Archive for 'Tourist Attractions'

Casciana Terme is a town located in the Pisan Hills in Tuscany which is best known for its thermal springs and spas. The town is very much a typical Tuscan one and has all the charms one would expect of the region with a skyline characterised by terra-cotta roofs, undulating green hills and a medieval bell-tower.

Of course, there is a wonderful local cuisine, beautiful old buildings and museums and lots to see and do in the area, as there is in most Tuscan towns but it is the waters and treatments of Casciana Terme that make it stand out from all the rest.

For the ultimate relaxing Tuscan holiday just find a luxury villa in Casciana Terme.

Caprese Michelangelo is a town located 50km away from Arezzo in Tuscany and owes its name to Michelangelo Buonarroti who was born there in 1475 when his father Ludovico was the town’s authoritative figure. It is situated on the Apennine ridge, in the greenest area of the Tuscan Val Tiberina and the surrounding landscape of this part of Tuscany is particularly beautiful, with numerous rivers and watercourses punctuating the fields of vegetables, fruit and flowers on which Caprese Michelangelo's economy is based.

As the birthplace of that great Renaissance Master, it is obviously a site of pilgrimage for the art-lovers of the world but its great beauty means that anyone in your party will enjoying visiting this charming town. Just find a holiday rental in Caprese Michelangelo and discover this little gem for yourself.

Prato is a Tuscan city which is less well-known than some of its closest neighbours, like Pisa and Florence, but is no less fascinating. While this is, by no means, some hidden gem (it is the second most highly-populated town in Tuscany) you will, however, face less of an intense tourist crowd in Prato. In addition to not having to line up outside museums for long periods of time, the city offers just as rich a history and cultural heritage as any other in the area. In particular, it is a town that has produced some wonderful art, architecture and design over the centuries and has an especially important history of textile production. If you're looking for things to do once you've found a vacation rental in Prato, look no further! We've rounded up some great things to do in this great cultural city.

The Luigi Pecci Centre for Contemporary Art in Prato is an extremely important art institution in Tuscany. Not only is it a rare example of such an institution (especially on such a scale), dedicated to contemporary and modern art, it is also an exceptional building in its own right. In fact, you'll not likely miss the structure if you've found a villa with pool in Prato and are exploring the area. Looking like something between a spaceship and a warehouse, it is a very distinctive building and houses a whole host of treasures, making it a must-see for anyone visiting the city. If you are lucky, you might get the museum practically to yourself, allowing you the time and space to wander at your leisure.

Villa Mansi, is a historic villa and country estate which is located in Segromigno in Monte, Lucca and is just one of the many exceptional villas which were built in the area during the Renaissance. It dates back to the 16th century, with alterations made in the 17th, and is seen as one of the Lucchese villas which best represents the culture and society of the ancient Aristocratic Republic. Both the garden and villa are now open to the general public for tours and both are well-worth a wander on a cool morning in Lucca before heading off in search of something good to eat. Just find yourself the perfect luxury villa in Lucca and then head to Segromigno in Monte to explore this extraordinary building and its beautiful surrounds.

In the 16th century, Villa Mansi belonged to Nicolao Benedetti. His heirs sold it to Bartolomeo of the so-known Hieronimus Cenami for 656 golden scudi. It was described, at the time, as an estate “with various fields and meadows, with fruit trees surrounding the penstocks and the padronal palace, a stable, a well, an oven and a stoned wash-house, among others buildings, located in the municipality of Segromigno in Monte, in the area called Piaggia.” The Cenami remained owners of the villa and its grounds until 1675, when it was bought for 1600 scudi by the marquess Raffaello Mansi of the Mansi family, well-known in Europe for the commerce of silk. The Mansi name would go on to be the one that became firmly associated with the villa to this day.