A Glimpse Into The Past Lucca is a city that has withstood the test of time. It showcases remnants of its illustrious past in its well-preserved architecture and city layout. Its origins can be traced back to ancient times when it was founded by the Etruscans. Over the centuries, Lucca was inhabited and influenced by various civilizations, including the Romans and the Byzantines. Each time period leaving an indelible mark on its character. However, it…
In our opinion Lucca is perhaps the most opulent and culturally interesting of all the magnificent cities in Tuscany. Founded originally by the Etruscans and then passed on to the Romans, Lucca prospered as it became the center of the silk trade in the 11th century. The silk trade brought considerable wealth into Lucca and both a middle and an upper middle class emerged. The Bernardini and Buonvisi families rose to considerable prominence not only…
Chianti Colli Fiorentini wines are a true embodiment of Italy’s rich winemaking heritage and a testament to the artistry and passion of the Tuscan winemakers. The Chianti Colli Fiorentini wine region encompasses the rolling hills surrounding the historic city of Florence. Crafted primarily from Sangiovese grapes, the signature grape of the region, these wines carry a unique and unmistakable personality. They have long been celebrated as some of Italy’s finest offerings. Chianti Colli Fiorentini Chianti…
It has been said that Florence houses 60 percent of the world’s greatest art treasures and as a result no visit to Florence is complete without visiting the Renaissance City’s world renown museums including, the Uffizi & l’Accademia. The museums are open six days a week – they are closed on Mondays – and tend to be extremely crowded on weekends and Tuesdays – and nearly always the admittance lines are long – with waits…
Exploring the Chic & Discreet Maremma. Maremma is one of our favorite lesser-known areas of Tuscany, Italy. This region of understated beauty between Florence and Rome on the lush Mediterranean coast is unlike anything else in our country. Not surprisingly, it has become an exclusive destination for travellers and locals alike. It encompasses the province of Grosseto and its surrounding towns along the west coast of Tuscany, not far from the famous towns of Siena, Montepulciano,…
When we talk about wine, we tell a story, and talking about this winery in Montalcino is an adventure. Today, we want to share our experience regarding one of the best Brunello wineries to visit: Podere le Ripi. This is the story of the realization of a dream, a winery, an ecosystem, a living organism, a biodynamic vineyard in the heart of the Tuscan hills. But first, let us immerse ourselves… Winery in the UNESCO…
If you’re looking for a unique Tuscan experience, consider visiting the stunning Petra winery in the Tuscan hills of Maremma, the hidden secret of Tuscany. Petra is a unique destination that must be experienced in person to truly understand its beauty and wonder. It lies near the ancient village of Suvereto, and is a 40 km drive from Bolgheri, nestled into the iron hills of Val di Cornia. Petra – The Property When we first…
If you’re headed to Tuscany this autumn, go ahead and pat yourself in the back. In addition to less crowds, cooler weather and fun seasonal events – visiting during this time of year means you have access to something Italians (and well anyone really) cherish more than anything. Truffles and Porcini mushrooms, the ‘gold standard’ of local cuisine during this period, together with Alba in Piedmont, Tuscany is also quite famous for excellent truffles. One…
No poem was ever written by a drinker of water– Horace, the great Roman poet. On this blog, we’d like to showcase places that personally are quite special to us, including the fantastic winery in Tuscany Castello d’Albola, located just north of Radda in Chianti. Not only is their wine a personal favorite (we like the Acciaiolo), it is located in one of the best wine regions in Tuscany, a place with a long history…
Secret Gardens in Florence Imagine being immersed in the center of Florence, in the largest privately owned garden in Europe, situated within city boundaries. One of the secret gardens in Florence that you can find it between Via del Campuccio, Via de ‘Serragli and the stretch of wall that runs along the Viale Francesco Petrarca. Rife with masonic symbology with an esoteric feel, the neo-gothic tower with a stone-spiral staircase is the most visible symbol of this hidden…
2021 Retreat – Sailing in Tuscany Venus is the Goddess of love and beauty and has been the favorite subject of artwork and legend since ancient times. Legend tells of her loss of a necklace as she emerges from the waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea. The pearls of the necklace scatter and form the seven islands of the Tuscan Archipelago. Today, we know these islands as Capraia, Elba, Giannutri, Giglio, Gorgona, Montecristo, and Pianosa. For…
Wellness & Yoga Retreats in Tuscany, Italy. In 2017 TuscanDream launched Wellness & Yoga Retreats in its Tuscan villas! The first one took place in a beautiful 5 bedroom villa with heated pool located in the Val d’Ambra region, called Molino del Chianti. The property sits at the foot of the Chianti hills, nearby a small medieval village, in an enchanting Tuscan landscape surrounded by vineyards, olive groves and oak woods. The retreats was focused on…
If you close your eyes and picture Italy like it is often depicted in the movies, you might see a peaceful place with rolling hills, quaint farmhouses and charming villages dotting the landscape. All this and even more describes of our favorite areas of the country, the scenic and fertile Val di Chiana (Valdichiana) valley, located in the southern Tuscany. It is also quite well-known for its excellent food, wine and extremely charming towns that…
You don’t need a silver fork to eat good food. – Paul Prudhomme In Tuscany, there is a maxim that in order to eat well, you must head straight to the (natural) source. Our cuisine is part of our heritage and when it comes to food, Italians are acutely attuned to what is fresh and in season. If you use the freshest ingredients you don’t have to make things complex – you can enjoy them…
There is exciting news for art lovers planning on visiting Florence this winter! We highly recommend that you visit the fascinating Palazzo Vecchio museum located in Florence’s magnificent Town Hall and see an exhibit before it closes in mid-February. For the first time in over one hundred years, the Opificio delle Pietre Dure, a spectacular set of twenty tapestries depicting the stories of the Biblical patriarch Joseph have been reunited and put on display. These…
Let’s face it, even for those of us who live in Tuscany, one of the most beautiful places in the world there is stress – and sometimes we all need to relax and reset our mind and body. One of the best ways to let out all the tension and clean the mind is yoga – and no matter which discipline of yoga you want to practice you will find it here. We are passionate…
The best part of life in Tuscany is discovering just how dynamic this central Italian region really is – it continues to amaze me, even after years of living here. Tuscany encompasses a beautiful and diverse natural landscape with numerous UNESCO World Heritage sights. Many travelers are only aware of the Renaissance cities of Siena and Florence, but my personal favorites are the smaller towns where time seems trapped in a bygone era. Imagine tiny cobble-stoned…
December is one of the best months to be in Italy, not only is it less saturated with people crowding the town centers in the height of the summer season – it also means the welcome arrival of the Christmas markets. In every major town around the country, streets exuberantly light up, adorned with lights and folly while markets dedicated to the holiday season open up to sell locally-made goods and plenty of hot, mulled…
Tuscany is well-known for rolling hills with cypress-lined lanes, hill-top Renaissance towns and wonderful food – but the markets are also some of the best in Italy. From Arezzo to Florence, there is something for everyone in this varied region. Whether it be antiques, books, organic foodstuffs, vintage clothing, or even for Christmas – you can guarantee to find something you like here. Since there are more than we can list today, we categorized our…
Florence belongs to humanity.. It all starts with Gian Gastone in 1737, the last Grand Duke of the Medici Dynasty and one that most people have never even heard of is wasting away in the grand Palazzo Pitti. Sure, Lorenzo, the art-lover is well known with his crooked nose a common portrait found in town and of course the illustrious Cosimo. But the end is sort of where this story actually begins. The history of Florence…
For those who think that Tuscany is limited to sprawling landscapes and charming hill-top towns, think again. Besides an extensive coastline, there is much to experience in this vast region that we adore so much. One of which are the abundance of options for those who enjoy a tuscany thermal springs experience, which also happens to offer a range of benefits for the skin and body. Personally, we love organizing a day with our girlfriends…
Our series spotlighting the best of hot new contemporary eats in the city is back. Our first article covered the dynamic San Lorenzo neighborhood, this time we are focusing on the south bank or ‘other side of the river.’ The area stretching from San Niccolo to the oltrarno to San Frediano. Commonly known as the area where locals’ reside. The hustle and bustle here is typically less touristy and crowded as the zones surrounding piazza…
Packing for Italy, do you love or do you hate it? We completely get it, our stress levels rise alarmingly quickly when traveling to a place where the weather is as temperamental as the bus drivers, but on the other, bus drivers in Italy also tend to be pretty handsome. Regardless of season, there are a few things that should always be in your suitcase on your next Italy trip. Tissues being one of them, public…
Monteriggioni – Only 50 kilometers from Florence, and 15 from Siena, lies a tiny, walled 13th century Medieval town that seems to have been preserved in time, its prowess is even quoted in Dante’s Divine Comedy. Used as a defensive fortification in the Middle Ages between the always-fighting Siena and Florence, it is one of the best preserved towns from this era in all of Italy, with 570 meters of circular walls that beckon to…
Those who have traveled to Florence in the past ten years might be accustomed to a style that is very reminiscent to Tuscany. Marble-topped tables, rustic atmosphere and a written menu, featuring delights that are heavily vegetable, except for the odd ‘bistecca alla fiorentina‘ or two. Lately the city has undergone a bit of a contemporary revolution, the traditions still remain but a younger, passionate wave of owners has broken the barriers to add their…
Getting to Tuscany by air is quite easy. Pisa and Florence have international airports, but many of our TuscanDream luxury villas are less than a two hour drive from Rome’s Fiumicino airport, Bologna and Genoa. It depends where your villa or hotel is located and where you are flying from to determine which airport is best to fly into for your Italian vacation. If you are staying in a TuscanDream villa in Lucca, you could…
Tuscany has always been a shopper’s paradise – and now with the United States dollar having gained over 10 percent against the Euro it’s even better! Whether you’re looking for designer goods, ceramics, shoes and other leather goods, antiques or jewelry, we’ve got bargains galore! The Luxury Outlet “The Mall” is located 30 minutes southeast of Florence on the Via Europa 8, Leccio Regello (Florence) features a host of designer goods at about thirty percent…
No matter where you rent a villa in Tuscany, no vacation seems complete without a visit to Florence, the city that gave birth to, and is synonymous with, the Renaissance. It is estimated that 70% of the Western World’s most important art can be found in Italy, and half of these treasures can be found in the world famous museums of Florence! One could easily spend a year sightseeing in Florence without taking in everything!…
Cortona is a picturesque medieval walled city set high on the slopes of Mount St. Egidio and overlooking the Val di Chiana and Lake Trasimeno. Known to many as the setting for the movie Under The Tuscan Sun, Cortona is a vibrant town well worth exploring for its historical importance, fantastic shopping, breathtaking views and its fabulous cuisine! TuscanDream offers several phenomenal villas in Cortona, including the sensational ten bedroom air conditioned Villa Laura that was…
Spring in Tuscany! We are getting ready to welcome our travelling guests that will be arriving soon! It seems like a promising season with a lot of activities and events. Here will update info on events, sightseeing, concerts, guide tours, private classes, yoga retreats and motorcycle tour offered for the season. We are specialized in offering the most authentic and exclusive experiences that you can have while traveling to Tuscany throughout the year. Please come…
Twice a year, every July 2nd and August 16th, Siena comes alive as the world famous il Palio horse race is held on the Piazza del Campo. There are 17 contrade in Siena, the equivalent of city districts, and ten of them race on July 2nd. The seven communes who did not participate in the first event race on August 16th in a ten horse field which is augmented by three horses from other communes…
Coming to Tuscany and not sampling our wine is like dining at one of the best restaurants in the world (and we have several such restaurants here in Tuscany!) while you’re on a diet! Most people are familiar with our Chianti wine region, but we are blessed with much more! We have the Vino Noble di Montepulciano and Brunello di Montalcino made primarily with Sanigovese grapes and the amazing white wines Vernaccia di San Gimignano…