Archive for 'Localities'

This year presented a major calendar of various events and exhibitions throughout Italy celebrating the life and work of Da Vinci on the event of his 500th anniversary since passing. With 2020 just on the horizon, so too comes another big anniversary in art history after this year of celebrating Da Vinci, the 500th anniversary of the death of Raphael, and, with it, another series of events and exhibitions throughout Italian museums and other fine art instituions around the globe.

Unlike Da Vinci, or Michelangelo, this great name of the Renaissance only lived into his late thirties, with his two great peers making it into their eighties. Today, his name is less lauded on the scale of those two great artists but he was no less beloved in his time and, though his life was shorter, he was incredibly productive, leaving behind an impressive oeuvre of fine art.

We recently wrote about Florence at Christmas and how it is lit up and made even more beautiful and magical over the Holiday Season by the incredible lights and projections of the F-Light Festival. The amazing beauty of the city and its seasonal trimmings alone is reason enough to find a luxury villa in Florence and get planning a winter break in Tuscany but there is another excellent incentive: the variety of amazing Christmas markets that take place in the city each year. Whether you are looking to shop for unique gifts and souvenirs or merely want to wander around and take in the festive atmosphere, Florence and her numerous Christmas markets are exactly what the doctor ordered! Here are just five examples that you should visit if you’re in the city this Christmas.

1. The Weihnachtsmarkt

The Weihnachtsmarkt, which takes place in Piazza Santa Croce, is the city’s most famous and biggest annual Christmas market and is named for, and based on, the style of Christmas markets that you can typically find in Germany. Launching on the 23rd of November 2019 and continuing until the 22nd of December 2019, the market is open daily from 10am to 10pm and features a little Christmas village made up of the little wooden huts that are found in markets in Germany and the north of Italy, from which various merchants are selling gifts, handmade crafts, food, beer, mulled wine, and plenty of other culinary specialities from all over Europe.

Christmas markets have quickly become one of the most desirable travel experiences out there. They have existed in some parts of the world for centuries but, in the last few years, many are making family and personal traditions of going and getting in the Christmas spirit at a highly atmospheric and seasonal Christmas market before the chaos of the season well and truly kicks in.

There are some destinations that are famous for their Christmas markets with the Germanic examples being seen as the optimal experience. However, don’t immediately dismiss and look past other Christmas market destinations around Europe, which also have lots to offer by way of fun and festivity. One destination that many don’t think of is Italy but this is a mistake as Italian Christmas markets perfectly combine delicious treats, amazing handmade gifts and souvenirs, and the prettiest of surroundings from hilltop Tuscan villages, to Alpine towns, to some of the world’s most beautiful cities.

Among these, lovely Venice is actually quite the hidden gem, boasting lots of excellent markets to choose from and the most incredibly picturesque setting. Just find a vacation rental in Venice today and get planning a quick pre-festivities getaway to come explore these various Christmas markets this winter!

Florence is undeniably lovely and beautiful no matter what time of year you visit but it is especially charming at Christmas, when it is filled with excitable shoppers dashing around, cheerful traditional Christmas markets, bright and pretty, seasonal displays in storefronts, festive cheer, and, of course, Christmas lights. However, if you have found a luxury villa in Florence and are planning a Christmas getaway in Florence, you might be glad to know that the city goes a step further with their lighting arrangements to make something extra special and even more magical over the Holiday Season: the Florence Light Festival, or F-Light Festival.

Italy is well-known around the world for her reputation as a fashionable place and a global fashion capital. As such, there are many who have dreamed of going shopping while holidaying in Italy. However, if you are a bargain hunter or want your money to stretch farther, then you need to plan your trip for a particular time of year: during the “saldi”. Unlike many other places in the world, Italy’s sales are far more carefully regulated by the state and do not happen willy-nilly all throughout the year. One of only two times per year that sales happen is during this period, the saldi of January. If you’ve always wanted to visit the official fashion capital of Italy, this is the best time. Find a vacation rental in Milan and get ready to shop until you drop!