Archive for 'Must See Attractions'

Donatello's name is one of the most enduringly famous of all Italian Renaissance artists but most are more likely to be familiar with the work of the Ninja Turtle than the sculptor. In fact, unlike with Da Vinci or Michelangelo, most would be hard pressed to even name a single one of his works which is rather a crying shame. Why not find a luxury villa in Florence and plan a trip to rectify this? Explore the city, see the sights and take note of the following works which are must-sees and a good introduction to the artist and his oeuvre.

An obvious choice is his “David”. Less well-known than Michelangelo's, it was divisive at the time.

The Boboli Gardens in Florence is a park behind the Pitti Palace which was once the seat of the Medici family. Some of the first formal Italian gardens, Boboli is made up of fountains, statuary from ancient Rome to the 18th century, semi-private and public spaces, nympheums, temples, planting and grottoes. The largest of these grottoes is by the artist, Buontalenti. Built between 1583 and 1593 for Francesco I de' Medici, it was conceived to complete gardens plans that had been devised by Vasari. Composed of three rooms organised in succession, the grotto is a masterpiece of Florentine Mannerist style. Bizarre, extravagant and somewhat surreal, it is one of the highlights of the garden and a highly memorable place quite unlike anywhere else in the world.

Piazza della Signoria in Florence, Italy is the city's main square. It is so-called due to the fact that it is in front of the Palazzo Vecchio, the town hall, which was originally called the Palazzo della Signoria (the name of the Medieval and Renaissance government of Florence). The piazza is a focal point of the historical area of Florence and remains the political heart of the city. For tourists, it makes for a great starting point from which to begin your explorations of Florence and a fulcrum about which you can rotate for the duration of your stay. Find a luxury holiday villa in Florence and you can start your adventure.

Feeling energetic this summer? Why not find yourself a luxury villa in Tuscany and pay a visit to the Torre Guinigi, or Guinigi Tower, in Lucca?

You will have quite the climb ahead of you, with over 200 steps to the top, but I can assure you that it will be well worth the effort!

Lucca, famous for its medieval architecture and intact city walls was once home to many tall towers, precursors to skyscrapers. Of the 250 towers like this that once existed in the city, the Torre Guinigi is sadly one of the very few that still stands there today.

Tuscany, land of Renaissance splendour, fine wines and majestic landscapes!

Legacies of great civilisations like the Etruscans and Romans have left their mark in the form of old castles, hilltop towns and a varied collection of fascinating artefacts on show in museums here.

Tuscany encompasses the ingredients for any type of vacation you desire; be it a seaside holiday along the coast or relaxing in a peaceful villa with a pool in the rolling countryside hills further inland.