luxury hotels tuscany - Hotel in Empoli Area, Italy

VISITING THE EMPOLI AREA? WE KNOW WHERE YOU’LL STAY!
When we say the Empoli area of Tuscany is a stone’s throw from Florence, we mean it. For those wishing for some quiet moments away from the magnificent splendour of Florence, Empoli, a mere 30 km from the bigger city, offers peace and solitude, with plenty of accommodation facilities to suit all pockets.

For those who don’t know, Empoli is located about 30 m above sea level, on the main railway line from Florence to Pisa, to the south of the River Arno, in a plain formed by the river that has been used for agriculture since the Roman era. Though the plains make way for hilly territory the further you go from the river, Empoli continues to enjoy a reputation as an agricultural region, and has even lent its name to a local type of artichoke.

However, Empoli is also famous – justly so – for its crystal ware, and its many historical remains. In 1119, Empoli came under the Guidi counts and in 1182 went under Florentine rule. In 1260, after the Battle of Montaperti, Empoli was the seat of a famous council in which Farinata degli Uberti opposed the destruction of Florence. The castle of Empoli went on to become an important fortress, and was sacked a number of times. In 1530 its fall marked the end of the independent Florentine Republic.

A fountain by Luigi Pampaloni marks the centre of the Piazza Farinata degli Uberti, also called Piazza dei Leoni (Lions’ Square). Here you will find the Collegiata di Sant’Andrea, the Palazzo Ghibellino, built by the Guidi counts in the 11th century and rebuilt in the 16th, and the Palazzo Pretorio, which served as Empoli’s town hall. The Palazzo Ghibellino now houses an auditorium, the Museo Paleontologico, and the Archivo Storico. Next to the Collegiata, an ecclesiastical museum built in 1859 has a gallery with paintings dating back to 1336, including works by Filippo Lippi and Della Robbia. Near the Piazza is the 14th-century Chiesa di Santo Stefano, and next to the church is a 16th century convent. Also in the Empoli area is the village of Pontorme, birthplace of painter Jacopo Carrucci, known as Il Pontormo.

For those worrying about accommodation in the Empoli area, we can assure you that there are plenty of good hotels as our list (www.yourwaytotuscany.com/Empoli-Area.htm) tells you, restaurants, and other modern amenities. Away from its historical centre, Empoli is a modern town and a very good base from which to visit Pisa, Lucca, Florence, Volterra, and the birthplace of Leonardo, the town of Vinci.

HOTELS IN TUSCANY: YOUR GUIDE TO A PERFECT HOLIDAY

Most tourists who visit Tuscany once can’t help coming back for a return visit. Well, the hotels that you stay in while you holiday in Tuscany should have the same quality – once you stay in them, you can’t stay anywhere else. And we can promise you a choice of Tuscany hotels that will leave you yearning to return to this beautiful region of Italy, with its dazzling landscapes, wonderful cuisine, warm locals and celebrated wines.

The hotels on our list rank among the best in Tuscany, and offer you the best value for money in terms of modern comforts, luxury, and elegance. They are located in some of the most picturesque areas of Tuscany, and offer you access to some of its most famous cities, such as Florence, Pisa, and Siena.

The Hotel Residence Toscana Verde, for example, stands in the heart of old Etruria. Originally an old tobacco-working factory where Tuscan cigars were made, the hotel today stands inside a protected nature reserve, that of Ponte a Buriano Penna. All the bedrooms contain air-conditioning units, mini bars, satellite TV, telephones, and safe deposit boxes. The excellent restaurant offers many traditional Tuscan dishes. The complex also features 20 apartments, with kitchens. These can be rented according to the resort formula.

Then there’s the I Cedri, a new three-star hotel that is just a stone’s throw from Florence, a perfect blend of culture and business, ideal for the manager and the businessman who wants to combine business with pleasure, and also for the tourist who can admire both the city and the beautiful hills that surround it. The hotel has 15 double bedrooms, all trendily furnished and equipped with air-conditioning, mini bars, safes, TV sets and telephones. It also has a private car park and a breakfast room where a delicious buffet breakfast is served every morning.

But these are just two examples that give you a taste of the kind of Tuscan hotel accommodation that we can offer. Our hotels have been chosen to suit every budget, and will make you so comfortable that you will feel as though you are at home. We offer direct links to the Tuscany hotel of your choice, and you will never want to stay anywhere else in Tuscany once you have stayed at one of ours. So come and check us out because Tuscany awaits you!

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