Archive for 'Architectural Gems'

The Leaning Tower is one of the first sights people think of when Pisa is mentioned but if you are planning a trip to the city, there are other cultural gems that you should take the time to visit. Pisa is a Tuscan city with a rich historical heritage and was an important artistic centre for a very long time.

As a result, wonderful buildings, monuments and artworks remain from both the distant past and from recent years. Many of these are free to visit (in fact, we've written two articles focusing on things to do for free in Pisa) and some are obscure enough to be devoid of the long lines that often plague Tuscany's cultural hot-spots.

Once you have found a villa with pool in the Pisa area, be sure to stop by these highlights in the city.

Upon arriving in Pisa, you might be momentarily blinded by the iconic Leaning Tower and the many photo opportunities it provides. If you look a little further, you might venture towards the church next door, lured by the sound of beautiful singing. If you look yet a little closer still, you'll see the Camposanto (literally meaning “holy field”), or Monumental Cemetery, which is the final resting place of important and famous individuals and wonderfully combines stunning architecture and beautiful frescoes.

Constructed in 1278, using sacred dirt brought back from Golgotha during the Crusade, it was later decorated with extensive frescoes and was the burial place of the Pisan upper classes for centuries. For those who have found a holiday rental in Pisa, it might not be the most obvious tourist attraction but it is well worth a visit.

The beautiful Tuscan seaside town of Livorno has a lot to offer visitors. The first Italian movie "La presa di Roma," about the entry of Garibaldi's troops into Rome during the Risorgimento, was made in the city and it was the first of many. Venezia Nuova (literally meaning “New Venice”) is part of the Old Town of Livorno that retains much of the original town layout and architectural features and looks like a mini-Venice.

Meanwhile, Cavallino Matto, located near the city, is Tuscany’s biggest amusement park. Needless to say, there are also all the churches, museums, restaurants, views and other delights that recommend any Tuscan town, in addition.

However, no trip to Livorno is complete without visiting Terrazza Mascagni for a stroll and a photo opportunity.

Villa Mansi, is a historic villa and country estate which is located in Segromigno in Monte, Lucca and is just one of the many exceptional villas which were built in the area during the Renaissance. It dates back to the 16th century, with alterations made in the 17th, and is seen as one of the Lucchese villas which best represents the culture and society of the ancient Aristocratic Republic. Both the garden and villa are now open to the general public for tours and both are well-worth a wander on a cool morning in Lucca before heading off in search of something good to eat. Just find yourself the perfect luxury villa in Lucca and then head to Segromigno in Monte to explore this extraordinary building and its beautiful surrounds.

In the 16th century, Villa Mansi belonged to Nicolao Benedetti. His heirs sold it to Bartolomeo of the so-known Hieronimus Cenami for 656 golden scudi. It was described, at the time, as an estate “with various fields and meadows, with fruit trees surrounding the penstocks and the padronal palace, a stable, a well, an oven and a stoned wash-house, among others buildings, located in the municipality of Segromigno in Monte, in the area called Piaggia.” The Cenami remained owners of the villa and its grounds until 1675, when it was bought for 1600 scudi by the marquess Raffaello Mansi of the Mansi family, well-known in Europe for the commerce of silk. The Mansi name would go on to be the one that became firmly associated with the villa to this day.

In the Tuscan city of Grosseto there is a charming building in the historic quarter which immediately stands out from the surrounding structures. Dressed in stone on the ground floor with a red brick face to the second and third storeys and polychromatic accents, it is a beautifully decorative building. This is the Palazzo Aldobrandeschi which dates back to the Middle Ages and is built in the Gothic style. However, this façade might trick you, it is, in fact, Gothic Revival as the palace was rebuilt in the 19th century due to the deterioration of the building over the decades. Still an exceptionally lovely and fascinating building, anyone visiting Grosseto should make time to pass by and admire it.

Just find a holiday rental in Grosseto and spend time wandering its traffic-free and peaceful historic quarter.