Sure, some travelers head to Italy’s famous Tuscany region to enjoy the famous Renaissance art. From Florence to Siena, the work of the masters can be seen everywhere from world-renowned museums to obscure little churches. And just as many history buffs find themselves hiking through the fields outside of the area’s bigger cities, exploring the lands where everyone from important generals to Dante himself happened to be finding inspiration or changing the course of the world. But the fact is that these various different takes on a Tuscany holiday don’t hold a candle to the number one reason that foreigners can be found renting a villa in Tuscany and making themselves at home for a few weeks.
With its beautiful golden sunsets and incredible stretches of peaceful and stunningly beautiful landscape, Tuscany is also the home to some of the world’s finest wine, as well as some of the most famous varieties in all of Italy. And for travelers who are serious about exploring wine country, it makes the most sense not to go with the various hotels in Tuscany, which tend to be closer to the bigger cities, but rather, to look into Tuscany villa rentals. This way, it’s possible to be right in the heart of the action, hosting friends and family in a large space with enough private room but enough communal atmosphere. And for those who want to really understand the spirit of Italy, there’s nothing more Italian than a large group of people getting together, sharing wine and a delicious and leisurely lunch, and then exploring the area alone or together.
One’s definition of what makes perfect Tuscany villas for rent might vary, but there are a few elements that are definitely uniting factors, no matter what one’s reason for being in the heart of Italian wine country is. Families with children who are visiting during the summer months might want to consider Tuscany villas with a pool, so that it’s possible to take a break from the heat without actually having to retreat to the coast a few hours away. For those who are interested in whipping up elaborate meals, picking a villa in Tuscany that’s no so far away from local farms or an excellent town market is a great and easy way to ensure that there’s always something incredible for dinner.
For extended families who are getting back to their Italian roots or visiting the old country all together for the very first time, the opportunity to be together is definitely best enjoyed in the perfect type of housing, as that’s where all of the quality time will be spent during one’s Tuscany vacation. And by picking something well-located that has all of those essential touches, chances are that the trip will be something that no one soon forgets. So whether it’s a chance to tour all of the vineyards or the first time that a child sees the old country with two other generations, there’s something truly beautiful about a well-organized trip to Tuscany.
Jessica Festa is the editor of the travel sites Jessie on a Journey (http://jessieonajourney.com) and Epicure & Culture (http://epicureandculture.com). Along with blogging at We Blog The World, her byline has appeared in publications like Huffington Post, Gadling, Fodor’s, Travel + Escape, Matador, Viator, The Culture-Ist and many others. After getting her BA/MA in Communication from the State University of New York at Albany, she realized she wasn’t really to stop backpacking and made travel her full time job. Some of her most memorable experiences include studying abroad in Sydney, teaching English in Thailand, doing orphanage work in Ghana, hiking her way through South America and traveling solo through Europe. She has a passion for backpacking, adventure, hiking, wine and getting off the beaten path.
