Archive for 'Lucca'

Villa Reale di Marlia is a stunning 17th century villa and estate with extensive and impressive gardens, located a short distance from Lucca, at the foot of the Pizzorne hills. Once home to Napoleon’s sister and Duchess of Lucca Elisa Bonaparte Baciocchi, it is considered one of the most important historic properties in Italy and is made up of a sixteen hectare estate that features incredible works of art, works of nature and flights of fancy. While the house is currently closed for renovations, the gardens remain open to the public for visits and make for the perfect place to spend a pleasant afternoon strolling around. Just find a luxury villa in Lucca and pay a visit to this extraordinary estate for yourself.

Pack a picnic and set aside a few hours because wandering this estate will occupy you for that long – there is so much to see and do and you'll need snacks to keep you going.

Tuscany really is impossibly beautiful. There is just so much to see and do and so much of it is made up of some of the most beautiful galleries, buildings, works of art and views in the world. Of course, there really are endless lists of excellent things to see and do so, in order to help you out, here are more of this author's picks of the most photogenic sights in Tuscany that you'll want to visit and then capture forever.

7. The Uffizi

The Uffizi is one of the leading art galleries in the world and for good reason. It is a must-see for the countless masterpieces that are housed inside of it but it is also quite the photogenic beauty in its own right. There is almost too much to see, which can lead to a bit of sensory overload. When I took a moment to just wander and not try and see everything for a second, I found myself strolling around behind my parents and I got this photograph.

If you have decided to spend Christmas abroad this year, we, of course, suggest Tuscany. However, the question of where exactly in Tuscany is a tricky one...there are just too many good options to choose from!

Tuscany is a wonderful destination at Christmas, full of good cheer, good food and good fun. However, each town and city offers something a little different and excels in different areas.

Florence, for example, is the perfect all-rounder as the capital and is also home to the best selection of Christmas markets in the region.

There are plenty of other Tuscan cities to choose from that boast wonderful festive experiences so here are some of our our picks for places to spend your Christmas this year.

I tried to promise myself that I wouldn't buy any clothes this time around on holidays but as Italy is one of the fashion capitals of the world and I'm fashion obsessed, it was too difficult. Instead, I made a deal with myself: I could buy a maximum of two items. I stuck to this bargain but it was not easy as I discovered lots of new, amazing Italian brands that I had never heard of before. If you are another style addict, like myself, visiting Tuscany, these are the brands you should check out to bring home pieces that no one else around you will have!

The beautiful medieval walled city of Lucca in Tuscany boasts lots to see and do and wonderful historic buildings are not in short supply. However, even among all of these incredible buildings and fascinating sights, the picturesque Palazzo Pfanner, with its perfectly landscaped gardens, stands out.

Designed for the wealthy merchant Moricani family, it was built as a demonstration of their wealth and power within the city in 1660.

Unfortunately for the Moriconi family, bankruptcy forced them to sell the building in 1680. The Controni family, silk merchants who had risen to the nobility, bought the palace and extended it and added to it in many different ways.

A monumental staircase was added, presumably on the plans of the Lucca architect Domenico Martinelli and the gardens were altered in the 17th century, likely under Filippo Juvarra.