Archive for 'Florence'

Continuing on from our last article, in which we introduced some of the best cafés in Florence, here are some more locations that are historic, dynamic, cultured, interesting, serve up great food and are perfect for sipping on a perfectly made coffee and just watching the world go by.

Once you have found a luxury villa in Florence and are spending time exploring the city, dashing around from place to place in an attempt to see everything on your bucket list, stop by one of these wonderful institutions and just relax for a little while.

From a historic gem with a long established reputation in the gastronomic and cultural realms of the city to a more recent and experimental venue that combines literature, art, culture, food, coffee and wine, the cafés featured on this list are truly special destinations.

One of the most enjoyable things about spending time in Tuscany, and Florence, in particular, is enjoying the slower pace of life. Even amidst the slew of tourists that descend upon the city and run around, trying to see it all, the Tuscan way of life remains intact - unhurried, relaxed and intent on enjoying things. Any holiday there should be taken and enjoyed in the spirit of the locals.

Don't just try and see it all but take time to revel in the space you're in and be really present in the moment. One of the best ways to do this is to spend time in the various piazze, sipping on a coffee and watching the world go by.

We've rounded up some of Florence's best, most famous, oldest, newest and coolest cafés for you to choose from so you can do just that. So, why not find a luxury villa in Florence and try living like a local.

Tuscany is known for her delicious food and it is, of course, one of the main highlights of any trip to the region. However, as much as most dishes involve cheese, tomatoes, pork, pasta and other lovely ingredients, some have components that may seem strange or unappetising to some of us from other parts of the globe. Yet, the Tuscans swear by these dishes and, if they say it, surely they are worth a try on your next trip?

A city like Florence is old enough and so rich in history that it has to be at least a little bit haunted. If you are to believe the reports, it appears to actually be rather haunted, indeed. From windows left open for a ghost still awaiting her lover to piazzas still haunted by executions that happened long ago, there are many buildings and spaces around the city that are said to be plagued by the dead. However, there is one ghost that is thought to haunt two different locations in the city. If you feel like going ghost-hunting, just find a luxury villa in Florence and follow him around the city.

Once the Palazzo Vecchio closes for the day, all the tourists have filed back out the door in search of dinner, all of the staff returns home and night falls, the sound of footsteps and squeaking in the supposedly empty building is not uncommon. It is said that there are many ghosts in the Palazzo Vecchio, but one is more famous than others: Baldaccio d’Anghiari.

If you have found a luxury villa in Florence and are planning to take in the art and culture for which the city is so famous, you have, no doubt, pencilled in a visit to the Uffizi Gallery. The Uffizi Gallery, or Galleria degli Uffizi, in Piazza della Signoria is one of the oldest and most famous art museums in Europe and the world and was originally begun under Vasari for Cosimo I de' Medici in 1560. The name comes from the Italian word for “offices” which is what the building was intended to house when it was first constructed.