Did you know that the picture postcard rolling hill photo that you associate 
with Villa rentals in Tuscany comes from the route that is taken from La Collina del Sole to Pienza ? It appears in suitable postcards to send home when you rent a villa in Tuscany and on Calendars that you buy as Tuscan souvenirs when you choose to stay at Villas for rent in Tuscany it even features on plates and magnets that you can buy at the local market to Lucca Villa Rental on Thursdays, as it is the ideal rolling Tuscan hill reminder of your perfect holiday villas in Lucca
As you depart from La Collina del Sole you can drop into L’aia di Piero or Osteria il Vecchio Mulino in Castelnuovo and choose a few choice morsels for a pic nic to take with you on the trip. Or you could pop into Siena and visit the “Consorzio Agrario Siena” on Via Pianigiani to buy water, salads, vegetable frittata, “ribollita” of sodden bread in a mixture of fresh tomato, fresh basil and olive oil or delicious pasta with truffle and funghi porcini and 
drive on down towards Pienza which is in the heart of the gorgeous Val D’Orcia [ a world heritage site] passing through beautiful rolling hill countryside, poppy fields and newly harvested wheat fields. The very famous picture of the small white church in the middle of a sea of rolling hills is on the way.
Pienza is a picturesque town, an example of an ideal renaissance city, with lovely vistas down alleyways, a beautiful main road and square with stunning views to the surrounding countryside of rolling hills which is a UNESCO protected site as far as the eye can see. In Pienza itself stands the main Palazzo, donated to the state by the last in line of the Piccolomini family, along with many of the family treasures, this family provided two Popes, Pius II who was born in the Palazzo and his nephew Pius III who commissioned the 
beautiful library to be painted in honour of his uncle at the Duomo in Siena. You can take a guided tour or a private tour of this amazing Palazzo which was originally built in 1459 by Bernardo Rosellino [ he had red hair !] and a student of Leon Battista Alberti. Really worth a visit and its own blog as it is a wonderfully sober, elegant and uncomplicated Palazzo.
Next to the Palazzo you find the Duomo, a lovely simply decorated church, you can walk along the walls of the town past small houses that look over the incredible view of the fields beyond, there are many shops that sell cheeses, cold meats and wine including Montalcino and Montepulciano wine as both areas are very close to Pienza.
A very appealing shop is called Porta della Cavina [ in Piazza Pio II tel +39 0578 749906] it sells house decoration 
items, home perfumes, small gifts and soft furnishings. The owner is very attentive and helpful, she even told us where the best gelato is to be found - outside the walls it is “Gelateria Toscana” a gelateria & biscoteria artigianale in Via Mangiavacci 3, Pienza, 53026. Tel 0578 748 538. It has a very good selection of normal ice cream and lactose intolerant ice creams with specialities like fennel seed gelato.
As you leave Pienza you can drive to either Montalcino which is 25 km away or Montepulciano 10km away on the road there is a magnificent Fortress which sells vin santo and olive oil directly to the public, they have short opening hours though. Continuing towards Montepulciano, if you are lucky and drive 
as the sun is setting you are rewarded with the magnificent view of Montepulciano bathed in Liquid Golden evening light. The view from a distance is almost the best part, there are many wine stress where you can buy the delicious Montepulciano direct from the vineyard, in order to park best to leave the car at the foot of the town and walk steeply up, the main street runs along the town and is impossible to miss it will take you to the main square which is a huge central area surrounded by a church, town hall, bank and other impressive buildings. The Fortress of Montepulciano is at present undergoing restoration.
Unusual personalized shopping ? … Tuscany
This summer when you rent a villa in Tuscany choose UNUSUAL presents to take home after your stay at villas for rent in Tuscany like wild boar sausages ? Truffle Salt ? a chocolate horseshoe? a chunk of Marble as a paperweight? All found a stone’s throw from La Collina del Sole There are Marble caves, excellent delicatessens, super Tuscan wine tastings [and buying] in Castelnuovo di Garfagnana so your “coming home” presents from Lucca Villa Rental need never be boring Make the most of your catching up with friends after staying at your holiday villas in Lucca with the items listed in the shops we love the experiences we love the food shops we adore the bars we love as they too sell nice unusual presents. If you prefer to go further afield from your villa rentals in Tuscany say to Siena here are a few special and very unusual presents that we recently found.Following 
the excitements of the 16th of August with the last Palio of 2013 Siena –will go into a somnolent state, perfect to admire the dramatic inclined fan shaped central square preferably sitting at a table with a Bellini cocktail while enjoying the sunset on the Tower and entire Piazza, the whole scene will seem dipped in liquid amber, in the evening the evening streets of Siena are empty and will still be decorated with the Contrada lights, colours and flags, it is easy to imagine you are walking in the past as the buildings seem unchanged in centuries and the stillness of the night is almost complete.
Now for the unusual shops my favourite is La fabbrica delle candele aka the handmade candle and wax dipped flower shop where a young woman dips silk flowers in wax and then gives them a smooth glistening finish, they are in Via dei Pellegrini, 11, Siena, Province of Siena, Italy. They also hand carve and create intricate designs with
in the candles in front of you, explaining the process as they go and even personalising your candle for you if you wish
My next favourite is a artisans ceramic shop where you can buy plates decorated with the shields of each contrada in Siena It is The Studio Artistico in Via San Pietro 22 - 53100 Siena, Tel+39 0577 288188 with an elderly couple that actually paint the plates in front of you and can eve
n personalize it, we bought a magnificent HUGE plate with a dragon rampant.
Should you need a breather Siena has a fondness for “Osterias” and they ALL look really good, one we loved is, Osteria le Logge Due, Via Porrione 33, Siena, tel +39 0577 48013 They have tables both outside and in, used by locals and visitors.
Should you need a “gelato break” go to GROM in Via Banchi di Sopra #11/13 their telephone # 0577 289 303 where they make the most wonderful ic
e cream “as it used to be made” using only ethically produced ingredients, like coffee from Guatemala, fresh milk and fresh spring water for sorbets, fruit only when it is in season like strawberries in summer and tangerines in winter my favourite is liquorice gelato.
Nearby there is a beautiful paper shop with hand decorated paper cards with open 
windows showing drawings of the Siena Duomo and the Siena tower in the Piazza, or on Florence and Pisa, it also sells persoanlized seals and fun seals with sealing wax and ingenious bookmarks, it is called Il Papiro in Via Di Citta' #37, Siena 53100, Tel: 0577284241, they also have shops in Florence, Venice, Pisa, Cortona, Orvieto and New York, Palm Beach and Melbourne! So you can re-stock when you get home.
Other fun spots in Siena are highlighted in the CollinadelSolewordpress blog
Following your successful personalized shopping you might want to relax at the botanical gardens which are only open in the morning they are fresh, inviting, cool and calm, or if you prefer views and are in need of a breather nearby there is a lovely garden on a wall at the edge of Siena that overlooks the surrounding fields with a Phenomenal view, night and day. Or on the other side of town in Costa di Sant Antonio, another beautiful place to relax away from the hordes of tourists at midday in the centre of town you can head for St Catherin
e’s home which has been turned into a shrine go through a lovely Cortille of arches and turn left into what was her home and is now fully painted in wall to wall murals depicting different stages of St Catherine’s life, then follow the pathway going downstairs to find the bedroom of St Catherine which depicts murals of St Catherine’s life as a child and adult. Opposite what was the old kitchen is a church, with many murals depicting the life of St Catherine. It is a lovely haven of peace and tranquillity. Upon leaving you can reflect that you have discovered many parts of Sienna that few visitors knew existed with famous and exquisite works of Renaissance and Pre Renaissance art just there to be admired, and passages, palazzos, courtyards and churches full of calm and beauty.
FEASTING at the Palio - Siena
A Tuscan summer is about sun, bravado, parties, pageantry, great food and great 
restaurants While you enjoy your villas for rent in Tuscany we suggest you visit Siena which embodies all these. The 16th of August marks the 2nd and final Palio of 2013 - a dramatic event to watch when you rent a villa in Tuscany Good and affordable restaurants are a must when you visit from your villa rentals in Tuscany First up and a favourite with guests at La Collina del Sole the very special Lucca Villa Rental is La Corte di San Giorgio, in Via di Pantanetto close to the main piazza with pretty outside tables and a fun interior décor with modern caricature art with a hare jumping from frame to frame or vegetables jumping off a boiler. These paintings are mixed in with period photos of interesting looking people. 
The food is SUPER and well priced with stuffed zucchini flowers, saffron and asparagus risotto, special Sienese pasta called Pici with meat sauce and an unusual tiramisu partitioned into its different ingredients and tastes. A real treat when you stay at holiday villas in LuccaSiena has a fondness for “Osterias” and they ALL look really good, one we loved is, Osteria le Logge Due, Via Porrione 33, Siena, tel +39 0577 48013 They have tables both outside and a fun dish is tempura battered chicken in a garlic mayonnaise sauce. Many 
locals and visitors eat here, the menu is very tempting and it is easy to over order!
The “cool” eatery in Siena is called “Morbidi 1925 Siena” in Via Banchi di Sopra # 73 Siena, tel +39 0577 280 268. For breakfast they have a table full of cakes and various inviting breakfast items like scrambled eggs, Croissants, chocolate and vanilla cake, muffins etc. For lunch or dinner they have salads and cold meats. The bar is decorated very much in the “loft NY style” with concrete beams still bearing the marks of the wooden planks that were there when the concrete is poured in Morbidi is also a delicatessen where smart local Siennese buy their 
pre-prepared delicacies.
Another very good, well priced restaurant and wine bar is called Zest, [ on Costa di Sant’Antonio 13, Siena 53100 +39 0577 47139 ] It is set on the steep incline of a side street, all the tables and solid bunk chairs are on uneven legs so that every table has a view of swallows swooping in the sky calling to each other with the large Church of San Domenico as a backdrop. The menu has lots of fish and shellfish dishes, 
non-fish items are also available like caramelised gorgonzola cheese and onion tart, or cold beef salad. For those who have a sweet tooth we recommend being adventurous, one of the options when we went was chocolate torta, which was described as “it is chocolate torta”, it was in fact a delicious melting hot chocolate sponge cake with a lovely cool cream. If you sit in the bunks outside you will notice a large number of visitors emerging from a covered walkway which leads into St Catherine’s home which has been turned into a shrine. It is off the beaten track and is cool as you go through a lovely Cortille of arches to a beautiful patio ... perfect to snooze the excess calories off !
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 !
O SOLE MIO !
It is late July ! which means that when you rent a villa in Tuscany you can enjoy a PARTY EXPLOSION with Festas, Sagras and Mostras here we give you a brief overview of the 
best PARTY TIME you can enjoy while staying at Villas for rent in Tuscany from Food festas to Flag throwing, from shopping events to suckling pig feasts. There are suggestions of great restaurants to visit while you stay at Holiday Villas in Lucca suggestions of Special Dates If you enjoy old traditions then you will LOVE the “ Festa dei Pastori alle prade garfagnine “ a stone’s throw from La Colina del Sole held in the in the meadows of Garfagnana on the Sunday 4th August, all the local shepherds gather to eat, chat and show off their horses. For special experiences in the area of Lucca Villa rental we suggest having a feast at home by the infinity pool and driving to the feast of the Madonna of the Marble caves in 
Minucciano - the Festa della Madonna dei Cavatori is held on the 27 & 28 of July. If while you stay at your villa rentals in Tuscany you feel like going from one foodie feast to the next THIS weekend we suggest you go to:The feast of the Tordello – in Cardoso, Gallicano
Sagra of the suckling pig in Chiozza -Castiglione di Garfagnana
Trout treats - A tutta...trota at Villa Soraggio in Sillano
Chestnut based pasta treats in Necci, migliacci e pitonca on Tuesday 30 July in Vallico Sopra
… Or shopping extravaganzas this weekend at Fornaci di Barga
… a Folkloric frenzy at the 38^ Festival Internazionale del Folclore in Camporgiano
... a traditional fair in Camporgiano this Sunday at the Fiera di Sant'Anna or sauntering of to one of the Flag throwing competition in Gallicano or checking out the bandits in Sillico Pieve Fosciana, at the medieval event "I Banditi dell'Ariosto all'ora di cena”
For AUGUST How about some dancing on 17 of August with a Serata Danzante in Giuncugnano or you can take your pick from continued Medieval nights, dancing in Fosciandora where La Collina del Sole is located, shopping in Castelnuovo and Fornacci di Barge and of course there is the Jazz festival in Barga !
As Time Goes By …
In the midst of enjoying our Holiday Villas in Lucca we have come across a most 
wonderful antique timepiece exhibition curated by one of the neighbours of La Collina del Sole the exhibition is called “COREDÉ” {che ora é] and is just a stone’s throw away from the Lucca Villa Rental It is held in the village of Sillico, and showcases antique cuckoo clocks, mantelpiece clocks, watches and all manner of time keeping instruments, a welcome “break” from sunning yourself by the salt water infinity pool at La Collina del Sole a gem among Villas for rent in Tuscany The exhibition COREDE is open on Saturday and Sunday throughout the summer. Other fun things to do when you rent a villa in Tuscany in the Garfagnana region is go to a Medieval Feast which is also in Sillico a region of choice Villa rentals in Tuscany
The Medieval Feast season starts at 6pm from the 27th of July and runs every evening it is called “ I Banditi del Sillico al tempo dell’Ariosto… all’ora di cena ” and is a very well thought of Feast serving local foods which are typical of the time. The entire village of Sillico is transformed with medieval costumes into a bandits lair the most famous of which was “Il Moro”. The medieval town inhabitants serve a delicious medieval meal in various nooks and crannies of the village, the church also hosts an exhibition with tools of the various local crafts. This Feast is held as a commemoration of the time that Ariosto an Italian nobleman and literary star who was mayor of the town of Castelnuovo de Garfagnana was taken prisoner by the feared bandit Il Moro.
The area of Garfagnana where you can find La Collina del Sole was the through road for 
Salt from the sea for many of the dukedoms and principalities of Northern Tuscany, and as salt was a precious commodity to preserve food and to help keep things cold, by default Garfagnana became a magnet for all manner of bandits and “salt pirates” who would lie in wait for convoys and extract any valuable item from their hapless victims.
Other fun pastimes in Garfagnana over the weekend is antiques shopping which 
can be enjoyed in the historic town of Castelnuovo di Garfagnana on the 1st Saturday and Sunday of each month, in the medieval jewel of Barga every 2nd Sunday of each month and in Lucca every 3rd Saturday and Sunday of the month. Lucca by the way was recently voted the most beautiful place to live in Italy by Forbes Magazine !
If you love old traditions then you will LOVE the Festa dei Pastori alle prade garfagnine or the feast of shepherds in the meadows of Garfagnana held on Sunday 4th August, it is a true gathering of locals in the cool of the meadows high up in Garfagnana hills guaranteed to be fresh a blessing in August a great day out. Yee Haaaaaaaaaaa
LUCCA the MOST beautiful place in Italy - Forbes Magazine !
The sun has been glorious at La Collina del Sole ! As expected when you 
rent a villa in Tuscany and my … what a treat when expectations are met as you stay in your villas for rent in Tuscany Should you wish to check out the weather we suggest www.meteo.it as having lived in Italy and specifically in the mountainous area of Lucca Villa rental in Italy for over 24 years we have found it to be very accurate, a huge help when you are on Holiday villas in Lucca Now for the FANTASTIC NEWS that Lucca the main town closest to our villa rentals in Tuscany has been voted by Forbes magazine the best place to live in Italy and in 2nd place within Europe !The Tuscan inhabitants of Lucca have charm, fashion sense, antiques [more on that later] and are unspoilt what more could you ask for. Here we share a few words from the article which can be seen on the Collina del Sole Facebook stream.
“Of course, the people of Lucca have always thought their city was the best in Italy and now it has been confirmed by an official s
ource. First place on the Forbes list goes to the small island of Patmos in the Aegean 
Sea (aka the “Holy Greek Island of Patmos”). Third place in the Forbes ranking is Saignon, a peaceful little village on a cliff in Provence, Southern France.
Below are excerpts from the Forbes article written by Parmy Olson:
“To create our list of the most idyllic places to live in Europe, we asked a panel of experts in the fields of travel and relocation to choose their five favorite simple, unspoiled and near-heavenly locations to take up residence. Many of them will seem unfamiliar because they have yet to be pounced on by hurried, mass-market tourism…
Following Patmos at a close second on our list is Lucca, a medieval city within a city in the region of Tuscany, central Italy. It has "all the Tuscan charm of its neighbours Pisa and Tuscany but without the crowds," says Gillian Pearsall, marketing manager at Intrepid Travel. Tour busses are not the norm here: It's "blissfully cut off by its perfectly preserved Renaissance walls," says Schultz.
"This is a quiet, though classy town, with lawyers and housewives peddling the narrow cobblestone streets past thousand-year-old churches and made-in-Italy fashion 
boutiques," she says, adding that you can visit the outdoor antiques market every month to furnish your Tuscan farmhouse. The larger city of Florence is just 45 miles to the east; both the beach and skiing in Abetone are about an hour away, in opposite directions. Foreigners who buy into the area tend to be professionals from Britain or other parts of Europe, and some of the most sought-after properties are within the walls of the medieval city.
An apartment in the epicenter can set you back betw
een 300,000 and 500,000 euros ($428,700 and $714,320), depending on how much restoration needs to be done. It's difficult to find a house there, so a good entry point is to find a property within the walled city for the winter, where you could be sheltered from the cold and not worry about electricity outages. Though if you can find it, a house in the hills just outside the city for the spring and summer would be appealing, but prices range from 500,000 to 800,000 euros ($714,320 to $1.1 million).
A couple we know own the top flat in the house where Puccini lived within Lucca … oh to be there in the sunset !
For Antique hunting while you enjoy villa rentals in Tuscany and in 
particular Garfagnana we suggest you visit
Within the centre of Lucca an antiques market is held every 3rd Saturday and Sunday of each month
Castelnuovo di Garfagnana - There is an antique market every 1st Saturday and Sunday of every month
Barga There is an antique market every 2nd Sunday of every month
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 !
FANCY A MEDIEVAL TUSCAN TREAT?
One of the highlights of choosing a Lucca Villa Rental when you browse through the many 
Villa rentals in Tuscany is that the area is very proud of its medieval ancestry, in fact the region of Holiday villas in Tuscany had its Golden moment in the middle ages and as such re-lives their ancestry at every conceivable opportunity, a short distance from La Collina del Sole you find the newly and brilliantly restored Fortress of le Verrucole this fortress has just opened an attraction / experience guaranteed to appeal to young and old alike when they rent a villa in Tuscany As while enjoying villas for rent in Tuscany is about the sun, food , recreation and relaxation it is also about culture.La Fortezza delle Verrucole has not only been lovingly and pains
takingly restored and commands the most spectacular views that have been enjoyed for centuries and been fought over by Florence and the Medici family, the marquises of Malaspina of Massa and the Dukes of Este from Modena.
The Fortress of the Verrucole was often a centre for battles. The last battle was in the 1520 when, under the Estense control, in the second half of the 16th century it was besieged by the Florentine army.
A couple of weeks ago a group of young Italian theatrical entrepreneurs has taken the fortress under their wing and created am 
“archeopark” For a modest fee you can see and feel what life was like in the middle ages, the group is dressed in typical costume, they also have recreated the feel of the times with food, medieval methods of cultivation, sewing and craft making they have started a Facebook page so you can follow them, all the feedback has been very positive.
Now onto FOOD truly worthy of a medieval feast we recommend you go to the Osteria Vecchio Mulino one of the restaurants we love. It is on Via Vittorio Emmanuelle 12 Telefone 
0583 62192 you do not need to dress in medieval garb, this place is perfect for a grown up foodie snack, If you do not want a full meal, but still fancy tasting a variety of typical Garfagnana food then we suggest you try the “Degustazione” of local cheese and cold meats at this historic Osteria, the cheeses are all topped with local sauces that enhance their natural flavour, the cheses here are mainly goat milk based, the cured meats all come from nearby farms and curing houses, from sweet Parma like cured ham to Biroldo the local Black pudding to coarse and fine salami and a delicious aniseed tasting salami you can also try the local wine or feast and try one of the many excellent wines that line the walls.
TEN TANTALIZING TUSCAN TREATS
When you rent a villa in Tuscany there are several treats you can look forward to as a “only 
in Villa rentals in Tuscany experience” like a RELAXING TREAT picture yourself relaxing in the jacuzzi within the pool at La Collina del Sole the only salt water infinity pool available within the choice of Villas for rent in Tuscany sipping some prossecco looking at the surrounding area and felling the warmth of the sun caress your skin …. There are VISUAL TREATS like the wild flower covered terraces of 
Lucca Villa Rental in the early part of Summer May June and July is a riot of Poppies, Buttercups, Tassel Hyacinths, Crimson Peas, Black Medic and all manner of wild flowers that abound in the area of Holiday villas in Lucca Some of which have medicinal properties or hidden culinary uses and from this point we move onto … SPOILING TREATS like having a gourmet Italian feast cooked 
for you at La Collina del Sole and served on the terrace and cleared up for you while you enjoy the sunset behind the infinity pool…. Then there are FOODIE TREATS like our new found star restaurant Osteria al ritrovo del Platano which we wrote up on our Foodie Treasure Trove Found blog posted 25 of May the food is wonderful and VERY reasonable Keeping on the Foodie theme there are also EPICURIAN TREATS like wine and Olive Oil tasting at il Vecchio Mulino and if you fancy a light meal order the taster menu with the cheese taster plate and the local cold meats palter or as they say in Italian le piatti di assaggi di formaggio e di salumi.There are YEARLY TREATS like seeing the Chestnut woods that cover the mountainous region of Garfagnana literally carpeted 
in Chestnut Blossom, the huge profusion of Chestnut trees means that there are many speciality Chestnut Foods many of which can be found in Aia di Piero from Chestnut pasta to chestnut marmalade to chestnut cake and bread. In fact Chestnuts were one of the few edible items that kept the population from starving during the WWII occupation and the years beyond when Italy was poor due to the almost complete destruction of crops, 
manufacture or any other money making venture. Continuing this reflective mood there are MEDITATIVE TREATS like watching the swallows drink their evening libation and reflecting that God takes care of all His creatures while sitting by the infinity pool at sunset, one of the highlights of the experiences section of the Lucca Villa Rental site
Still on a pensive note but a little more active we can enjoy the PEACEFUL HUNTING TREAT like Funghi Hunting in the chestnut woods in late summer early and mid-autumn. Then we can enjoy the ENERGETIC TREATS like joining in the Vendemmia at La Collina del Sole a once in a lifetime experience unless you live in the area in which case it becomes a 
once a year experience as described in the Viva La Vendemmia blog posted on October 6th 2012 The feeling of satisfaction when you sit down to a well-earned vendemmia feast has no compare. There is the GO FAST TREAT like renting a Ducati, Maserati, Ferrari and Lambhorghini driving as described in our La Collina del Sole it is all about the va va voom post dated April 6th
Or a truly ONCE IN A LIFETIME TREAT like peeping through Heavens window !
a ONCE in a LIFETIME experience !
Have you ever wanted to do something that has not been done for 
centuries? Well… while you Rent a villa in Tuscany you can do just that... go through Heaven’s door or “La Porta del Cielo” in Siena, not bad if you are staying at Villas for rent in Tuscany as Heaven’s door has not been opened since the Cathedral in Siena was built in the first part of XXIII. With spectacular architectural vistas - an everyday occurrence when you enjoy Villa rentals in Tuscany as this region is steeped in majestic cathedrals, graceful towers, a joy to wake up to while on Holiday villas in Lucca and fabulous fortresses and fortressed churches of which two fine examples stand near La Collina del Sole So if you are visiting Lucca Villa Rental between now and 27th October we highly recommend you check out “La Porta del Cielo”Sienna not only has a very beautiful Cathedral built in the traditional black and white horizontal striped decorated walls, it has the very famous Central Piazza where the Palio is held of which we wrote in our focus on Siena blog giving a few of our favourite places and eateries
Siena has wonderfully [almost ] carless streets and walkways, 
where you can see the original seat of the once might Bank Monte Paschi di Siena which is very austere façade. When you drive to Siena from La Collina del Sole it is a great opportunity to swing by and check out Montalcino of “Super Tuscan Wines fame, and by the way Montalcino is not only about wine the town itself has many treasures to discover.
But let’s Focus on the once in a lifetime opportunity of walking through Heavens Door, for €25 you get to see the cathedral from the giddy heights of the walkways close to the ceiling, where only the builders who built the Cathedral and their overseers got to see, in many cases you find drawings and sketches which were directly drawn onto the walls by the cathedrals architects and overseers. You get to see the internal walls of the Duomo, the multi-coloured stained glass windows by Ulisse De Matteis, the corridors and altar as from a bird’s eye view, You will also get the most spectacular views of Siena itself and the Basilica di San Domenico, la Fortezza Medicea, and the whole cupola of the chapel of John the Baptist. WELL WORTH the climb, the money and the special effort to get there and once you have descended from the giddy heavenly heights you can tumble into Gelateria Grom where you can find wonderfully rich ice creams, which are proudly made from ethically sourced ingredients and even ice creams for lactose intolerant clients, so you see life on earth can be rather good too !
COMPULSORY Tuscan Travel Tips - Car & Communication
Reflecting on our recent long weekend at our favourite Lucca Villa Rental the tranquil La Collina del Sole an idyllic place when you Rent a Villa in Tuscany We congratulated ourselves on our forethought of booking a rental car from home, having learnt our lesson a few years back [when we had been charged 15% of the cost of a new car for an impulsive weekend rental] so upon our arrival at Pisa and collecting the car in order to reach our Holiday villas in Lucca We had a bit of a shock when GOLDCAR rental wanted to charge a surprise non-refundable €120 diesel charge and a €90 insurance charge or a €1,600 deposit for the car even if the print in the English booking service said insurance was included, we refused to proceed, and 
as we were looking forward to putting our feet up in our choice Villas for rent in Tuscany we brushed up on our Italian, rented a Smart car from Avis who were very decent on their rates and we zipped off to our Villa Rentals in Tuscany Moral of the story: rent a car from a reputable and well known dealer, we had fun and found the following phrases to be useful: You must be joking ! Stai scherzando Staee Scare-zhan-doh
Do you speak English? Parla Inglese? Par-la Een-glay-zay
I don't understand Non capisco Non Ka-peesk-koh
I'm sorry Mi dispiace
Mee Dees-pee-yat-chay
How much is it? Quanto costa?
Kwan-toh Cost-ah
That's too much É troppo Ay Troh-po
car automobile Ow-toh-mo-bee-lay
gas benzina Ben-zee-nah
diesel gasolio Gah-zoh-lee-oh
Fill it up, please al pieno, per favore
Ahl Pee-yay-noh, Pair Fa-vohr-ray
Where is... Dov'é Doh-vay
...the highway l'autostrada Lout-oh-stra-dah
...the state highway la statale [written "SS"] Lah Sta-tahl-eh
...the road for ... la strada per ... Lah Stra-dah Pair ...
to the right à destra Ah Deh-strah
to the left à sinistra Ah See-neest-trah
straight ahead dirito Dee-ree-toh
keep going straight sempre diritto Sem-pray Dee-ree-toh
thank you grazie Grat-tzee-yay
please per favore Pair fa-vohr-ray
yes si see
no no no
Have a great journey buon viaggio Boo-on Vee-ah-gio
Foodie Treasure Trove Found !
On our latest escape to the land of “ Villa rentals in Tuscany “ we have discovered two AMAZING FOODIE finds just a stone’s throw from La Collina del Sole our favourite among Villas for rent in Tuscany the first is the “Osteria al Ritrovo del Platano” so named because Giovanni Pascoli - arguably the greatest Italian poet writing at the beginning of the twentieth century - met his literary friends here at the grocery store / bar near where his sister Maria lived. This area is filled with lovely Holiday villas in Lucca and gastronomic hotspots like il Vecchio Mulino which incidentally celebrates Slow Food day in Italy today 25 of May 2013 with a feast of Tuscan delicacies and wine tasting, Andrea the owner is a great friend of the owners of Lucca Villa Rental and Mauro Bertolini, the owner the above mentioned Osteria. Andrea with his affable personality is a bit of a celebrity in Garfagnana and hosts wine and olive oil tastings; so why don’t you meet him when you next rent a villa in Tuscany it is WELL WORTH IT.
So let me tell you a little more about the wonderful Osteria al Ritrovo del Platano, well it has 
THE MOST AMAZING FOOD at unbeatable prices, do not be put off by the photo of a very smart looking chef on the website, or the advertising, he is very friendly and serves a “working” lunch menu on weekdays or “menu di lavoro” which for €10 gets you starter from a choice of 4, a main course from a choice of 4, water, wine and coffee ! and a jolly good one too ! for €20 you can choose the menu turistico which consists of a selection to choose from and for which you get antipasto, homemade pasta, main course, pudding [ SO YUMMY ] water, Wine and coffee, unbeatable really … the A la Carte is fabulous and SO reasonable you would pay 5 - 10 times in a metropolitan restaurant . Here is a small selection of our favourites, boiled egg with truffle, polenta with game topping, puff pastry with cheese and black truffle sauce, wild mushroom maccheroni, Goose Ravioli with truffle, Chestnut pasta with walnut and fresh Ricotta sauce, Bison meat Tagliata [grilled so the meat remains succulent] Guinea Fowl breast with 
mustard and green pepper sauce, Duck in Leek sauce, FAB veggies like roasted onions and sformato di verdure [a vegetable and potato mash], with a selection of cheeses and honey to top it off or a warm … yes warm tiramisu AMAZING so if you, like me are hungry at the thought of such delicious food, we recommend you go to the 445 that runs between Aulla and Lucca, and at the Ponte de Campia be prepared to stop in a hurry as it is ON THE EXACT fork where the road goes north to Castelnuovo / Aulla and right to Barga, blink and you miss it so … don’t miss it. The Osteria still has the two banana trees that gave it its name in Pascoli’s days, dating from this time too, you find a table that Pascoli used to sit at, many photos of the era and amazing food. Their address is Via Provinciale, Ponte de Campia, Gallicano, 55027, Lucca Tel 0583 68 99 22
Rock on in and give Mauro our very best wishes, he is super friendly !
Essential communication the ITALIAN way
Have you felt right at home when travelling anywhere in the world? In Italy and in particular while enjoying Villa rental in Tuscany the secret is to communicate, and best done the Italian way while relaxing in Villas for rent in Tuscany get into the “mood” … chill out … think what you want to say and wave your hands in the air a lot while saying it, for example “ Where are the best Holiday villas in Lucca “ ? is best said waving both hands upwards and sideways as though you were encompassing the entire region of Lucca Villa Rental land, at La Collina del Sole they can organize Italian Lessons with a delightful fluent English speaking Italian girl called Alina who can show you the best gestures to accompany any comment you might like to share while you rent a villa in Tuscany or “Where can I enjoy Opera in Italy” best to go to Lucca and ask Dov'é la Chiesa san Giovanni? at around 6.30pm as they have a month long Italian Opera fest, which we explore further on, but first; here is a short list of useful expressions and suggested body language to really emphasize the point.
Where is?... Dov'é Doh-vay
Best to tilt you head a little sideways, if you have a photo of the church or museum you want to visit it is best to point to it at this point.
When is it open? Quando apre? Kwan-doh Ah-preh
When does it close? Quando chiude? Kwan-doh Key-you-day
At what time... A che ora A Kay O-rah
In all these instances point to your watch or your imaginary watch
When do we eat? Quando mangiamo ? Kwan-doh Man-jia-moh
Point to your wristwatch or where it should be and then purse your forefinger middle finger 
and thumb together and bring those fingers towards your mouth – A word of warning this hand signal can have aggressive connotations if used directed towards someone as it means “What do you think you are doing ! ! ! ! “
Yesterday ieri Ee-yair-ee
Today oggi Oh-jee
Tomorrow domani Doh-mahn-nee
Day after tomorrow dopo domani Doh-poh Doh-mahn-nee
Use your right arm and “bounce” it forwards for tomorrow or after tomorrow and backwards for yesterday, point to the ground for today.
If you love Italians, Music and mad waving in the air then I would suggest the Concerts and recitals during the Puccini Festival in Lucca. Tickets can be bought directly at the Chiesa San Giovanni in Lucca the performances start at 7 pm. You can pick what you like according to the day of the week
Every Monday there is a Puccini and Mozart extravaganza with Arias and duets of these composers
Every Tuesday “Puccini’s Women” performing arias and duets from the female characters in Puccini’s masterworks
Every Wednesday a selection of arias and duets from Italian Operas by Puccini, Verdi, Mascagni, Donizetti and Rossini
Every Thursday arias from works by Puccini and Verdi
Every Friday Lucca concentrates on arias and duets purely by Puccini
Every Saturday “ a Night at the Opera” with performances of major works from an Italian and International repertoire
Every Sunday “Puccini and traditional Neapolitan songs ... Enjoy ! and disappear into the sunset waving your arms around singing “Oh Sooooooooole MIO”
The Great Gatsby
LOVE LOVE LOVE the iconic image of Elizabeth Brooks and well done on hte GREAT Press exposure at the Sunday Times STYLE magazine !
Useful Italian to go...so you don t get a donkey instead of butter!
When you rent a villa in Tuscany it is a good idea to learn a few basic Italian words to get 
around the Villa rentals in Tuscany or the area surrounding Holiday villas in Lucca unless you would like to end like my friend whom, with a smattering of Spanish and staying at Villas for rent in Tuscany became perplexed, when he was told it was impossible to get what he thought was butter, turned out he was asking for a donkey! Not the best introduction to an idyllic stay in Lucca Villa Rental We found that at La Collina del Sole there is a dedicated Italian language teacher 
whose charming services you can engage from €20 per hour and who will make learning Italian the most wonderful experience ever !
If you are pPlanning to travel in Italy, the railroad system is very good and extremely reasonable, you must remember to not only buy your ticket before you board the train but to validate it too, otherwise you could face a on the spot €50 fine. So let the train take the strain, Italian trains are 99.9% on time, there is not hassle, no parking, you are taken to the centre of all important towns, it is clean and great fun. A few useful phrases to help you on your way are:
Where is? Dov'é Doh-vay
The train station la stazione Lah Stat-zee-o-nay
A ticket un biglietto Oon Beel-yet-toh
two adults due adulti Do-ay Ahdool-ti
one child un bambino Oon Bam-bee-noh
one student uno student Oon-oh Stoo-dent-ti
one senior un pensionato Oon Pen-see-o-nah-toh
How much is it? Quanto costa? Kwan-toh Cost-ah
First class prima classe Pree-mah Clah-say Second class seconda classe Say-con-dah Clah-say
One way solo andata So-low Ahn-daht-tah
Round trip (return) andata e ritorno Ahn-dah-tah Ay Ree-torh-noh
track binario Been-ar-ree-yoh
train treno Tray-no
information informazione In-for-ma-tzee-oh-nay
departures partenze Par-ten-zay
arrivals arrivi Ah-ree-vee
the bathroom il bagno Eel Bahn-yoh
Luggage storage deposito bagagli Deh-poh-zee-toh Ba-gah-lee
thank you grazie Grat-tzee-yay
please per favore Pair Fa-vohr-ray
yes si see
no no no
the museum il museo Eel Muh-zeh-oh
the church la chiesa La Khi-e-za
the cathedral il duomo/la cattedrale Eel Du-oh-moh / Lah Ka-te-drah-leh
When is it open? Quando apre? Kooh-ahn-doh A-pray
When does it close? Quando chiude? Kooh-ahn-doh Key-ooh-day
Do you speak English? Parla Inglese? Pat-la Een-glay-zay
I don't understand Non capisco Non Ka-peesk-koh
Do you speak English? Parla Inglese? PAR-la een-GLAY-zay
I don't understand Non capisco non ka-PEESK-koh
I'm sorry Mi dispiace Mee Dees-pee-at-chay
Goodbye Arrivederchi Ah-ree-veh-dehr-chi ROMA!
How to parlare in Italiano when it REALLY matters!
One of the delights of life when you rent a villa in Tuscany is the FOOD and what better 
way to explore the best AND most hidden restaurants in the region of your villas for rent in Tuscany than to know how to ask directions, as even the best sat navs send you into the sea instead of keeping you on track, here we share with you 3 of our favourite VERY hidden treasured restaurants near La Collina del Sole and a few useful phrases to use when you get there as restaurants in the mountain ranges near Holiday villas in Lucca do not necessarily have a menu in English, particularly if you are in the remote villages near Lucca Villa Rental the same is true of any remote villages near Villa rentals in Tuscany they might not have an English menu but Mamma Mia ! they will serve a fabulous home cooked meal.
First up is Il Ponte di Ceserana, in Ponte di Ceserana a fabulous restaurant located at the 
point where you leave the main road to go to La Collina del Sole the closest gourmet meal you can get, to Lucca Villa rental their telephone number is 0583 66 20 05, they are WELL known for their fish menu on Friday lunchtime which is well priced and has FRESH fish and seafood caught that same morning in the sea 1.5 hours away. The Fish and Chips are elegant and delicious, although the cook Claudio comes from Ayr in Scotland and speaks English with a delightful Scottish accent, his wife Clementina does not so you will definitely the phrases I write of a bit further down.
Second super find is Locanda Belvedere Di Roberta e Clara just outside the town of Silico, 
30 minutes drive from La Collina del Sole It is run by a family and has great home cooked food, with homemade pasta it has a concise menu of what is SUPER fresh that day it is well priced with tables out of doors. Telephone number is 0583 662173, phrases needed here.
Third HIDDEN secret is La Bettula in Alpi di Sant Antonio, their telephone number is 0583 
760380. It is a very picturesque 1.5 hours drive into the mountain range from La Collina del Sole if you are going straight there …. however it is the drive and views of the hilly countryside getting there and back that make this day trip special. Good food phrase book ESSENTIAL here.
Our phrase format is English, Italian as it is written and then as it is pronounced if you have an English or American accent.
Do you speak English? Parla Inglese? Par-la Een-glay-zay
I don't understand Non capisco Non Ka-peesk-koh
I'm sorry Mi dispiace Mee Dees-pee-at-chay
Where is? Dov'é Doh-vey
...a restaurant un ristorante Oon Rees-toh-rahn-tey
...a casual restaurant una trattoria / un'osteria Oo-nah Trah-tor-rhee-ah / Oon Ohst-air-ee-ah
I would like to reserve... Vorrei prenotare... Voar-ray Pray-note-ar-eh
a table for two una tavola per due Oo-nah Tah-voal-lah Pair Doo-way
I would like Vorrei... Voar-ray
...some (of) un pó (di) Oon poh (Dee)
...this questo Kway-sto
...that quello Kwel-loh
and e Eh
antipasto antipasto Ant-hee-phas-toh
fresh pasta pasta fresca Phas-ta Fres-kha
porcini mushrooms funghi porcini Foon-ghee Por-chee-neh
truffles tartufi Tarh-tuh-fee
Chicken Pollo Poh-loh
Beef Manzo Mahn-zho
Dessert / Sweet Dolce Dohl-chey
...a glass of un bicchiere di Oon Bee-key-yair-eh Dee
...fizzy water acqua gassata Ah-kwah Gah-saht-tah
...still water acqua non gassata Ah-kwah Non Gah-saht-tah
...red wine vino rosso Vee-noh Roh-sso
...white wine vino bianco Vee-noh Bee-ahn-koh
...beer birra Beer-ah
The bill please Il conto, per favore Eel Coan-toh Pair Fah-voar-eh
Is service included? É incluso il servizio? Ay Een-clou-so Eel Sair-veet-zee-yo
Thank you Grazie Graht-zieh
ENJOY !
Charm your hosts … the Italian way !
Italians are suave, debonair, elegant and CHARMING ! We suggest that in order to get the best of your stay at Holiday villas in Lucca you learn the lingo… this way the hosts of your Villa rentals in Tuscany will be charmed and show you an even better time while you rent a villa in Tuscany You have two options you can learn Italian at La Collina del Sole as if you stay at this amazing Lucca Villa Rental you can learn Italian with a friendly, engaging and creative approach, with Alina d’Amelia who teaches Italian as a second language and is available for private tutoring to see this option check the experiences section of www.luccavillareantl.com . This is the easiest way to learn “Italiano” when you stay at villas for rent in Tuscany Learn many useful expressions at the same time as getting to grips with Italian culture. From absolute beginners to advanced levels, improve your communication skills, in order to get the most from your stay in Italy. Lessons upon request at La Collina del Sole tutoring fee is €20 per hour which includes preparation time.
Your second option is to buy a phrase book, a notoriously laborious and often frustrating method, the third is to start now so here are a few useful expressions, here is a starter portion we have divided them in the word you would like to say, how it is written in Italian and how it is pronounced if you have a English/American accent.
First up to get Maximum Brownie points … greeting people. The ubiquitous Hi or Ciao is hardly ever used, only while dashing past someone with no time to greet properly, so to gain most points greet properly, greet them with the time of day.
Here is how to catch peoples attencion to ask directions to the suggested watering hole farmacy, food shops, walks, Pizzerias or places of interest written up in the Villa handbook
Good day Buon giorno Bwohn Juor-noh
Good evening Buona sera Bbwon-ahh Sair-rah
Good night Buona notte Bwon-nah No-tay
Goodbye Arrivederci Ah-ree-ver-dair-chee
Or if you want to be very formal for Goodbye - Arrivedela ah-ree-vehdair-la
At a bar and need an extra prosecco ??
Excuse me (to get attention) Scusi Skoo-zee
I would like a glass of Prosecco– Vorrei un bicchiere di prosecco Vorr-hey hun beak-khiere dee Prosecco
When searching for the perfect scoop of ice cream [gelato] and have to look past a queue 3 deep use -Excuse me (to get past someone) Permesso Pair-meh-so
When searching for the best restaurant in town use
Where is the restaurant ? Dov'é il ristorante Doh-vay Eel Rhis-toh-rant-eh
What do you say if soemone lets you into a super secret special date for a festa
Thank you grazie Grat-tzee-yay
How to begin asking where you can find the Olive iol and wine tasting experience ?
please per favore Pair fa-vohr-ray
What do you say if you found the suggestions in the Villa handbook helpful ?
yes si see
What MUST you say if asked if you woudl like to go home ?
no no pronounced as it is said … no
When asked if they would like to come back to La Collina del Sole our guests have always said an emphatic SI … do join them !
Focus on .... SIENA
Tuscany is FULL of amazing sites to visit when you rent a villa in Tuscany today we focus on Siena which is situated on the far south of the area when you are looking for Villas for rent in Tuscany Siena is well known for the Palio held on July 2nd and August 16th each year. It is a daredevil, world famous, bareback horse race which lasts around 90 seconds held at the heart of Siena located a 2.5 hour car ride from La Collina del Sole The Palio races are run in the Piazza del Campo, a fan shaped town square which has a steep incline making it a death trap for many a horse and jockey who ride bareback. The race is FULL of passion and Italian bravado, so after the excitement of the day it is good to retreat to the tranquillity of a Lucca Villa Rental with a view of the Carrara marble hills in the heart of the best Villa rentals in Tuscany if you would like to see the Palio it is well worth booking now as spaces to watch it go fast, Siena is well worth a visit when you explore while staying at Holiday Villas in Lucca here are 4 secret treasures to find in Siena, if you woudl like more contact us at Lucca Villa Rental
Siena is not only famous for the Palio as described before where each horse and rider represent a district or ward of Siena or “contrade” there are 17, each one is named after an animal or symbol, each with its own long history and complicated set of heraldic and semi-mythological associations. Other marvellous sites are Torre del Mangia, from where you get THE MOST amazing views of Siena.
Other important sites are the chapel of St Catherine and the Duomo, which is set to one side and on a hill within Siena. The following reccomendations are 4 hidden local secrets in Siena, that deserve a visit when visit this beautiful town.
The Candle Shop, in Via dei Pellegrini, 11, Siena, Province of Siena, Italy. Where they hand carve and create intricate designs in front of you, explaining the process as they go and even personalising your candle for you if you wish.
The Tea Room, is a quirky place with a relaxed atmosphere which is great fun for tea and cakes, live music and even a game of cards or a board game, enjoy it in Via di Porta Giustizia 1, Siena, Italy
Il Pomodorino, is a haunt for Pizza recommended by all the locals of Siena, so you can’t go wrong. They even do gluten free options and are in Via Camporegio, 13 - 53100 Siena
Ristorante Enoteca Millevini is a gourmet restaurant set in the old wine cellars of a Medici fort. The food looks incredibly experimental, the taste is EXQUISITE and will please even the fussiest diners, you will find it within the Fortezza Medicea, 1, 53100 Siena, Italy
What IS it about Tuscany?
Is it the light? The beautiful rich terracotta quality to the sunsets that you perceive when you rent a villa in Tuscany ? Is it the View? That reminds you a still serene moments as you savour your holiday villas in Lucca ? Is it the Tuscan food? That brings the tinge of pleasure as you remember your beautiful Villas for rent in Tuscany when you next taste Funghi Porcini in your home town? Is it the culture? That surrounds you at every step when you get acquainted with the surrounding area of your villa rentals in Tuscany ? Is it the kindness of all the help you get when you stay at La Collina del Sole ? is it the amazing experiences you live when you stay at Luca Villa rental ?Well we would like to think it is a combination of all the above, without doubt Tuscany has the most amazing colours for those who are artistically sensitive you cannot fail but to appreciate the crisp morning light so beautifully captured by the gifted photographer Rebecca Jenson on her last visit, to the deep terracotta sunsets pictured by every guest at La Collina del Sole the surrounding heritage is also astounding from the most amazing ruined fortresses surrounding La Collina del Sole to the seat of civilization in Florence and the home of pageantry in Sienna. From the delicious Funghi Porcini and Black truffles that are indigenous to the countryside around Lucca Villa rental brought to your table at the excellent food found at Boninni’s or at Casa del Pescatore to the fine Tuscan dinning found both at Ristorante Millevini in Siena [Fortezza Medicea, 1, 53100 Siena, Italy tel +39 0577 247121] our new favourite with specifically Tuscan cuts of Beef and Tuscan vegetables they have one thousand wines on display in their excellent event cellar below the restaurant, the wines here are wonderful and the food is to die for, and in one of Pavarotti’s favourite eating stops Antica Locanda di Sesto in Via Ludovico in Sesto Moriano, telephone 0583 578181 & 0583 406 303 where we can guarantee you an unforgettable meal with excellent wines.
The friendliness and inclusiveness of the Tuscan people and in particular the people around 
Lucca Villa rental is exceptional, this warmth is testified in the tripadvisor feedback whcih La Collina del Sole has attracted, where with one halting Grazie you open the doors to the special Tuscan smile, and their extreme goodwill, it is not unusual for people to accompany you miles out of their way to make sure that you arrive at the right place, and this they do sharing their knowledge and love for the area, and then of course there is the views…….. which are outstanding, peaceful and have a historical charm about them
When you are in Tuscany you are WELCOME indeed !
