Posts Tagged ‘Tuscany tours’
The 07th of September takes place one of the Florentine most traditional and particular Festivals, the renowned “Rificolona”. During the itinerary, from Piazza Santa Felicita to Piazza SS. Annunziata, many Florentine children carry colorful paper lanterns, illuminated by a candle.
There are many places to visit in Florence, particularly in the beautiful centro storico, where you can witness some of the most famous and most beautiful artwork and sculpture in the world. However, the stunning countryside surrounding this Renaissance city is also worth a look, so on your next trip to Florence, why not combine [...]
Florence is well-known for its beautiful architecture and famous works of art, that you can see all over the historical centre of the city. Tourists flock to these areas, but there are also several hidden treasures located here. If you’re keen to discover a little bit of Florence off the beaten path, then we have [...]
With so many beautiful sights in this wonderful Renaissance city, it is impossible to be stuck for ideas on what to see in Florence. One of the things that draws people here, is the number of beautiful churches in Florence. From the oldest church in the city, San Lorenzo, to the unique façade of the [...]
Many great artists and musicians throughout history hailed from Tuscany. One of the most famous Tuscan composers is undoubtedly Giacomo Puccini. Born in 1858, and whose full name was actually Giacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria Puccini, (it’s no wonder he was just called Giacomo!) this Tuscan is known as one of the greatest Italian [...]
One of the most visited and most famous marketplaces in Florence is the Mercato Nuovo. This attractive, covered marketplace was actually built by Cosimo de’Medici, and is located in the historic centre of Florence, not far from the Ponte Vecchio. It was once home to all manner of valuable products, but now it is home [...]
Siena is one of Italy’s finest and most beautiful medieval cities. There are a whole host of things to do in Siena, but a visit to the spectacular Piazza del Campo should definitely be at the top of your list. It is one of the greatest medieval squares in all of Europe, and functions as [...]
Pisa may be very well known for a certain leaning tower, but this Tuscan city is home to much more than that. As well as the Leaning Tower of Pisa, one of the most visited attractions in Pisa, Italy, is the Campo Santo Monumentale, or the Monumental Cemetery. This cemetery, which literally translates as ‘Holy [...]
With its rolling green hills,dramatic coastline and medieval villages perched on hilltops, it’s no wonder that film directors select the wonderful region of Tuscany as their film set. Both Italian and international directors have chosen Tuscany as a beautiful and characteristic backdrop to their films; hundreds of movies have been shot here. Thousands of tourists [...]
The beautiful Renaissance city of Florence was the home to one of the most famous and influential families in all of the city’s history. The family in question is of course the Medici family, who were not only incredibly powerful but also extremely wealthy. One of the most important members of this Florentine family [...]
Siena’s Duomo, or cathedral, has been attracting huge numbers of tourists for many years. Drawn by the incredible thirteenth century gothic architecture and impressive collection of art, it is always at the top of every visitor’s itinerary. And if the stunning aesthetics of Siena Cathedral weren’t already enough to capture your interest, then the recent [...]
The Chianti region of Italy is well known for its glorious scenery, laid back way of life, tasty cuisine and of course, its world famous wine. There are a huge number of wineries located in this area, and on May 26th 2013, they will all be opening their doors to the public, for the annual [...]
What you may not know about the beautiful Tuscan city of Siena, is that it is actually made up of many small districts, all with their own church and museum, an emblem, and a host of traditions. These neighbourhoods are called the contrade of Siena. Although they have no political function, the people who belong [...]
It’s hard to imagine a more beautiful shopping destination than Florence. What could be more relaxing than wandering around the huge selection of shops and markets, surrounded by stunning Renaissance architecture? Florence is undoubtedly one of the most important fashion cities in Italy, if not Europe, as a whole host of Italian fashion brands are [...]
Situated in the magnificent Tuscan countryside, lies the small hill top town of Montalcino. Known as a medieval settlement, this town has in fact been inhabited since Etruscan times, and its slopes are covered with olive orchards and productive vines. These vines are accredited with producing one of the most famous Italian wines, namely the [...]
The vintage Vespa is, without a doubt, one of the most recognised symbols of Italy. This simple, practical vehicle can be seen and heard in the main squares of towns and cities all over Italy, and is famous not only for its design, but also for being the first ever globally successful scooter. And it [...]
Undoubtedly one of the most famous saints of Siena, is Catherine of Siena. Born in 1347, this woman was to become an incredibly important figure in Italian history, and later would even be declared a patron saint of Italy. But although much of the information about Catherine is factual, there is also a very special [...]
Undoubtedly one of the most famous and delicious dishes from Tuscany is the Florentine steak, or bistecca alla fiorentina. This legendary Florentine steak recipe requires strict preparation to ensure it’s done in the correct Florentine way, and it’s a dish that is definitely not for the vegetarians among you!
Located on a hilltop near Siena and San Gimignano, Monteriggioni, characterised by its stunning medieval walls, has been labelled a quintessential Tuscan village. It is well known for its wine production, picturesque countryside location and laid back way of life. It is also one of the most well preserved and best known walled towns in [...]
The name may be difficult for some English speakers to say (the correct way is kee-AHN-tee), but despite any minor errors in the pronunciation of Chianti, everyone is aware of the connection with the fine, red wine. The tradition of cultivating this wine goes back to the Etruscans, who lived in this area of Tuscany [...]