The Val d’Orcia (or Orcia Valley) is a popular holiday destination, and it’s not difficult to see why. This unspoilt region, named after the river that flows through it, is a natural oasis. Dotted with quaint hamlets, villages and monasteries, this distinctive countryside has, unsurprisingly, been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
One village in the Val d’Orcia that is definitely worth a visit, is Bagno Vignoni, which is located on a hilltop above the valley. While you would normally find a square in the middle of many Tuscan hamlets and villages, this particular village is home to something a little different…
In the heart of Bagno Vignoni, you will find a rectangular area of water. No, the village doesn’t suffer from constant flooding; it is actually home to a natural hot spring! The hot spring created a pool in the village square, which is now 49 metres long and 29 metres wide. Hot springs bubble up from the bottom, resulting in a constant water temperature of around 50°C. Needless to say, this is not your normal village square!
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Located in the Capalbio countryside, which is in the beautiful Maremma region of Tuscany, is the incredible Tarot Garden, or Giardino da Tarocchi. In stunning natural surroundings, with fantastic views over the Tuscan landscape, you can see huge, colourful sculptures which depict the 22 Major Arcana of the Tarot Cards.
This garden, designed by French artist Niki de Saint Phalle, is a truly magical place, and well worth a visit. Why not choose one of our charming Tuscany country villas in this region and go and explore this magnificent garden for yourself?
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The Italian region of Tuscany is famous worldwide for its outstanding wine and, once a year, in the spectacular city of Florence, Tuscany’s best wines are presented and celebrated. Florence becomes the wine capital as the Wine Town event takes over the city, offering a huge selection of wines to try, as well as a wealth of other entertainment.
So, if you’re looking for a wine tour in Florence, then this is the event for you!
Wine Town is still a relatively new event, having started in 2010. It takes place once a year, and over 100 wineries participate, presenting the best wines they have to offer.
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The most famous sports car to come out of Italy has to be the Ferrari. Founded in 1929 by Enzo Ferrari in Maranello, these cars, with their famous prancing stallion symbol, represent speed, style and luxury. If you’re a fan of the Ferrari, then why not enjoy the thrill of taking part in a Ferrari driving experience in Italy?
Before you hop into the driving seat though, why not find out more about this incredible car? The official Ferrari museum in Italy is located in Ferrari’s home town of Maranello, around 300 metres from the actual Ferrari factory itself! If you choose a Tuscany holiday rental near Florence, you’ll be about 2 hours away from this popular museum, which is dedicated to all things Ferrari. This large exhibition space is comprised of 6 main halls, which include, as well as actual cars, trophies, formula one helmets and suits.
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The Mona Lisa (or La Gioconda in Italian) is one of the most, if not the most talked about, written about and well known paintings in the entire world. Began in Florence in 1503, and said to have been finished at least ten years later, the true identity of the woman portrayed in the painting is still uncertain. Leonardo’s Gioconda could have been the wife of a wealthy Florentine merchant or perhaps the artist’s own mistress. As well as the speculation about the subject, the location of the background landscape has also been a mystery. That is perhaps, until now.