Archive for 'Museums & Galleries'

Coffee-lovers will already consider Italy and Tuscany, in particular, to be essential destinations for enjoying excellent coffee while on holiday and/or as key destinations in the globe to tick off if you are out to properly explore and experience all of the most important coffees and coffee cultures of the world. However, if you’re really serious about your coffee and want to dedicate a whole day to learning more about Italian coffee and coffee culture and tasting some excellent blends and you have found yourself a luxury villa in Florence or a vacation rental in Fiesole then you should definitely pencil in a visit to the Accademia del Caffè Espresso. A truly unique foodie experience for coffee fans, in particular, it is just one more delicious reason to plan a visit to this truly beautiful part of the world.

The Accademia del Caffè Espresso is located on the outskirts of Florence, near the town of Fiesole, and is a, “cultural “hub” focused on espresso coffee,” where, through analyses, research and communications, they build new relationships and insights into espresso coffee culture. Based in what was once the old factory space of La Marzocco, the famous high-end coffee machine company, from 1960 to 2009, the Accademia is now a place for research, innovation and outreach. Basically, it’s an incredible hub for the most dedicated coffee-lovers and nerds out there to unite and learn more about coffee and enjoy some incredible blends!

Pietrasanta is an incredibly picturesque Tuscan town that is a must for art-lovers who are interested in getting off the beaten path while exploring the region. Of course, destinations such as Florence, Pisa, and Siena will all yield all sorts of truly extraordinary and world-class museums and galleries but there are many other important towns and cities throughout the region that have rich cultural histories and in which some of the most famous names worked and the most astounding pieces of art are on display. So, if you have found a villa with pool in Lucca and you are looking to take in amazing works of art and learn about great Renaissance masters, be sure to set aside a day to visit Pietrasanta, which is basically one large, open-air museum dotted with artistic gems.

Though the town has ancient Roman origins, it was one of the ideal towns of Tuscany founded in the 13th century that were created based on plans involving perfect proportions, symmetry, and balance, and the historic core of Pietrasanta is made up of five main streets running parallel to each other with a large square at one end. Made particularly famous once Michelangelo noticed the beauty of the stone from the area and began to use it, the town is located close to the famous marble quarries of Carrara and, as a result, has been a beacon for sculptors and artists for centuries, since at least the late Middle Ages.

Tuscany, as a region with an unbelievably rich cultural and artistic heritage is, unsurprisingly, home to many palaces, art museums, civic museums, churches, and religious collections that stuffed full of extraordinary works of art from throughout history. However, in addition to the old, the region also celebrates the new in contemporary art galleries and various other kinds of art spaces and the art scene is still very much alive and well. So, if you have found a luxury villa in Tuscany and you are interested in art, then be sure to seek out these newer institutions as well to dive into the current art scene and to experience it in real time for yourself! If you were considering a villa with pool in Lucca, in particular, and you are interested in more recent artistic innovations and practices, then you should definitely head to the ARKAD Foundation.

Located in the town of Seravezza, in an old marble sawmill across from the Medici Palace in town, the ARKAD Fondazione, or ARKAD Foundation, is a wonderful intercultural centre that promotes the creation of art and the spread of culture. Nestled between the Apuan Alps and the Versilia plain, this little town is an impossibly scenic part of the world – think lush hillsides covered in trees, towering peaks, verdant valleys swathed in morning fog, a silver river slicing through the town, and pretty streets lined with stone buildings and palm trees - and it seems fitting, therefore, that it is home to a space producing beautiful and fascinating works of art.

While there is no shortage of beautiful churches in Tuscany to be explored there are some that are especially wonderful architectural gems and full of exceptional works of art. One of the most particularly noteworthy examples among these is the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Assunta in San Gimignano, which is a truly magical gem. Just find a vacation rental in San Gimignano and then come and discover the lush interiors and amazing works of art hidden within the city's spectacular Duomo.

Home to fresco cycles by notable Italian masters including Domenico Ghirlandaio, Benozzo Gozzoli, Taddeo di Bartolo, Lippo Memmi and Bartolo di Fredi, this incredible church is nestled in the very pretty UNESCO-awarded historic centre of San Gimignano and the frescoes themselves are also on the UNESCO World Heritage List and noted as, "works of outstanding beauty".