The Arno Valley upstream from Florence is highly industrialized, with warehouses and factories surrounding many small towns along the railway line. In the villages on the slopes of the valley, a medieval market square or a cluster of attractive buildings have often been preserved., …
Chianti
Chianti
If a survey were conducted among wealthy Northern Europeans about their ideas of paradise, many will describe something strongly reminiscent of Chianti, area of vineyards and towns on the hills, stretching between Florence and Siena. Every aspect of life in Chianti is found in …
Pistoia
Pistoia
The provincial capital of PISTOIA is one of the least visited cities in Tuscany; this negligence is unjustified in relation to the secluded, a well-preserved medieval town at the foot of the Apennines. Because the train journey from Florence only takes 35 minutes (more or less …
Prato
Prato
PRATO is Italy's main textile city, a role it has held since the early Middle Ages.. This fact alone is probably not very encouraging., but the long-term abundance of the city and florentine influences left behind a beautiful legacy in the form of buildings and art., together …
Medici Villas – Florence area
Medici Villas – Florence area
It is quite obvious, that the most beautiful country houses around Florence were built by the Medici. The oldest of these great villas were to serve as fortified shelters in case of too hot political moods in the city., but in the sixteenth century …
Fiesole – Florence area
If to set up a base in Florence, it speaks a lot for this, to break out for a few days in the area. Within Greater Florence, buses go to the hilltop Fiesole and to many of the Medici villas , originally summer homes, now almost …