Archive for 'Florence'

Florence is home to a large and exceptionally beautiful synagogue that can be traced back to the nineteenth century when David Levi, President of the Hebrew University, bequeathed his possessions in order to build a new synagogue for Florence that would be “worthy of the city”. The architectural gem that resulted is a stunning beauty and a must-see for those interested in religious architecture in the city. Just find a luxury villa in Florence and come visit this incredible building for yourself.

Levi had also even provided for the acquisition of a site between the new development of the Mattonaia and Piazza d’Azeglio and the building of the Tempio Maggiore Israelitico di Firenze, or Great Synagogue of Florence, was completed between 1874 and 1882 under the direction of architects Marco Treves, Mariano Falcini, and Vincenzo Micheli.

Florence is one of the fashion centres of Italy, which, as a nation, continues to be one of the trendsetters and fashion leaders. Famous brands such as Gucci, Pucci, Roberto Cavalli, and Ferragamo were all born in the city and it is home to some of the best stores and fashion museums in the world. In addition to this, Florence is known for its high-quality artisanal leather goods. If you have found a luxury villa in Florence and you are a fashion-lover spending time in the city, an ideal souvenir, that will last a lifetime, is a Florentine leather bag, pair of shoes, jacket or some other leather item.

If you are in search of such a piece, head to the Scuola di Cuoio, or Leather School. Located on via San Giuseppe, just by the Church of Santa Croce, the school produces and sells every type of leather good, all of which is the highest quality imaginable. In addition to purchasing pieces, you'll be able to see the incredible craftsmanship in action as the leather school’s artisans are sure to be working while you visit.

One of the great, unifying commonalities in Italy, outside of food, has to be football. It is the national sport and the country has birthed some of the best players in the world. While soccer may not be the first thing one might associate with Florence, in particular, it is actually deeply embedded in the history and culture for which the city is famous. In fact, Florence has a long tradition of a rather more violent game that was a precursor to soccer called, “Il Calcio Storico Fiorentino,” which is played annually during the third week of June.

If you're more interested in the modern equivalent, however, you're in luck as Florence is also home to a Football Museum. Just find a luxury villa in Florence and head to Coverciano, which is located about twenty minutes from the city.

Italy is famous for her Nativity scenes, or presepi, and Tuscany, in particular, has quite a long and rich tradition of exhibiting some very impressive examples. Many different towns have presepi, sometimes with live animals and actors, sometimes on a large scale, sometimes innovative, sometimes historic and traditional, and sometimes as part of an exhibition of multiple examples. In fact, last year, we wrote a whole guide to the different presepe traditions in Tuscany. However, one town with one of the most beloved and famous of these traditions in recent years has to be Castelfiorentino. If you have found a luxury villa in Florence and love Christmas, this magical little Tuscan festive tradition might be your cup of tea.

Continuing on from our last post, we are rounding up a list of some of the Tuscan museums that participate in the monthly “Domenica al Museo”, when many State museums, in an initiative sponsored by the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism, open their doors to the public for free on the first Sunday of each month. It is the ideal time to plan a trip to those museums that you have been dreaming of visiting. While this list may not be 100% exhaustive and all facts are subject to change (check with the institutions in question before planning a visit), this list is an easy way to get an idea of which museums you can pencil in if you have found a vacation rental in Tuscany and plan to be in the region for the first Sunday of the month.