Archive for 'Churches & Religious Buildings'

Volterra is a haven of history and culture, set high up on a hill in Tuscany! This Neolithic settlement waged many brutal battles with Florence for dominance of the town and surrounding area.

There were many rebellions but after the fall of the Florentine Republic in 1530 it came under the rule of the powerful banking dynasty, the Medici family.

Stay in a pretty vacation villa in Volterra where you can quite easily enjoy the attractions of this area for a few days.     Read More

Have you been to the Renaissance city of Florence before and wish to return for more?

If you have seen most of the famous Florentine attractions like the Uffizi Gallery, the Duomo and Palazzo Vecchio in the historic centre then perhaps a tour around these lesser known gems would enrich your next tourist experience here!

Stay in a scenic villa in Florence, on the outskirts of the city where you can experience the best of the Tuscan countryside and the urban attractions.     Read More

If you’ve read our interesting articles about the great work of a non-profit Italian Trust called the Fondo Ambiente Italiano (FAI) and a remarkable incentive they run every two years called ‘I Luoghi del Cuore’ then you’re likely to have read its impressive top ten Tuscan hotspot list of 2012.

Why not treat yourself to a beautiful stay at a vacation villa in Scandicci where you can visit one of these attractions with ease?

Here are the four beautiful sacred sites that made it into this list, given to you in greater detail.

1) Tempio della Congregazione Olandese Alemanna in Livorno – This stunning monument made it into the overall top ten “I Luoghi del Cuore” 2012 short-list, coming in at ninth place. It’s a stunning and rare example of Neo-Gothic architecture in Livorno with its stunning exterior façade. Sadly the interior is in dire need of repair and restoration.     Read More

If you’re planning a delightful vacation to Tuscany during the months of November or December then be sure to check out some of these incredible fairs and festivals! Stay in a charming villa rental in San Miniato where you can take part in the following food festival.

The ‘La Sagra del Tartufo Bianco’ which is the infamous white truffle fair in San Miniato attracts hundreds of visitors each year. It takes place across the last three weekends of November where tourists can indulge in a whole range of truffle related activities! San Miniato produces around 25% of Italy’s white truffles which has helped greatly to make it a prosperous town.     Read More