Archive for 'Architectural Gems'

The Duomo di San Gimignano, also known as Collegiata di Santa Maria Assunta (Collegiate Church of the Assumption of Mary),is a Roman Catholic Collegiate Church and the cathedral of San Gimignano. It is most famous for its incredible murals and paintings, which include works of famous artists such as Taddeo di Bartolo, Domenico Ghirlandaio and Lippo Memmi. In fact, the building is only one of many celebrated buildings that make up the ‘Historic Centre of San Gimignano’, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Just find a luxury villa in San Gimignano and visit this amazing cathedral and the astounding historic centre in which it is located. There are few towns so picture-perfect as this and it is well worth exploring.

A photo posted by Architecture Interiors Design (@somewhereiwouldliketolive) on Jul 22, 2015 at 1:49pm PDT

Casa Saldarini, also affectionately known as “The Whale”, is an extraordinary house that was built in 1961 and designed by Florentine architect Vittorio Giorgini. It was the first building in the world based on an iso-elastic membrane made of concrete and wire netting and predates the work of architects such as Frank Gehry at the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao by 25 years. The organic curves of the building created concerns about how structurally sound it was and, so, it was tested with double the normal amount of weight usually applied. It passed with flying colours and, yet, despite the advanced nature of the design and building techniques, the work was largely ignored by Giorgini's peers at the time.

Today, it remains as a bit of an unsung hero and hidden gem, an architectural masterpiece in the Gulf of Baratti that few have ever heard about. If you are an architecture nerd and are thinking of spending time in Tuscany, why not find a vacation rental in Piombino and stop by the Casa Saldarini to see this extraordinary building for yourself?

Giorgini was born in Florence in 1926 and studied architecture there, continuing to live in Tuscany until he moved to New York in 1969. He lived and taught there at the Pratt Institute until 1996 but his heart seems to have largely stayed in the land where he was born. As an architect, he was interested in the relationship between the built environment and nature and this is visible in the organic forms that his buildings took on. The environment that most inspired him was that of Baratti. At the time, it was an unknown and untouched area, far from the famous beaches of Tuscany. It was here that he built his own home, Hexagon House, in the midst of and at one with the natural environment of this incredibly lovely part of the world.

A small silk producer from Como, Rino Saldarini, also used to come to the area on holiday and he wanted a “cottage” looking out over the gulf. Having become his friend, Saldarini humoured his Giorgini and gave him a free hand in 1962 to create the Whale House. Constructed in a few months, with reinforced concrete crete cast over an arc welded mesh, it is a building of curves that resembles a huge animal, a whale. This zoomorphic construction is perfectly at ease in the Mediterranean maquis and has changed hands many times over the years but remains a constant surprising delight that some people are lucky enough to accidentally stumble upon and that others seek out. Be sure to be the latter on your next trip to Tuscany!

The Fattoria di Celle, or Celle Farm, located just 5km from Pistoia is a stunning attraction and fascinating place. While the property has roots to a building from as far back as 1000 AD, the house was built in the 17th century and present form of the gardens is owed to 19th century reconstructions and were further enhanced in the 1980s. It is this enriching of the gardens, with a sculpture park, that draws crowds of art-lovers, schools and more adventurous tourists to this place each year.

The sculpture park showcases 70 site-specific installations sprinkled across the vast family estate and was created by local businessman Giuliano Gori over three decades ago, yet still displays cutting-edge art installations by the world's top contemporary artists. Selected international artists have been to be invited to create installations in the remarkable outdoor spaces of the Romantic park and farmland as well as inside the historic villa and various farm buildings.

Chiusi is a town in the Siena province of Tuscany that is beautiful, intriguing and steeped in fascinating local mythology. As a result, there is plenty to see and do, even though the town is not that large. It is the perfect place to have a fun, interesting and exciting holiday off the beaten tourist track and away from lines and bustling crowds. Just find a vacation rental in Chiusi and explore this charming town for yourself.

Pienza is a small village in the Val d'Orcia in southern Tuscany. Set high atop a hill, overlooking the Orcia Valley, it has extraordinary views, and is often known as the "ideal Renaissance city”.

The creation of the great humanist Enea Silvio Piccolomini, who later became Pope Pius II, the town was his birthplace, originally called Corsignano. He transformed it into his idea of a Utopian city, what would eventually come to be known as Pienza. If you want to wander the streets of an ideal town for yourself find a luxury villa in Pienza!

The Papal Palace, or Palazzo Piccolomini, is located to the right of the Duomo has a large loggia with hanging garden from which there are breathtaking views across the Val d'Orcia Valley. This is the highlight of the town, the garden in particular.