Archive for 'January'

  

Friday, October 31, 2025
Family at a Christmas market

Tuscany is not the most famous destination in the world when it comes to Christmas markets and, if you are plan a getaway in and around the Holidays and want to specifically attend a famous Christmas market, it is not the destination that many would necessarily recommend. However, if you want to plan a festive break and include a visit to some lovely Christmas markets, then a holiday in Tuscany is definitely a great fit. Not only are there some really nice markets to visit but Tuscany is wonderful at this time of the year! Picturesque historic town centres are made prettier by the addition of lights and decorations while cities like Florence and Pisa are also more beautiful when decorated for the season but also have a diverse calendar of seasonal delights and events. There are endless delicious seasonal treats to eat and drink, cheer just permeates everything, wonderful local Tuscan crafts that are steeped in tradition and are incredibly high-quality can be purchased as extra-special gifts, and much more besides. So, if you want to enjoy all of this while attending some really charming Christmas markets, then here are the 2025-2026 dates for some of Tuscany’s most beloved examples...

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Posted in: Christmas, December, Events, January, Markets, November

  

Monday, December 4, 2023
Befana
Photo credits: This image was created with the assistance of DALL·E 2.

Considering spending Christmas in one of our amazing villas in Tuscany this year? Well, then you might need to be introduced to a very important character and figure in Italy during the festive period, particularly if you have any children in your party.


Befana is a witch who holds a special place in the hearts of Italian children during the Christmas season because she is a kind and benevolent figure and many queue up to see her as they would Santa Claus.

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Posted in: Christmas, Events, January, Local Customs, Travel Tips

  

Thursday, December 15, 2022
New Year's in Florence

Shopping for a present for a loved one but really out of ideas? Have no plans to celebrate New Years? Well, why not combine these two needs and book a New Years getaway in Florence in one of our Tuscany Villas? Ring in 2023 in one of the most beautiful cities in the world and in a destination where there are all sorts of events to celebrate the big event! We have a wide array of vacation rentals in Florence and luxury villas in Florence and the surrounding area to choose from at different price points and sizes and there is something to suit everyone! Do not wait a second longer, find the right property for you, surprise someone (or treat yourself) with an amazing gift, and make memories that will last for years to come – sounds pretty special to us.


But what events can you expect over New Year's in Florence this year? 

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Posted in: Christmas, December, Events, Florence, January, Localities

  

Saturday, October 29, 2022

It’s already that time of year – the famous and beloved Christmas markets of Europe are being confirmed and the dates are being published, which means that it is time to plan your Christmas market getaway for all of the Holiday spirit, festive fun, and magic memories that you could hope to wish for. While the Christmas markets of Tuscany may be a little less well-known internationally, the region actually abounds with some of the best and most special in the world. Though smaller in scale at times, the scenic settings of Tuscany’s charming and picturesque historic centres as a backdrop to alpine-style market stalls, carousels, twinkling lights, ice-skating rinks, Santa’s houses, and all of the other elements of a Christmas market only adds to the experience and makes them even more special.


Florence and some of the towns in the metropolitan area of the city are home to some of the finest and most numerous examples of incredible Christmas markets and celebrations in Tuscany so find a luxury villa in Florence and you can come and explore the area’s wonderful examples of Christmas markets this Holiday Season. Enjoy hot drinks, delicious Tuscan snacks, handmade crafts and local produce, buzzing excitement, stunning settings, and much more besides at Florence’s Christmas markets in addition to everything else that makes this part of the region a wonderful place to visit, particularly over the Holidays.


But what Christmas markets take place in and around Florence? Where are they found? What do they offer? And when are they open? Well, here’s our guide to visiting Florence (and her close neighbours) and the city’s magic Christmas markets in 2022...


Weihnachtsmarkt/Mercato Natale di Firenze, Piazza Santa Croce, Florence

19th of November 2022 to the 18th of December 2022

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Posted in: Christmas, December, Events, Florence, January, Localities, Markets, November

  

Wednesday, November 10, 2021
If you have found a luxury villa in Florence and you find yourself wandering around the beyond picturesque centre of the city, you get the feeling that you are inside a jewel box. No matter where you turn in the historic core, you will discover incredible artistic and architectural gems and within those architectural gems are even more astounding works of art and craftsmanship than one could even imagine. It would take lifetimes to see and discover it all. However, the reputations of some works are particularly well-known and precede them. Take, for example, the great Palazzo Medici Riccardi, already a lauded example of Renaissance palace architecture in Tuscany but hidden within its walls also happens to be one of the most extraordinary fresco cycles in the city – and that’s saying something in the birthplace of the Renaissance!     Read More
Posted in: Christmas, Concerts & Festivals, Events, Florence, January, Localities