Tuscany's hidden beauty

This region of northwest Italy is renowned for its incredible rolling countryside, classical fine art, and typically Italian cuisine. Tuscany’s varied landscapes offer an equally varied holiday experience, with mountain paths, undulating hills, beautifully tranquil shores and secluded coastal Islands, making it a popular destination for those looking to rent Villas in Tuscany as an idyllic summer home.

Tuscany is considered by many as the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, and is home to four famous art schools that competed with each other during this period, all of which harbour some truly amazing Italian works of art. The Florentine Art School saw the making of prestigious artists such as Filippo Lippi, Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo.

Having such a rich and influential musical history, Tuscany is also home to several musical centres. Indeed, musicians from Tuscany gave us much of our Western musical tradition; the Florentine Camerata met in the mid 16th Century, being the first to experiment with setting Ancient Greek mythology to music, giving rise to the first operatic performances.

Tuscan cuisine is simple and elegant, with some fantastic local dishes on offer at restaurants and cafes throughout the region. The staple of food mainly consists of legumes, bread, cheese, olives, mushrooms and fresh fruit, but do not be fooled by this apparent simplicity as northern Italy boasts some of the finest eating in the world. The area is also home to such famous wines as Brunello, Montepulciano, Vernaccia di San Gimignano and Chianti. Chianti is so popular overseas that British tourists flock to the local vineyards in great numbers, leading to the area being nicknamed “Chiantishire”.

Villa rentals in Tuscany are often a very popular choice of accommodation over the summer months, in a scenic region such as La Collina Del Sole. This beautiful area provides pure escapism for the holiday maker, set in Lucca and surrounded by the amazing scenery of Garfagnana, with small local villages a stone’s throw away. Activities such as country hiking, mountain walking and sightseeing are common choices within the region, along with trips to the nearby coast.