To all the Collina del Sole fans Happy St Valentines we are investigating the ultimate romantic gift ... personalized perfume !
The miracle benefits of salt water swimming pools...
The miracle benefits of salt water swimming pools, a luxury available at La Collina del Sole Many of us have been told that salt water is good for us. We have been told that “the cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears or the sea”. All of us are made up of water. Our bodies are about two thirds water, and the only mineral that we can ingest is salt. All of us have elements of salt water within our systems, so why not reap the benefits of salt water by swimming in the salt water pool of La Collina del Sole as it counts an infinity salt water pool as one of its many facilities and is a jewel among the Villas for rent in Tuscany .First of all salt water is much softer on our skin than traditionally chlorinated water. This means less itchy, dried-out skin, and hair, you can keep your eyes open underwater when you swim in the pool of your Lucca villa rental not to mention, you don’t have the smell of chlorine or the burning eyes that also come with a traditionally chlorinated pool.
Why not see the benefits of salt water while you rent a villa in Tuscany as salt water is a miracle treatment for acne and semi-permanent scars. Instead of using harsh chemicals that can damage pores and cause scarring the salt water rids the skin of foreign toxins and cures cuts in a gentler manner.
Salt water also acts as a natural shampoo. Have you noticed that your hair is extremely dry after coming out of the water? This is because salt water cleanses all the oils from your hair. If you have a particularly greasy scalp, then salt water is an excellent way to strip those unnecessary oils from your hair making it more voluminous. Salt water even gets rid of dandruff because it acts as an exfoliant to your scalp.
Finally, swimming in salt water helps you stay fit. This is perhaps the most conventional of the benefits of a salt water pool. When you are swimming, you use muscles in your shoulders, arms, and legs which aren’t used in any other activity. That’s why swimming is often recommended as a great way to exercise. Even treading water will burn 590 calories an hour! This way you can work off all those calories enjoyed while eating at one of the restaurants and bars recommended in the suggestions section of La Collina del Sole one of the best appointed Lucca villa rentals within Villa rentals in Tuscany
There are also many experiences at La Collina del Sole which have been tailor made by the owners of this exquisite Holiday villas in Lucca
Siena is not just about the Palio !
Although a huge amount of attention is given to the Palio scheduled for 16th of August, 
and all its surrounding preparations if you rent a Villa in Tuscany you cannot fail to be overwhelmed by the beauty that surrounds your Villa rentals in Tuscany. When we visited La Colina del Sole our favourite Lucca Villa Rental in Tuscany we made a few trips to Siena and found that among the Duomos that are accessible from Villas for rent in Tuscany the one in Siena has the most wonderfully preserved art. So if you are enjoying your Holiday villas in Lucca grab your car and visit or just kick off your shoes, pour yourself a glass of wine and enjoy the blog you will feel you were there !
When you buy your entrance ticket for the full works check out the Violinist busker, who produces a lovely sound although his over-tight trousers and overdramatic rendition is a little distracting. In 2013 the Special attraction is the “door to heaven” which needs to be booked in advance, either from the website opasiena@operalaboratori.com or call 0577 286 300 the
tickets cost €25 per person.
The “Window to Heaven” tour assembles by the ticket office and heads up the spiral staircase of the right tower of the Duomo, past alabaster windows and arrives at the flank of the roof, with small gargoyles placed at the interior of the building they were destined to be seen by very few people, the gargoyles were in the shape of animals, mythical animals and humans
, they carry the water that made its way through channels in the roof into other copper channels that go into a cistern for the use of the local priests or to the water disposal ducts.
This top area of the Duomo has taken 30 years to restore and opened t
o the public for the first time in 2013. The restorers have changed most of the ceiling beams and roof tiles while encouraging the local fauna like scorpions and other beasties to move out. One of the original roof tiles found has a dogs paw print in it, “a medieval paw” with rather long nails! The guide explains that the White and Black stripes in the Duomo are made from relatively local white marble [ not pure white as in Carrara which is only used in the Michael Angelo sculpt
ed side altar ] and Serpentine marble which is in reality very dark green, the little accents of red marble are true Sienese marble.
The tour takes you past open windows that look down onto huge sculptures of saints and angels that overlook the people below, on the side of the interior walls you can see the original 
craftsmen’s drawings centuries old on the walls that served as blueprints for the carving of architectural marble details of the building to be carved, you walk behind balustrades that have the most incredible views down the body of the church and terraces that overlook the whole of Siena, you can stand just below the main stained glass roundel and stand behind the large guardian angels that mount guard outside the front façade of the Duomo, with their huge copper wings outstretched.
The entire floor in the Duomo of Siena is in carved white marble which has been indented and stained Black or has been intag
lio’d with slices of Black marble, the guide explained the meaning of the floor carvings. On both sides of the Duomo, there are the 10 Sybille; all women, 3 Middle Eastern, 3 European, 3 Far Eastern and One African; who lived pre-Christ and who predicted His coming and how Christ would die. Then the first part of the main body of the church depicts Oracles and the “Magical” world before Christ’s life, it also depicts the animals that 
represent the main cities of Italy, the central area of the Duomo has floors that depict Christ’s Life with the 2 sides floor spaces depicting several scenes from the Gospel, the most sticking is the massacre of the innocent.
At the Duomo there are several kind and informative guards who point out the treasures found here there are Michael Angelo and Donatello statues alongside many other treasures by Pisano [ from Pisa] and Rosino who had red hair ! The library has wall paintings that are as fresh today as the day they were originally painted centuries ago alongside illuminated books one of which has a depiction of “wind” who looks as though he had a bad afro day in medieval times.
The Baptistery has paintings and sculptures by Donatello, Ghiberti, Pisa
no and many others the main theme of the depictions are a graphic depiction of Heaven and hell
The “Opera del Duomo” or museum has yet more sculptures by de la Quercia, Ghiberthi, Donatello, Pisano and Brunelleschi a beautiful stained glass window and the original statues of the saints that stood outside the Duomo, on higher floors there are Icons and sepia drawings one of Jesus and God and the Holy Spirit in the form of fire that is stunning , there are also a great many relics including full skulls so many that is it easy to be “relicked out” One of the side rooms houses the huge paper sketches with the designs of the marble floor carvings for the Duomo in beautiful detail, these “maps” are huge paper drawings that fill entire walls
All in all Siena is awesome !
LUCCA CALLING !
One of the highlights of staying at any of the villas for rent in Tuscany is the HUGE 
variety of activities in store in the area surrounding La Collina del Sole Musical treats abound when you rent a villa in Tuscany and particularly during July. If you join us at Lucca villa rental it is just a short drive to make the most of Lucca Summer Festival 2013This festival attracts at times names like Elton John, who often stay at Holiday Villas in Lucca themselves. So why not contact us to check the line-up at the same time as checking out the Villa rentals in Tuscany
Starting from today in Piazza Napoleone at around 9pm Lucca Summer Festival 2013 features:
Saturday 6 July 2013 - Lucca Diana Krall – Glad Rag Doll Tour
Monday 8 July 2013 - Litfiba – Trilogy 1983 -1989
Tuesday 9 July 2013 - Leonard Cohen
Wednesday 10 July 2013 - Bryan Adams with Full Band
Thursday 11 July 2013 - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Saturday 13 July 2013 - Thirty Seconds To Mars with Simonne as support act
Wednesday 17 July 2013 - The Killers with opening act Black Rebel & Motorcycle Club
Thursday 18 July 2013 - Edoardo Barsotti & Anselmo Simini + Lucca talents
Friday 19 July 2013 - Mark Knopfler and his band
Saturday 20 July 2013 - Alessandro Siani
Sunday 2
1 July 2013 - Renzo Arbore and his Italian Orchestra
Monday 22 July 2013 - Earth Wind and Fire – Now Then and Forever
Thursday 25 July 2013 - Neil Young and Crazy Horse with support act Davendra Banhart
Saturday 27 July 2013 - Sigur Ros – Live 2013
Tuesday 30 July 2013 - Pino Caniele, Marcus Miller
We suggest you contact Viagogo to buy your tickets, and hurry as there are several posts up on the internet including Trip advisor asking for Golden tickets to Lucca Summer Festival 2013 !
Italians live and breathe to music If you do not manage to book your tickets to the Lucca Summer Festival 2013 then we suggest you look into the Lucca Summer Festival 2014 where confirmed acts include Adele, Dave Matthews Band and Michael Bublé if you have any questions contact us at La Collina del Sole where as our editorial attests we will be more than happy to as
sist with suggestions of which restaurants and Pizza places to go to in Garfagnana or which are the best Bars & Cafes or where to buy the choicest food or which Places of interest are worth visiting, what wonderful and exclusive experiences you can enjoy at Lucca Villa Rental or what recreation choices you have, what treats await you on Special dates in Garfagnana and where the best shops are to get speciality presents. and ... once you have enjoyed the concert, you can have a wonderful midnight dip in the award winning salt water infinity pool !
Think … Fun & Food in the Sunshine
With grey leaden skies above me I cannot WAIT to go on my holiday when I rent a villa in Tuscany and find foodie treasures while feeling sun kissed, my favourite Lucca villa rental among villa rentals in Tuscany is La Collina del Sole a beautiful Holiday Villas in Lucca situated in the heart of the main area for villas for rent in Tuscany at La Collina del Sole you find an award winning salt water infinity pool amazing staff, a fabulous Villa handbook stuffed full of ideas of where to go, what to do or not and where to eat so without further ado let’s get down to FOOD and where to eat like a king and pay like a pauper.
The nearest restaurant is Claudios ‘Il Ponte di Ceserana, located at the entrance to the 
cluster of villages where La Colllina del Sole is located, close enough to villages but in a secluded spot. Their number is 0583 66 20 05. The owner/cook, Claudio, comes from Ayr in Scotland. He has recently started offering a delicious and incredibly well priced Fish Menu served every Friday lunchtime. Our guests have highly recommended it in fact they have even written about it, the menu changes according to the best fish available on the day, one of the favourites is a “Fish and Chips” with a twist of elegance, the menu is €10 per head a bargain for the quality and quantity of food and the amazing locally made grappas of different flavours which Claudio produces at the end of the meal. His wife Clementina and children help run the restaurant and bar. Booking preferred Monday is his day of rest.
Our gourmand choice has recently had a facelift so looks elegant and the food is still 
spectacular it is Trattoria di Bonini Pier, in Monteperpoli, his number is 0583 639 425, During all working days there is a very good lunch Menu for around €10, excluding wine. There is also the a la carte dining which is spectacular, roughly €25 plus wine. The menu changes with the season but if you see Tagliatta of Beef with Grilled vegetables or game do indulge they are exceptional. Pier the owner has an impressive list and knowledge of wines which are well priced. It is closed on Tuesdays.
Il Pozzo in Pieve Fosciana is also a favourite, very popular for weddings and other large 
celebrations their number is 0583 66 63 80. It has a delicious antipasto [mixed starter] dish in the area. Giordano and Maurizio founded Il Pozzo in 1985 and have formed part of the “Slow Food” movement from its inception. They are passionate about the origins of the food they prepare and have won several awards. They also have a “menu del giorno”, the restaurant is usually busy but capacious. Their wine list includes some from Lucca, Tuscany and further afield. They close on Wednesdays apart from August when they open seven days a week.
Our next Foodie Heaven is Casa del Pescatore in the village by the Lago Isola Santa, 
their telephone is 0583 639408. This is possibly the BEST kept Foodie Heaven secret of all time, if you like Truffles and Funghi Porcini, local cheeses and open wood fire grilled meat you cannot get better and it is ridiculously cheap affordable. In the heart of the Marble Hills a 50 minute drive from La Collina del Sole . Gabrielle Matzei set up his own small restaurant in Isola Santa a small village part of which he has restored and brought back to life. He also can dispense the permit you will need to buy if you want to fish for the succulent local trout of the lake. He is one of the most gifted cooks of the area and has had extensive write ups in gastronomic magazines including “Bon Apetit”. It is TRULY worth the winding drive through the hills.
A new re-discovery is La Bottega dell Fattore in Castelnuovo on Via F Azzi on the corner 
facing the Carabinieri station their telephone is 0583 62179. This restaurant has been taken over by the daughter and her husband the food was always good with an excellent wine selection, the food is now excellent and the wine selection is still fabulous. The daughter has also newly enlarged the restaurant and added an outside terrace for al fresco dinning. We last had a fantastic beef with a reduced balsamic vinegar sauce… incredible.
The most spoiling and fabulous gourmet experience is the Feast selection in the suggested menu available at La Collina del Sole, or the Pizza Experience all our guests have LOVED these and come back for more … So when you come to La Collina del Sole leave diets at home … enjoy the best food that Tuscany has to offer.
