Tuscanyvillas Blog

Living in Tuscany can easily arrange for local winery visits and wine tastings. These beautiful villa estates are quite magnificent and the wineries themselves fascinating. Arrangements usually start with a tour of the estate followed with the tasting of 2 to 4 wines served with Bruschetta with Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Options can include Affettati and Cantuccini biscuits and tasting of Vin Santo.

Reservations must be made in advance either through our office or during your stay if available.

The Mall at Leccio is just a 30 minute drive from the villas. There you will find prestigious brand name designer goods at 33% to 66% off retail prices. The center hosts Agnona, Bottega, Emmanuel Ungaro, Fendi, Giorgio Armani, Salvatore Ferragamo, Valentino and Yves Saint Laurent outlets to name a few. When your shopping is done a welcoming Café is located in the complex.

The Uffizi Gallery will double in size this year with the opening of the newly revived first floor. Work is now underway to expand what is being called the “New Uffizi”, which will allow the museum to bring out hundreds of masterpieces now being kept in storage. The number of works art on display will expand to 2000 from the present 1200.

The giant Laocoon marble restoration that is now underway will be able to be viewed by visitors as it progresses. Because the marble group cannot be moved the process is very complex, requiring a temporary worksite and sophisticated tools. Visitors will be able to see the ongoing work through a clear glass window.

Restoration of tapestries woven of wool, silk, silver and gold threads depicting the Valois festivals staged at the French court of the Queen Catherine de Medici is progressing. The New Uffizi project is allocating a room with proper light, humidity and temperature for a rotating exhibition of these 8 splendid tapestries as each one is restored.

Every year on July 2 and August 15, the beautiful medieval city comes alive for the breathtaking festival, Il Palio. The event, first held in 1238 is know worldwide as a totally unique horse race but is much, much more. The 17 Contradae (wards) of Siena compete for the honor of winning. It is a great honor for the jockey to wear the colors of his contrada but it is the horse that is the hero as unlike most races a riderless horse may win the race. The race is run around the Piazza del Compo and lasts only around 75 seconds. In the morning each horse is led into the contrada church to be blessed. After this solemn event the city erupts with as many as 50,000 people filing into the middle of the square while some lucky others take places on bleachers in front of the 15^th century palazzi.

After the race each contrada sets out dinner with local restaurateurs serving huge bowls of pasta, gigantic platters of meats and legendary sides of vegetables. It is a fabulous site with hundreds of torches or lanterns and groups of the contradae eating together.

Reservations for seats at the Il Palio should be made well in advance but are well worth the effort.

Those who fill the infield are unable to leave the square from early morning until after the race is run. Sienna is roughly a 1½ hour drive from the villas – a wonderful day trip anytime regardless of the day or time of year.  Tickets for July 2, 2008 are sold out and those wishing to purchase August tickets should do so ASAP. 

Enjoy an extraordinary shopping day immersed in the art and culture of the Muggello just a short drive from the villas. The Barberino Designer Outlet offers a unique shopping experience set against the wonderful natural backdrop of the Sieve Valley. Designed to resemble a Renaissance village, the mall features 100 shops of leading brands of clothing, footwear, sportswear and accessories – a chance to purchase couturier clothes at attractive prices. Prada, Pollini, Missoni, Guess, Brun Magli, Calvin Klein, Furla, Puma and Addidas are just some of the high prestige fashion designers found at the outlet.

The Outlet Mall makes shopping a completely relaxed atmosphere. Large spaces for easy parking, restaurants with typical Tuscan cuisine, bars and a large play area where children can enjoy themselves in safety make for an memorable experience for all ages.

The Ferrari factory is located just outside the small town of Maranello aproximately a 3 hour drive from Londa. Tours of the factory can be arranged by appointment only and should be made well in advance. http://www.ferrari.it.

The prancing horse emblem of Ferrari is known world over but few know its origin. In 1923 the parents of Italian pilot Francesco Baracca, killed in WW !! and a national hero known as the “ace of aces” gave their son’s squadron badge to Enzo Ferrari The famous prancing horse on a yellow shield became the emblem of Ferrari. Today it is enjoying more recognition than ever before.

Enzo Ferrari was connected with Alfa Romeo for many years, leaving to start Auto-Avio Costruzioni Ferrari in 1940. After the factory was destroyed in World War II, the first Ferrari to race was in 1947 – the beginning of a record of success unequalled in racing..

The Formula One Italian Grand Prix takes place each September at the historic racetrack in Monza. Autodromo Nazionale Monza was built in 1922 and is famous for its high speeds and tragic history of deaths from crashes. The circuit is known to be the spiritual home of Scuderia Ferrari the racing team created by Enzo Ferrari in 1929. Monza is located north of Milan approximately 3-4 hours from Londa

There are wonderful traditional Tuscan cooking schools in near-by Florence. Usually classes are small and intimate, hands-on and start in the early afternoon and finish with participants enjoying the fruits of their labor. Several courses are prepared and served with local wines. Daylong classes can include a morning of shopping for ingredients in the local markets with your chef/teacher.

Some cooking schools allow non-cooks or family members to join in the meal for a small fee. Advance reservations are required. Contact Living in Tuscany for more information.

Guests of Living in Tuscany play golf at the acclaimed Poggio dei Medici Golf Club in nearby Scarperia (about a 40 minutes drive through the beautiful Mugello region). The course, designed by a renowned Italian architect along with a professional player allows for four different play routes within its 18 holes. It is a world-class championship course, home of the Ladies Italian open for many years.

The four villas of Living in Tuscany are the perfect “home base” to explore Italy. A commuter train runs from our village of Londa to the heart of Florence (just 18 miles away) at least a dozen times a day. From Florence – visitors may travel by train to Rome, Venice or Milan in 2 to 3 hours - Pisa or Bologna in approximately one hour.

After a day of exploration guests return to their villa rental to relax with a glass of local wine on the terrace and enjoy the fabulous views and spring-fed swimming pools. Finish the day with the local specialities in your fully equipped kitchen and outdoor barbeque or visit one of the wonderful local restaurants.
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