Archive for 'Florence'

In our final installment in this series, here are some more of our picks among the best of our incredible apartment rentals in Italy.

8. Nido Al Mare

Nido al Mare is a comfortable seafront apartment in the small seaside village of Calabernardo, on Sicily's south eastern coast, just a few kilometres away from Noto. It is located on the first floor of a small building and boasts a splendid location and, not one, but two wonderful, fully equipped terraces that allow guests to take full advantage of the position and view. Furnished tastefully throughout with a cute nautical theme, the apartment includes a living room with sofa bed, dining area and kitchenette, a double bedroom and a bathroom with shower. It also comes with air conditioning, Wi-Fi, satellite TV and washing machine.     Read More

Continuing on from our previous two posts and rounding up our list of ten of our best historic vacation rentals, we have three more amazing properties to discuss.

8. Villa Cerchi

Villa Cerchi is a beautiful villa with private pool that was created from the restoration of an ancient hamlet of houses dating back to the 12th century. Once owned by the prominent Florentine Cerchi family who made their fortune through trade and finance, it is now an incredible rental property that boasts 7 bedrooms and can sleep up to 14. The interiors are simple and modern with a touch of local rustic style in the details. The pool area and courtyard are both particularly lovely and sun spots that catch the warm Tuscan rays. However, it is the tranquil and panoramic location that seals the deal. The surrounding views are stunning and it is an ideal destination for those seeking a peaceful holiday on the hills surrounding Florence. With prices starting from €450 per night, this is a bit of a steal.     Read More

In our final installment in this series, we have a few more things that you can do for free in Florence. Once you have decided to visit the city and have found a luxury villa near Florence, you will probably start planning out your trip and figuring out where you want to go and what you want to do. These options don't skimp on fun but will help stretch out your budget.

Orsanmichele is a market building which became the church of the craft and trade guilds in the fourteenth century. The exterior was made extremely ornate by the guilds, who each wanted a sculpture of their patron saint to adorn the façade. Today copies of these works are what you see on the outside and inside, on the first floor, a museum houses some of the original sculptures. The church is open daily from 10am to 5pm and the museum is open on Mondays at the same times.     Read More

Once you find a luxury villa near Florence and begin exploring the city, trying out the restaurants, visiting the galleries, shopping a little and touring all of the attractions, you may find that the cost of everything begins to quickly add up. If you want to keep having the time of your life, without scrimping on fun or experiences, then check out our series on things to do for free around the city that will leave you with a little extra cash in your pocket.

The Rose Garden in Florence is the perfect oasis of calm, quiet and relaxation. It brings together art from Belgian artist Folon, roses and stunning panoramic views across the city and, best of all, it's completely free to visit and is open from morning until nightfall. Only open to the public year round for a few years now, it is a little-known gem and a must-see for anyone visiting the city. The garden is home to a collection of 400 different varieties of roses, 1000 botanical varieties, lemons, and other plants, a Japanese garden and sculptures by the artist Folon dotted playfully here and there.     Read More