Archive for 'Siena'

The Abbey of Sant’Antimo, located 9km from Montalcino in Tuscany, is one of the most beautiful of all Romanesque churches in Italy. Local legend attributes its foundation to Charlemagne in the 8th century AD, a miracle that helped cure his army of a plague and a promise to build an abbey on the land where they were saved. Recorded history, however, has a different tale to tell and puts the foundation further back, to the Longobards and the Monastery of St. Savior. The site also is thought to have originally been the location of an ancient Roman villa. The existence of Sant'Antimo, itself, is recorded since at least the 9th century.

This past week, Tuscany has welcomed some rather high-profile tourists; Barack and Michelle Obama, who arrived in Tuscany last Friday for a six-day holiday at a luxury Tuscan estate. The former President of the United States of America and his wife stayed in a luxury resort called Borgo Finocchieto, a town located to the south of Siena, that was bought by a US ambassador in 2001.

The village is made up of a grand manor house with 22 suites and several villas all arranged around a central piazza, boasting facilities such as a 60ft-long oval swimming pool, a library, tennis court, wine-tasting room, cellar and basketball court. More than 800 years old, the village offers views across the surrounding hills and valleys and is located on the route of the Via Francigena, the ancient pilgrimage route that connected Canterbury to Rome.

One of the most important elements to a successful Tuscan vacation is the coffee and the cafes. There is nothing quite like stepping out of the sun or taking a beat from a day full of tourist activities, to sip on a good coffee outside a pretty cafe or grab a bite of something sweet to keep you going. Luckily, Siena is in no shortage of excellent cafes of all kinds from modern concept stores to traditional Italian eateries and bars and luxurious treats to tasty bargains. Just find a villa with pool in Siena and then check out our picks of Siena's cutest cafes during your vacation.

1. Bruscello Concept Store

Bruscello is an interesting entry on this list. It is a contemporary concept store in Siena, located on Via Paolo Frajese.

Siena is one of a Tuscany's prettiest cities and is well-worth exploring but, as you do, you may get tired and need a break – there's lots to see! Once you have found a villa with pool in Siena and are wandering around the medieval gem that is the city, you will probably find yourself in need of some rest and refreshments.

To help you out, we have compiled a list of some of the city's best recommended and cutest cafes. From bookshop and clothes store hybrid cafes to classic Tuscan eateries and quiet corners to popular hotspots, we have a good few options among these picks but all of them have something in common; they are all filled with good food, good reviews and, most importantly cute vibes.

Just read on and take note of the cafe that suits you best!

In our previous posts in this series on vacation rentals in Tuscany with incredible views, we have shined a spotlight on several properties with incredible views across the typical and beautiful Tuscan landscape, as well as over the Tuscan coast but, in this final post, it is time to focus on urban views. Here are some of the loveliest cities views Tuscany has to offer.

9. Piazza Della Signoria

Set right in the heart of Florence's town centre, in an incredibly exclusive location, surrounded by huge and famous cultural and artistic monuments, this property boasts a pretty special view. Located on the first floor of a priceless, historical building, it directly faces the Piazza della Signoria and is just a few steps from the Uffizi Gallery and the Duomo.