthy banker called Luca Pitti but was later bought by the Medici family in 1549 and became their primary residence.

Today it belongs to the state and is open to the public. The palace itself is an important and intriguing tourist attraction and the surrounding Boboli Gardens are also well worth a visit, however, that is not nearly where the cultural and historic riches of the building end: it is also home to the Palatine Gallery, Silver Museum, Gallery of Modern Art and several other gallery spaces and exhibitions.