Vintage Holiday Blog

Archive for Things to do in Italy

Nov
26

Crystals – world’s most dazzling exhibition

“Crystals – world’s most dazzling exhibition” and semi-erotic wax women – Florence at its most flamboyant.

You have until June 30, 2011 to visit possibly one of the most incredible exhibitions taking place in Florence in recent years, aptly titled – “Crystals – world’s most dazzling exhibition.”

Being held at “La Specola” Museum in the city of Florence, this spectacularly impressive exhibition displays more than 500 pieces from arguably the most famous and important crystal collections in the world – the Giazotto collection.

This remarkable display of crystals consist of gems from all over the world, all extraordinary unique in their aesthetics, richness and colour. The display includes crystals of topaz, aquamarine, quartz and tourmaline, all unique yet equally eccentric in the shape, colour and size.

The founder of the “crystals – world’s most dazzling exhibition” is Adalberto Giazotto, who, since he was a young boy, has been fascinated and enthralled by the seduction of crystals. Since 2003, Giazotto has dedicated most of his time to acquiring crystals from all over the world, adding gems from Brazil, China, Russia, Afghanistan and Pakistan to his phenomenal collection.

This hobby for finding the rarest and most beautiful crystals to grace the world with their presence is reflected in the La Specola Museum exhibition, as the collection includes the crystal of gypsum of Niccioleta, Tuscany, the elbaite of Coronel Murta, Brazil and the piece of cuprite of Onganja, Namibia, amongst many, many more deeply alluring crystals.

Situated in the heart of Florence next door to the Pitti Palace, “La Specola” museum, in hosting “Crystals – world’s most dazzling exhibition”, does the exhibition the justice it deserves.

“La Specola” was officially inaugurated in 1775 and is the oldest public museum in Europe.

This hugely popular and internationally-acclaimed museum is part of Florence’s Museum of Natural History and houses specimens that are now extinct. Asides its comprehensive display of some incredible wildlife and natural artefacts, the museum is best-known for its wax anatomical collection.

One collection that particularly stands out in “La Specola” are the wax anatomical Venuses, wax models of naked women posed in semi-erotic poses.

With some of the world’s rarest and most breath-taking crystals on display here alongside wax women stood in semi-erotic poses, what more reasons do you need to visit Florence’s “La Specola” museum?

Categories : Festivals in Italy, Things to do in Italy, Things to do in Tuscany

Nov
7

Salvatore Ferragamo: Inspirations and Vision exhibition

by Paul Handley

Salvatore Ferragamo: Inspirations and Vision exhibition – Just another reason to visit Florence in 2012!

Until March 12, 2012, the ‘Salvatore Ferragamo: Inspirations and Visions’ exhibition will be held in the Salvatore Ferragamo Museum in Florence. The show explores the visions and inspirations that influenced the famous designer when he arrived in California in the mid-1910s to his phenomenal success as a designer of footwear for the grand dames of Hollywood.

The Salvatore Ferragamo Museum was opened to the public in the basement of Palazzo Spini Feroni in 1955 by the Ferragamo family.

The museum was intended to provide the public with insight into Ferragamo’s unique artistic talents and the vital role he played in evolving shoe design and fashion on the worldwide stage.

Salvatore Ferragamo died in 1960 and right up until his death was influencing shoe and fashion designers throughout the world. The museum boasts a sublime collection of more than 10,000 pairs of shoes designed by Ferragamo.

Besides this extensive collection of shoes, visitors to the museum can look at photographs, sketches, magazines and books all dedicated to the famous Italian artist.

Salvatore Ferragamo was renowned for possessing an uncanny ability to capture the cultural mood of any given time through the shoes he designed. The shoes displayed at the museum are set on a biennial rotation and are deliberately chosen to reflect the different themes and issues being focused on by the museum.

There could not be a more spectacular location to show off such an outstanding collection of shoes. The Palazzo Spini Feroni is a medieval palace situated in the heart of Florence. This dazzling palace was built by Geri Spini, a wealthy merchant to Pope Boniface VIII in 1289.

The Inspirations and Visions exhibition includes almost 100 of Salvatore Ferragamo’s shoe samples from the 1920s until the 1950s, as well as over 150 works of art from his Florentine and international collections.

If you are a fan of Salvatore Ferragamo, a fan of Florence, or perhaps just have a partiality for being drawn towards shoes and a footwear collection to prove it, be sure to get to this artistically inspiring city before 12 March, 2012.

Why not have a look at Vintage Travel’s portfolio of luxury villas in Tuscany?

Categories : Things to do in Italy, Things to do in Tuscany

Sep
20

Eurochocolate Festival 2011 in Perugia

by Paul Handley

Chocoholics unite at the Eurochocolate Festival 2011 in Perugia, the ‘Chocolate City’.

The hillside town of Perugia in Umbria, central Italy, has a lot to offer. With a history dating back to the ninth century BC, this walled town is steeped in history.

Although despite being a fantastic place to learn about Italian history and traditional culture, Perugia has evolved with the times and maintains plenty of modern culture to be enjoyed by those who reach its walled borders. One such ‘modern treat’ is Perugia’s love for chocolate.

Each year the Eurochocolate festival returns to Perugia, and this year is no exception. If you are a lover of chocolate than the city of Perugia is the place you should be this October.

On the 15 – 16 and 22 – 23 October, 2011, this mesmerising city erects stands selling every possible type of chocolate you could imagine. Besides a plethora of stands, there will be chocolate fountains, chocolate sculptures and all the cafes, restaurants and bars will be devoting their culinary talents to creating some delicious chocolate treats – the quirkier the better.

There will be fun activities put on for both young and old, including gastronomic tours, guided tours of the city of Perugia and even chocolate-making workshops.

The Eurochocolate Festival seems to increase in popularity with each passing year, and now attracts more than one million visitors to flock to the city’s streets and enjoy chocolate to suit all tastes.

With such an intense devotion to chocolate, Perugia has become world renowned for its chocolates, and, being home to the famous Baci chocolates and having the world’s first hotel dedicated to chocolate known as the Hotel di Perugia Etruscan chocohotel, it is hardly surprising that this fascinating Italian town is often referred to as ‘Chocolate City’.

The delightful 3 bedroom villa in Deruta, Casale Laura (pictured) could be the perfect base for such a chocolate fest!

Categories : Festivals in Italy, Things to do in Italy

Aug
16

Three top restaurants in Umbria

by Paul Handley

For many, the cuisine in Umbria is the best in Italy. From its famous black truffles, to its legendary olive oil, food does not get much better than in Umbria.

Born from ‘cucina povera’ – poor peasant cooking – chefs in Umbria always rely on fresh seasonal ingredients cooked simply yet to a very high standard. Naturally, with such a huge and serious devotion to cooking in Umbria, the region is littered with top-quality restaurants, all serving delicious Umbrian cuisine.

We take a look at three top restaurants in Umbria…

Osteria dell’Enoteca, Spoleto

With a curved iron staircase, dark wooden benches lay under a high stone ceiling surrounded by row upon row of bottles of local wine, this 12^th-century tavern certainly looks the part, but does its cuisine live up to its façade?

In a word, yes. With the food – all of which is typical of the area, such as truffle omelettes and ‘shoelace’ pasta – wine, the service, ambience and prices being described as ‘terrific’, a trip to Osteria dell’Enoteca in the town of Spoleto has to be on your culinary agenda during your stay in Umbria.

II Gufo, Perugia

Situated in the heart of the city of Perugia, this top quality restaurant never fails to be at the hub of the region’s vibrant restaurant scene. The owner always buys the ingredients from the local markets so that the dishes are always brimming with freshness and flavour. From cinghiale’ (wild boar), to ‘riso negro’ (black rice), the comprehensive menu at the II Gufo caters for a range of tastes. Prices are more than acceptable and so is the service, making II Gufo a firm favourite amongst the diners of Perugia.

Trattoria II Cortile, Macerata

A visit to the Umbrian town of Macerata would not be complete without dropping in at Trattoria II Cortile and experience home cooking like you have never experienced it before. All dishes are lovingly prepared by the restaurant’s boisterous yet friendly family and are followed by a delicious selection of homemade cakes – You will never walk out of Trattoria II Cortile not feeling full!

One of the top villas would have to be Villa Magnolia (pictured), a 4 bedroom villa in Lake Trasimeno, which would be a fine base for taking full advantage of Umbria’s top restaurants.

Categories : Things to do in Italy, Things to do in Umbria

Aug
6

Three of the best castles Tuscany has to offer

by Paul Handley

A visit to Tuscany, the ‘medieval heart of Italy’, would not be complete without a visit to the region’s immense and immersive castles, fortresses and walled towns.

Although because many of the castles in Tuscany and ancient relics are not situated at the most popular and well-known tourist destinations, they often remain relatively quiet and free of tourists.

Here are three of the best castles Tuscany has to offer.

Ripa d’Orcia

In the beautiful Orcia Valley surrounded by profound natural beauty lies the Ripa d’Orcia, one of Tuscany’s oldest and grandest castles. The castle has been renovated to an immaculate standard and provides accommodation in the form of apartments. Ripa d’Orcia spans across a vast area of 320 hectares that include a vineyard and an excess of olive trees.

Part of the Republic of Siena’s territorial organisation from the 13^th century, this magnificent Italian castle built within the most spectacular of surroundings is definitely worthy of a visit.

For more information on one of Tuscany’s most spectacular castles visit castelloripadorcia.com.

The Castle of Tornano

Located in the heart of the region of Chianti, the Castle of Tornano is encircled by a parameter of woods, vineyards and immense natural beauty. The castle itself dates back to 1100 A.D and features the Tornano, a national monument.

For more information about this gem set amongst the undulating hills of classic Chianti, visit castellitoscani.com/tornano.

The Castle of Bibbione

The Castle of Bibbione was built by the Cadolingi of Montecasioli in 997. This mighty and ancient castle is surrounded by stone walls and lies at the pinnacle of one of the highest hills in the Chianti Classico region and is just 15 kilometres from the city of Florence. Naturally the view from the Castle de Bibbione is superb, spanning past ancient buildings, medieval villages, valleys carpeted with trees and vineyards and all the way down to the mighty and rambling Pisa River.

Visit castellodibibbione.com for further information.

Categories : Things to do in Italy, Things to do in Tuscany

Archive for Things to do in Italy

Crystals – world’s most dazzling exhibition

Salvatore Ferragamo: Inspirations and Vision exhibition

Eurochocolate Festival 2011 in Perugia

Three top restaurants in Umbria

Three of the best castles Tuscany has to offer

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