Why choose a holiday home in Tuscany?
Tuscany invokes mental montages that truly live up to your romantic expectations. There are few places on Earth that can make you feel completely insignificant and at the same time seem to share intimate secrets with just you.
Brick walls and red pottery accent the city of Arrezo where nearly 1,000 antiquarians converge every month to exhibit their wares at the antiques fair.
Florence, the Capitol of Arts, is an overwhelming compilation of awesome treasures. A common national saying is, "ars longa, vita brevis" which means "art is long, life is short" and reflects the Italians devotion to leisure activities.
The noble city of Grosseto turns back the hands of time and you can nearly see the Etruscan vessels gliding across Lake Prile. Centuries of history cloak the formidable citadel where the fortress dominates your view. The modern harbor town of Livorno rings with echoes from centuries long forgotten with an unmatched collection of churches beloved for their artistic and historical story.
The mild climate in Lucca is considered ideal for a winter holiday. Lucca has a purposeful mix restaurants, bars, homes, and shops along their charming, narrow, medieval streets. Superb car, bus, and rail connections put the most popular Tuscany destinations within easy reach of Lucca.
Treat yourself to Massa Carrara which is home to "the red palace" which is a reference to bright red exterior of the Duke's Palace in Massa. This is where the precious, world renowned Carrara marble is mined in the Apuan Alps.
Galileo stood before the Leaning Bell Tower near the world famous Piazza Uomo in Pisa. Can you imagine a conversation with him today? Pistoia is a perfect choice for living quietly in a town guarded by trees but within easy access of popular tourist destinations. Here you will learn the meaning of the "moon in the well".
Prowl the pastry shops of Prato to pick up biscotti, cantucci, and almond cookies to accompany of bottle of classic Vin Santo on your travels through Tuscany to the gem called Siena. The splendor of the 13th century permeates this town built on three hills and centered in the clutches of fabulous vineyards.
Twice each summer there is a wild horse race called the Palio, held on a dangerous course that has claimed the lives of both horses and riders over the years. It has the elements of history, tradition, fierce rivalry and humor.
Legend records that the Tuscan Islands sprung from the pearl necklace worn by Venus, the goddess of beauty. Myth says the pearls fell to the Tyrrhenian Sea when she broke the necklace and created the 7 islands that compose the Tuscan archipelago.
Swimsuits are the uniform among the islands where every conceivable diversion is available. From the influence of exiled Emperor Napoleon on modern Elba, to plundering pirates and penal colonies, there are enchanting, unchanged places to visit. The islands attract the both the scientific and the social minded as you trade your hectic life for an unhurried mind on holiday floating in the emerald sea.
Contribution post: 01 August 2010
