Archive for 'Localities'

Thinking of spending Christmas abroad this year? Want to get away from the chaos of the festivities and endless obligations so you can just enjoy yourself over the Holidays? Then why not consider a Christmas getaway in Tuscany? Tuscany is the ideal location for a Christmas break as it boasts pretty towns that are even more picturesque when all dressed up for the festive season, delicious foods that make for excellent Christmas feasts, lots of unique Christmas traditions, and plenty of yuletide cheer. One particularly beautiful Christmas getaway destination in Tuscany is Siena. The charming city of Siena, with its lovely historic centre and penchant for going all out for the Holidays is just about as idyllic a spot as you could get for a very special Christmas. Just find a luxury villa in Siena and get planning the Christmas of your dreams!

Have you ever wanted to visit the real secret garden? Were you a child obsessed with the Secret Garden in the nineties or the other movies and original novel that came before? Or a parent forced to watch any version of the film or read the book endless times? If the answer to any of the above is, “yes”, and you have found a luxury villa in Florence, then we would suggest setting aside some time for a trip out of the closely gathered attractions of the city centre to the lovely Villa Capponi, which is home to a beautiful secret garden.

Located in Arcetri, a little hilly area to the south of the centre Florence, the Villa Capponi was originally built in the 14th century but is named for the Capponi family who purchased the property in 1572. A wealthy merchant, Gino di Ludovico Capponi bought the Renaissance villa from its previous owner, Niccolo Del Nero, who had gone bankrupt and extended and enhanced the property, making it a noble residence.

Autumn brings with it the harvest season and lots of delicious seasonal foods. As the winter approaches, however, Italy and Tuscany celebrate one last tasty harvest for the year, or, rather, one last forage: for precious truffles.

Truffles can actually be found in Italy throughout much of the year with dark winter truffles available from January to March, tan truffles (or bianchetto truffles) being foraged from March to April, and common black summer truffles can be unearthed from June to November. However, the most sought-out and highly-prized of all truffles are the tartufo bianco, or white truffles, which can be found from September through to November. As a result of this being the time in which the most beloved truffles are to be found, October and November are also when many events surrounding the finding, eating, and celebrating of truffles take place.

One of the most readily identifiable and iconic peaks in all of Tuscany has to be the incredible Monte Forato and her two summits, which are connected by a large, open, naturally-occurring arch. This picturesque peak and its incredible and suggestive characteristic arch is located along an excellent ring route in the Garfagnana mountains that makes for an ideal place to go hiking if you have found a vacation rental in Lucca and are looking for somewhere to go take in pretty views of Tuscany, to get some fresh air, to blow out the cobwebs, and to stretch your legs.

The trail along Monte Forato begins at the pretty little Tuscan mountain town of Fornovolasco, which is surrounded by lush greenery, is famous for the river that splits it into two parts, and is dominated by the arch at the top of the peak above. Follow the signs to Grotta del Vento from town, head over the bridge over the Turrite River, up towards the Foce di Petrociana pass, and then take the number six path for a kilometre to a small cave called the Tana che Urla (Screaming Den) or Vallisneri Cave. If you put your ear to the cave’s mouth you can hear an odd noise that sounds like a man shouting, who is, according to local legend, a miner that fell in love with a fairy and followed her deep into the cave, never to be seen again.

About 30km south of Pisa, you will find the pretty little Tuscan village of Lari. With medieval origins, it is dominated by the mighty fortress, the Castello dei Vicari (known as Vicari Castle or Lari Castle in English), which is perched as the crowning glory of the village. However, do not be lead astray by its pretty, if somewhat unusual, appearance, as it hides a long history of horror and hauntings within its walls. If you have found a vacation rental in Pisa and are considering planning a last-minute mid-term break, half-term, or Hallowe’en getaway to the area, then pencil a trip to the Castello dei Vicari into your itinerary. Perfectly spooky and a rare spot in Italy where you can usually find Hallowe’en celebrations, it is the ideal place to head to if you are in Tuscany in or around All Hallows’ Eve.

The first written records that we have of the castle date back to 732AD, though the castle that you see today is a very different building, having been rebuilt many different times throughout the centuries. It has also changed many hands throughout the years, from family to family, and lots of different kingdoms, rulers, and organisations. In the Middle Ages, it was under the control of the Republic of Pisa and then, in 1406, it came into the possession of the Florentine Vicari family, it was a prison, then it was home to Florentine vicars until halfway through the 19th century, then it was a jail again, and, finally, it came into the ownership of the Municipality of Lari, who restored it and opened it to the public.