Archive for 'Florence'

Florence is one of the great cultural capitals of the world and has been for centuries. If you have found a vacation rental in Florence and you are planning on indulging in that rich cultural heritage, then you will always find things to see and do. However, if you go during the summer, you will find an especially rich schedule of various sorts of events to choose from. From music to literature, art to dance, and more, there are all sorts of different cultural experiences to enjoy while in the city during this time in which the local museums, the local government and various cultural institutions compete with shining calendars of fascinating activities for Estate Fiorentina.

Estate Fiorentina, meaning “Florentine Summer”, is quite the thrill but can feel rather overwhelming as there is just so much going on. However, we have picked just a few events from the calendar that caught our eye. For more information, just head to the official website (sadly, offered only in Italian) and try and find events specifically around your schedule or that catch your eye.

The Medici family have left an indelible mark on Tuscany that is still felt today, centuries after they were at the peak of their powers. Works of art, buildings, and even towns remain as a mark of their incredible legacy but so, too, do stories. One of the most compelling is the story of the mysterious death of Isabella de' Medici, the beloved daughter of Cosimo I de’ Medici, the Grand Duke of Tuscany. Famously beautiful and free-spirited, she was a well-known Florentine figure who died suddenly and unexpectedly at the Medici villa in Cerreto Guidi in 1576 during a hunting holiday.

According to her brother, "while she was washing her hair in the morning ... She was found by Signor Paolo Giordano on her knees, having immediately fallen dead.” This unlikely and dubious version of events was doubted and, according to information obtained by the Ferrarese ambassador, Ercole Cortile, she was actually "strangled at midday" by her husband in the presence of several named servants. It is thought that her husband, Paolo Giordano, killed Isabella because of an affair that she had had with Troilo Orsini or that her brother, the Grand Duke Francesco de’ Medici actually had ordered her death.

One of the most important things that we want when we go on holidays is to really relax and unwind. If you have found a vacation rental in Tuscany and are planning to get away from it all then why not plan to set aside a morning or two for a good yoga session to loosen up, get rid of all of your tension, and start a day of fun and sightseeing right? Breathe, relax your jaw, roll your shoulders, and get ready to enjoy a wonderful holiday in beautiful Tuscany…

Whether you are based in a city or in the country, there are plenty of different options to choose from all around the region. Tuscany is actually quite an up-and-coming yoga destination and there are new schools opening all over. Plus, as a famously relaxed place, Tuscany has a perfect atmosphere for practicing yoga and what better backdrop or setting than the rolling pastures and pretty hilltop towns of Tuscan landscapes and the historic grandeur and architectural gems of Tuscan city views? It couldn’t really get much more idyllic than that!

Here are some of the best places to attend some yoga classes and take a moment’s pause while you are exploring Tuscany.

Tuscany is a magical place full of incredible works of art, delicious dishes waiting to be eaten, pretty towns, wonderful views, a rich cultural and historical heritage, lots to see and do, and much more besides. However, it is also, oftentimes, quite a strange place with things you might not expect like Torture Museums, intestine sandwiches, dinosaur bones in church walls, swords stuck in stones, and other bizarre and unique places, attractions, and surprises. It is, furthermore, home to quite a few unique traditions and festivals that are must-sees for those looking to get off the beaten tourist path and experience a different, less-talked-about, side of Tuscany. If you have found a vacation rental in Tuscany and are looking for more unique and impossibly memorable experiences of the region, then check out this list of some of the most unusual and special events in Tuscany…

Watermelon Festival, Castellina in Chianti

For those planning on renting a holiday rental in Chianti at the end of August, you should aim to head the charming town of Castellina in Chianti for the Watermelon Festival, or Sagra del Cocomero. Like most festivals in Italy there is lots of foods and music but the main star of the show is the watermelon. So, if a whole festival dedicated to watermelons sounds good to you, then there could be no better fit! The best way to cool down during the hottest month of the year in Tuscany.

Leonardo da Vinci is, without a doubt, one of the most famous names in the history of art. Throughout the centuries, while other artists have had fluctuating levels of fame and popularity, Da Vinci has remained one of the most globally recognised, fascinating, and elusive figures. His artistic skill, multiple talents in several fields, visionary ideas, intriguing glimpses of his personal life, his long string of unfinished works, and his unique career path are all captivating traits that have ensured the continued interest in the artist and this year that interest is set to only increase as we celebrate the 500th anniversary of his death on the 2nd of May 1519.