Archive for 'Curiosities'

Tuscany's reputation as a haven for truffle enthusiasts is well-established. Truffle-infused delicacies are available in eateries and stores all throughout the region and especially during the fall. You can join expeditions to hunt for truffles if you want a more hands-on approach. Plus, there are various events and even entire festivals dedicated to the food and San Miniato, in particular, is known for its globally-acclaimed annual truffle festival and as a general truffle haven.

Those who choose to book a vacation rental in San Miniato to visit this truffle hotspot and delve into Tuscany's culinary culture will find that there is a particular company that will probably help you plan some perfect foodie outings and properly introduce you to the world of truffles: Truffle In Tuscany.

There are many ways to tour the incredible birthplace of the Renaissance during a stay in one of our villas with pools in Florence. You could follow famous artists around the city by visiting their works in various galleries and museums and churches, go on a sartorial pilgrimage of flagship stores and fashion museums, take in the architectural gems of various architects, discover all of the key spots where the Medici made history, eat your way around the city’s most beloved restaurants, visit all of the stunning gardens of the city, take a tour of supposedly haunted locations, or – to go with similarly spooky vibes – you could follow Hannibal Lecter around the city...

In The Silence of The Lambs, Lecter first displays his admiration for Florence when we see a meticulous sketch of the city's skyline that is hanging in his prison cell. Then, in the following film in the series, Hannibal, we are shown more than a mere sketch and are transported directly to the captivating landscapes of Florence...

Tuscany is, of course, famous as a major destination for art-lovers all around the world to come and visit some of the best museums and art galleries in all the globe to see pieces by world-renowned artists. When most people think of seeing art while on holiday in Tuscany, they tend to picture great historical works by famous Italian artists such as Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Donatello, and more in very formal spaces. However, if you are browsing our Italy Villas and considering a luxury villa in Pisa, then there is a really important and incredible artwork that many might not realise is in the city – perhaps because it matches none of the above descriptions. Dating to the late 80s, by a famous American graffiti artist, and located outdoors, Keith Haring’s Tuttomondo may not be what one expects of art in Tuscany but it is a must-see piece for serious art fans who vacation in Tuscany.

When travelling to different destinations around the world, there are certain activities that may seem a little cliché but there is often a good reason as to why they became so common and standard in the first place. Trying different things, looking for authentic and lesser-known gems, and peeking past the more stereotypical tourist attractions to find more is all well and good but trying to be too cool can be exhausting. Sometimes, it is simply nice to embrace the obvious and to tick them off your bucket list. It is worth just throwing yourself into things, especially if they are once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Take, for example, a vacation in Venice in one of our incredible Italy Villas: you may or may not be back in this magical city, why not indulge in a gondola ride? Sure, it’s very touristy but it is a unique and romantic way to explore the city's canals and is one of the most iconic experiences in Venice.

Italy is full of incredible museums but the majority of them are formal spaces in which the museum experience is very much the same: visitors keep their distance, they stay behind lines and ropes, and they never touch artworks. However, there is one museum where the exact opposite is true. In fact, in this museum, the whole point is to feel the works of art and to have a completely different experience with them and the visit to the museum, in general. A must for those interested in art and those intrigued by different museum experiences, and especially for those who might be visually impaired or completely blind, the Museo Tattile Statale Omero, or State Tactile Museum Omero, is an incredibly unique gem in Italy’s Le Marche region. Those who find a vacation rental in Le Marche should definitely make a point of planning a visit!

Located in the Mole Vanvitelliana, a historic building and former hospital for those with leprosy built on a small artificial island in the port of the city of Ancona, the Museo Omero is one of a very small number of places in the world where visitors are encouraged to engage with works of art with their sense of touch rather than their sense of sight. The roots of the museum date back to 1985, when Aldo Grassini and his wife Daniela Bottegoni, a pair of non-sighted travellers and adventurers, became exasperated with the constant refrain of, “Do not touch,” in other museums around the globe. They wanted, instead, to create a rather different kind of museum that would be the exact opposite of this and accessible to all. After establishing a foundation, fundraising, and filling out endless applications, they were able to finally make this dream of theirs a reality.