villa in tuscany - Holiday Villa in Florence, Italy

FLORENCE: A TUSCAN TRAVELLER’S DELIGHT
Forgive us if we seem a little tongue-tied in describing Florence, but the truth is that the capital of Tuscany is such a spellbinding city that we find it difficult to know where to begin. Not only is Florence (Firenze to Italians) spectacularly beautiful, but it is also the cultural, artistic and architectural capital of Italy, as it has been since Renaissance times. Little wonder, then, that Florence remains a principal attraction for culture lovers from around the world – associated with such immortal names as Leonardo da Vinci, Dante Alighieri, Niccolo Machiavelli and Michelangelo Buonarroti.

Located in the centre of Tuscany, which is a beautiful province in it own right, Florence also houses the celebrated Duomo with the Brunelleschi cupola and the marble baptistery. As you wind your way along the quaint and narrow streets of the historic town centre (a UNESCO World Heritage site), and feast your eyes on the magnificent palaces, you will also be charmed by Florence's squares, with their typically Mediterranean atmosphere and relaxed ambience.

And how can you miss Florence’s outstanding churches, museums, and galleries? The Uffizi Galleries, one of the world’s most renowned art museums, will surely take up an entire day if you are serious about it. Then there is the Duomo, the Santo Spirito church and the Ponte Vecchio. In fact, there’s so much to see in Florence that we can’t possibly list it all, but here are some of the sights that you must see.

Apart from the Uffizi, the National Museum of the Bargello is one of Florence's most famous museums, housing splendid samples of Renaissance and Mannerist sculpture, including works by Michelangelo, Donatello, Bartolomeo Ammannati, Bartolomeo Bandinelli, Andrea and Jacopo Sansovino, and Antonio Rossellino. The Accademia is yet another storehouse of sculptures, among them Michelangelo’s immortal David and the unfinished Slaves.

Then there’s the Pitti Palace, the former home of the Medici family, the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo, the Institute and Museum of the History of Science, housing the room of Galileo Galilei along with some of his original instruments, the American Cemetery, the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the Ponte Vecchio (the only Florentine bridge to survive WW II), and the church of Santa Croce with the tombs of Galileo, Michelangelo, Machiavelli, and Dante.

We haven’t managed to get all the attractions of Florence on our list, so you need to see for yourself to find those out, but we have a far more comprehensive list of accommodation in Florence (www.yourwaytotuscany.com/Florence.htm) that we think will help you immensely. Whether you are looking for Florence hotels, exclusive luxury rental apartments, charmingly restored Florentine villas, or a simple bed & breakfast, we can tell you where to go.

TUSCANY VILLAS: YOUR HOME AWAY FROM HOME

Tuscany is justly famous for its wine, food, warm and hospitable people, and dazzling natural beauty. However, in our opinion, Tuscany should also be celebrated for its beautiful villas, because the Tuscan countryside is dotted with some of the most superb villas dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries, and almost all of them are perfectly preserved, so that they can still be inhabited with ease. And guess what? We would like to invite you to stay in one of Tuscany's independent villas, which we have carefully selected for the discerning tourist. We can guarantee you every home comfort that you can ask for, in the luxurious and elegant atmosphere of these beautiful villas.

Without exception, the independent villas of Tuscany that we have chosen for you are located amidst some wonderful natural scenery. Take the Villa Ginestra, situated near the top of a hill in the Tuscan countryside, delighting guests with a magnificent view of the city of Florence. Also within view is the tiny village of Cercina. On a nearby hilltop, you can see the ruins of a great house that once belonged to a medieval bishop. The scenery is, in a word, magnificent. At Villa Ginestra, you will enjoy the best Italy has to offer – the timeless beauty of Tuscany’s rural countryside, and quick and easy access to Florence.

An orchard of half-century-old olive trees surrounds Villa Ginestra, providing visitors with a crown of green and silver. To the west is the still deeper green of a forested mountain, webbed with well-marked trails for the adventurous hiker. To the east is a superb view of the medieval town of Fiesole.

And that is just one example of what we can offer you. There are numerous independent villas in Tuscany that find place on our list, spread all across this beautiful region of Italy. Can you actually imagine staying in a place called the Villa Buonaparte? Well, we have it on our list too, and it is situated on San Miniato’s hills, about five km from San Miniato. It is a 16th-century building, carefully renovated and maintained to remind you of the charms of medieval Italy.

As we keep saying, these are mere samples. For a detailed list of independent villas in Tuscany, come to us and we’ll take you on a free and infinitely rewarding tour!

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