Archive for 'Parks & Gardens'

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.

If you are planning a visit to Florence between April and November and are looking to fill up an itinerary, you might consider looking into attractions that are a little off the beaten track and more varied. Typical itineraries of the area focus largely on culture, art and food and, while these are things that are key to any Tuscan visit, it is not all that the region has to offer.

In fact, there are many surprising adventures to be had in Tuscany. Just find a luxury villa in Florence and spend a few days of your trip trying out some of the more unexpected activities that are boasted by the city and the area around it.

One such option is a trip to Il Gigante Adventure Park.

The Zoological Gardens of Pistoia, or the Zoo of Pistoia, is a 7-hectare space that is home to more than 400 animal species and is a special place that allows visitors to get to know the animals, while teaching us about the different ways to protect the animals and how to respect the planet.

Its importance as a place of education and conservation and its impressive scale (that is continually increasing in size) mean that it is one of the most important zoos in the entire country.

Just find yourself the perfect holiday rental in Tuscany and get to exploring the town and this amazing attraction that it boasts.

Pistoia dates back to the 2nd century BC, when it was founded to rest Roman troops fighting against the Liguri, and later became a Lombard benchmark.

These are some cute and funny-looking creatures, aren't they?

Mouflons are a subspecies group of the wild sheep and are thought to be one of the two ancestors for all modern domestic sheep breeds. With red-brown, short-haired coats with dark back-stripes and light-colored saddle patches, sleek elegant bodies, sweet faces and big horns, they are some of the more distinctive and photogenic creatures that you are likely to encounter in the wild in Tuscany.

One of the best activities for those who have found a vacation rental in Tuscany and are exploring the region, is to spend some time wandering the stunning Apuan Alps and spotting mouflons.

Versilia is an area of Tuscany located right along the coast in the northwestern edge of the province of Lucca and is the Riviera of Tuscany. It is dotted by fashionable resorts and is known for its vibrant nightlife during the balmy summer nights.

Versilia is a wonderful area for holidaying whether you are travelling as a family with kids, a friend group, a couple or alone. You'll find all the culinary and cultural delights of Tuscany that one might expect, in addition to the relaxation or adventures that can both be found in such a the seaside location.

You can spend long relaxing days bathing by the sea and doing very little of anything at all, try out water sports with the family, party long into the night with your pals or stroll the beaches with a loved one at sunset.