Archive for 'Tourist Attractions'

Vincigliata Castle, located in Fiesole, Tuscany has a long and intriguing history as well as the most picturesque setting and appearance that you could imagine. Find a tuscan luxury villa nearby and you could see this storybook castle for yourself!

The first mention of the castle comes from 1031, when it was property of the Vinsdomini family. After this the castle passed from owner to owner as it was bought, sold, inherited and gambled away. As a result of its mistreatment, the lovely medieval building was almost destroyed and fell into ruin. However, even as a ruin it captured the attention and hearts of many a passer-by.

If you're in the artistic centre and birthplace of the Renaissance that is Florence, you're probably planning a visit to the Uffizi Gallery, or Galleria degli Uffizi, in Piazza della Signoria. Should this be the case, there are a few things that you may want to bear in mind first.

One of the oldest and most famous art museums in Europe and the world, the Uffizi was originally begun under Vasari for Cosimo I de' Medici in 1560. The name comes from the Italian word for “offices” which is what the building was intended to house when it was first constructed.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is one of the world's most iconic structures and probably the most famous tower in existence. As it is one of the most visited attractions, this article aims to make your experience of it as smooth and as enjoyable as possible. To make your visit even more special, why not find a luxury villa nearby and make it a once-in-a-lifetime trip!

Begun in 1173, the Leaning Tower of Pisa took over 800 years to be completed. Originally, it was intended to act as the bell-tower of the cathedral located close by in the Piazza dei Miracoli, or Piazza del Duomo. However, the ambitious project for such an ornate structure soon presented problems.

2015 is the Year of Archaeology in Tuscany. This basically means that for the next few months major and minor museums around Tuscany will be putting on special exhibits and organising special events in order to promote the archaeological heritage of the region. If you are a history fanatic, you may want to find yourself a luxury villa in the area and experience the celebration of archaeological discovery for yourself.

The event which opens the year's events schedule is an exhibition at the Palazzo Strozzi in Florence. Launched on March 14th and continuing through to June 21st, it is entitled “Power and Pathos - Bronze sculpture of the Hellenistic world.”

The ancient town of Chiusi in Siena, Tuscany is beyond picturesque with its rich architectural heritage and hilltop location overlooking the stunning Val di Chiana. Chiusi, which dates back to 1000 BC was once one of the most important cities in the Etruscan empire. However, by the 3rd century BC it had become merely a Roman province and not one of the 12 leading cities of a federation. Under Charlemagne it was made into a country in its own right. Then its fortune took a turn again and it became a battlefield between Florence and Siena until the tensions between those two great cities and kingdoms calmed in the 19th century.