Archive for 'Architectural Gems'

If Italy (and Tuscany, in particular) is known for any single thing, it is art. Of course, fashion and food quickly come to mind upon mention of the country, as well, but it is the art that seems to stick out most in the international common consciousness. As Florence was at the heart of the Renaissance, the wider region of Tuscany was blessed with many great artists and works over the years. As such, there really is an endless list of things to see and do. One particular art form that is especially bountiful is architecture. The region abounds with architectural gems so why not find a luxury villa in Tuscany and explore these delightful structures for yourself? It promises to be a trip of a lifetime.

If you visit the city of Lucca in Tuscany, you should make sure not to miss a charming attraction that is located just outside it: the Acquedotto Del Nottolini. This impressive aqueduct is often mistaken for a remainder of the Roman Empire but is actually a neoclassical gem that is modelled after those older examples and dates to the 19th century.

Holidays often involve so much planning, chaos and running around, when you're meant to be relaxing, that it is good to slot in time for taking it easy and enjoying your surroundings.

Particularly on urban getaways, it is good to find some natural space in which to unwind and get a bit of fresh air as you wander and take a breather. So, to help you out, we've compiled a list of some of the most beautiful gardens in Tuscany.

The Boboli Gardens in Florence are located behind the Pitti Palace, which was once the seat of the Medici family.

It is one of the first formal Italian gardens and is made up of fountains, statuary from ancient Rome to the 18th century, semi-private and public spaces, nympheums, temples, plants and grottoes, the largest being a famous work by Buontalenti.

There are plenty of things to see and do in Tuscany – in fact, there is no shortage at all and a list that one could not complete in even several lifetimes – but alongside the famous churches, galleries, works of art, palaces, museums and other commonplace and famous attractions, there are some more unique and strange sights. Once you have found a luxury villa in Tuscany and are planning a trip, consider these attractions alongside the prerequisite visits to the Uffizi, Leaning Tower of Pisa and Palazzo Vecchio.

6. The Sword in The Stone, San Galgano Abbey

Galgano Guidotti was born in 1148 to a minor noble and was a self-centred, violent knight until he was visited by the Archangel Michael in a vision and told to renounce his ways when he was 32.

Italy is known for her culture, her art, her good food and the good life but, like anywhere, it has its strange and bizarre sides as well. Tuscany is no exception, though it can often seem like an idyllic paradise. We have rounded up some of the strangest, silliest and most fascinating attractions that Tuscany has to offer so why not find a luxury villa in Tuscany and begin uncovering her more unique attractions?

1. Antro del Corchia Caves, Lucca

The Antro del Corchia is part of the cave system of Monte Corchia in the Apuan Alps Regional Park and is the largest cave system in Tuscany and one of the biggest in Europe. It is made up of over 60km of galleries which go down to a depth of 1200m into the earth. Exploration of the cave began in the 19th century but it was not opened to the public until 2001.

The little-known town of Chiusi in the Siena province of Tuscany is a bit of a hidden gem that offers stunning scenery, pretty buildings and a rich history. If you have found a vacation rental in Chiusi and are looking for a unique day out that is a little bit off the beaten track, it really is a perfect destination.

Between the 7th and 5th centuries BC, the area was one of the most important towns in the Etruscan Dodecapolis (league of twelve cities) and was where one of their most powerful kings called Porsenna is said to have been buried in an elaborate tomb within a complex labyrinth in an Etruscan burial site. In his Naturalis Historia, Pliny the Elder tells that the legendary Etruscan king Porsenna was buried in a majestic tomb inside an unfathomable labyrinth, with his sarcophagus laid to rest in a golden carriage that was guarded by golden statues of twelve horses, a brood hen and five thousand chicks, all also made of gold.