Archive for 'Pretty Views'

Tuscany isn’t short on beautiful scenery or incredible views and ways to take them in. So many of her towns are built on hilltops, affording the most amazing sweeping vistas over the surrounding landscapes. There are also plenty of buildings all over that you can visit to admire the view from up on top of them. However, if you really want to admire a good view, the best combo is a nice hike to work up a little bit of a sweat, some fresh air and natural surroundings to admire along the way, and then a great view from the top of the trail as a reward for all of your efforts. Like hilltop towns and pretty vantage points, there is not a shortage of great hiking trails to choose from in Tuscany, however, if we were to recommend one today, it would be the Passo di Dante on Monte Pisano. If you have found a vacation rental in Pisa and you’re looking for somewhere to go for a pleasant and not overly challenging hike that boasts history and truly excellent views, then this is just the spot for you!

Monte Pisano has quite a few different routes to choose from and these routes are of various levels of difficulty, meaning that there is probably something to suit everyone, no matter their kind of previous experience with hiking or fitness level. All boast excellent views – with panoramas over the Tuscan Coast to one side of the mountain and across to the Lucca and Apuan Alps on the other side – and traverse through a stunning landscape made up of forestry dotted by ruins of ancient monasteries, pretty little churches, and old farmhouses.

We have previously written about the Orbetello Lagoon on several occasions. This coastal lagoon is one of Tuscany’s greatest treasures and is a diverse area of marshland that supports a varied and rich flora and fauna. Consisting of 1500 hectares of marshland separated from the sea on the west and east by two 6km strips of land and by the Argentario headland, it is an area that is both exceptionally lovely and incredibly unique near the coastal city of Orbetello. If you have found a holiday rental in Orbetello, there are lots of reasons to set aside some time to go and explore the lagoon but there is one particularly colourful and charming reasons: it is one of the best places in Italy to see a flock of pink flamingos en masse in the wild.

This week, we have been looking at some of Florence's best rooftop bars as there is no better way to enjoy her stunning and iconic skyscape than from a cute bar with a great drink in hand. Whether you're finishing off a day in the city or just getting a night started with some aperitifs, the city's rooftop bars make for the perfect places to watch the sunset over the famous buildings, beautiful gardens, historic squares, and wandering tourists and citizens. If you have found your luxury villa in Florence and are now looking for a rooftop bar to visit, read on to the rest of our list of some of our top picks among the places that the city has to offer...

Florence has a famously beautiful skyline that we have written about and admired many times before. There are plenty of viewing points from which to enjoy views of the city and we have listed these previously but, lately, we've been imagining enjoying said views from rooftop bars. Combining those amazing views with a well-made cocktail or a great glass of wine sounds like a match made in heaven to us! So, if you have found a luxury villa in Florence and want to round off a long day of touristing or want to grab a nice leisurely drink before heading to dinner, then these are the rooftop bars that you should visit in Florence!

Museums, galleries, palaces, restaurants, wineries: these are probably the locations that first come to mind when picturing spending time in Tuscany. However, that beautiful and iconic landscape that Tuscany is famous for needs to be ventured out into and explored. Driving around or heading to outdoor activities like kayaking, zip lining, horse riding, and more are one way to experience it but an excellent way to see the landscape at its most beautiful is by going hiking. One particularly lovely place to go hiking is Pania della Croce.

This mountain in the Apuan Alps is the highest peak in the Panie Group, located not far from the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea and boasts views over Monviso, Monte Amiata, Corsica and the coastline on very clear days. For those who have found a holiday rental in Lucca or a villa rental on the Tuscan Coast, and who are looking to take in the majestic natural beauty of Tuscany, it is the perfect spot for a hike.