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?

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?

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!

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.

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.

You never need an excuse to visit Tuscany. With its stunning and deeply varied countryside, landscapes brimming with Renaissance masterpieces, whilst possessing a style and affluence typical of Italy, Tuscany blends tradition and history with modern European culture, making it one of Italy’s most popular regions.

Having said this, if you are lucky enough to be travelling to Tuscany this July, you may be interested in hearing about the Summer Music Festival, held in the beautiful and medieval town of Lucca, which has regularly been referred to as a “jewel of a Tuscan town”.

This annual musical event covers a wide range of musical genres, catering for diverse musical tastes and never fails to attract only the most talented and globally-recognised of artists, who always manage to pull in a huge crowd of visitors from across Italy, Europe and beyond.

This year’s line-up is exceptional, with the likes of Elton John, Amy Winehouse, Liza Minnelli, Joe Cocker and B.B. King, James Blunt and Jamiroquai, rocking Lucca’s cobbled medieval streets and ancient walls.

Tuscany’s Summer Music Festival is being held between the 1 and 24 July 2011 in the Piazza Napoleone in the heart of this captivating Italian town.

If we’ve managed to convince you of your 2011 summer holiday destination you may now be wanting to find a place to stay. You may therefore be excited to hear about Ripiano, a magnificent Tuscany five bedroom villa (pictured) that is just a 30 minute drive from Lucca.

This beautifully restored property is situated on the edge of a tiny hamlet known as Le Croce. Ripiano and Le Croce are blessed with the most sensational views of the verdurous, rolling hillsides of the Serchio and Val di Lima valleys.

In July we can be safe to assume that Tuscany will be blessed with continual days of azure skies and temperatures soaring into the thirties. Because of Tuscany’s enviable climate, there is an obvious emphasis on ‘outdoor living’ at Ripiano.

In addition to a gorgeous private pool surrounded by a vast stretch of woodland and all the flora and wildlife delights that accompany such a densely wooded area, there is a barbeque area with a built-in wood oven and extensive terrace gardens.

If you manage to pull yourself away from the luxurious comforts of Ripiano and its grounds, the picturesque spa town of Bagni di Lucca is well worth a visit. As is the medieval hilltop town of Barga, and for an invigorating day out, a visit to the Garfagnan Natural Park to witness some of Italy’s most outstanding natural beauty is imperative.

It is therefore important that you start to plan your summer break.

If you love jazz music and love Italy, it is almost imperative that you attend the Umbria Jazz Festival 2011– one of the biggest and leading jazz events in Europe.

Since 1973, this ten-day event has been held at the Renaissance Hill in the Umbrian city of Perugia, and has always attracted a huge crowd of more than 200,000 jazz fans from around the world; eager to see some of the biggest names in jazz perform at the festival.

As well as attracting some of the most exclusive jazz musicians (including Paolo Conte, Milton Nascimento, Sergio Cammeriere, The Coolbone Brass Band of New Orleans and Gilberto Gil), the festival also caters for other musical tastes, with rock n roll, Cuban salsa, African tribal music and world music also featuring at the event.

Throughout the Umbria Jazz Festival, Perugia’s quaint and picturesque squares and streets are filled with marching bands, gospel groups, and of course, stunning solo performances by the best jazz musicians the world has ever known.

Many of the performances take place outside under the warm Perugia July sky. The shows are all free, with the majority taking place in the city’s Giardini del Frontene, which has a seating capacity of 4,500.

Last year more than 400 artists made their way from around the globe to Perugia to perform at the jazz festival, including Melody Gardot, Mark Knopfler, Chick Corea and Enrido Rava.

The 2011 Umbria Jazz Festival’s line-up and programme has yet to be announced, but more information on this sensational event, which is a ‘must see’ for any jazz fan, can be found at the festival’s official website.

For one of the best 4 bed villas in Perugia, have a look at Vintage Travel’s stunning Gli Oleandri.

The city of Florence is home to the largest collection of Renaissance architecture and art in the world and boasts some of the greatest masterpieces from this age of artistic and cultural enlightenment.

If you are thinking about a trip to Florence to soak up some of the city’s unique artistic heritage, with a series of exceptional events dedicated to art impending, it could prove provident to make your trip to Florence this spring.

In case you need any further persuading, here is a overview of some art-orientated events taking place this spring in Italy’s ‘art capital’.

Angry Young Men: The Birth of Modernity
Taking place in Florence’s majestic Palazzo Strozzi, the ‘Angry Young Men: The Birth of Modernity’ exhibition explores the relationships between three of Spain’s greatest painters – Dali, Picasso and Miro.

This landmark exhibition will be held until 17 July 2011 and comprises of more than 60 works produced by the three artists prior to the 1920s, as well as over 100 sketches made by Picasso in his development of Cubism. This unique exhibition is structured to mirror a film comprising of flashbacks which guides visitors through a series of spaces designed to symbolise the thoughts and reflections of these three great artists.

The 1900s Seduced
Held in the spectacular surroundings of the striking Villa Bardini in Florence, The 1900s Seduced exhibition focuses on the revival of 17th century art in Florence by artists and art critics in the years between the two world wars. Until 1 May 2011, 17th century Italian art enthusiasts will be able to explore and admire the works of the likes of Antonio Bueno, Felice Carena, Primo Conti, Carlo Socrate amongst others.

The Ghirlandaio Family Renaissance Painters in Florence and Scandicci
Taking place in the mighty and beautiful rooms of the Castello dell’Acciaiolo in Scandicci, until 1 May 2011, visitors of this inspiration exhibition can admire the works by Domenico Ghirlandaio and other artists who ran a workshop, which dominated the Renaissance scene in Florence for more than a century. This fascinating exhibition also includes an exploration of the museums, abbeys and churches in this north western corner of Florence which have been heavily influenced by the works of the Ghirlandaio family.

For the best Villas in Tuscany, please have a look at The Vintage Travel website.

“Le Marche: It’s prettier than Umbria, with tastier cuisine than Tuscany,” were the words of a travel writer in The Sunday Times, and is quite a statement when you consider the immense beauty Umbria is blessed with and the exquisite cuisine the Tuscan’s  pride themselves with.

Although it’s not just the travel writers who are flocking to Le Marche it seems, keen for a slice of Italian inspiration at its most inspiring, as many chefs are also eager to be part of the “tastier cuisine than Tuscany” scene.

World renowned cook Gary Rhodes travelled to Italy recently looking for the finer things in life and it was Le Marche that really excited him.

“Tuscany is famous for its beautiful rolling hills and vineyards, and this has made it a huge tourist attraction, but adjacent to it we discovered a less commercialised region called Le Marche. On the eastern side of central Italy, between the Adriatic Sea and the Apennine mountains, Le Marche is where you really can meet true Italians,” said the famous chef during his epic tour of Italy.

Le Marche certainly has it all – Wild, uncharted mountains, masterpieces of Renaissance art and architecture, quirky and interesting Mediterranean fishing ports, some simply sensational cuisine, and true to Gary Rhodes words, the region remains largely unspoilt from the ravages of mass tourism.

Because of its relative anonymity, visitors rarely have to elbow with masses of other tourists, even in the region’s largest towns in the high season. The town of Urbino is one of Le Marche’s principle towns, and this “jewel of a renaissance city” remains almost unaltered since the 1400s when Duke Federico of Montefeltro built his legendary court there.

Whilst to the south of the region, the marvel-paved city of Ascoli Piceno can be found, which with its captivating squares and streets lined with some fascinating architecture, has been cited as one of the “most beautiful towns in Italy”.

But it is the cooking delights of Le Marche, deeply rooted in peasant tradition, that the likes of Gary Rhodes are particularly excited about. If you want to know what exactly is getting the English restaurateur, cookery writer and celebrity chef’s taste buds go crazy in Le Marche, why not visit this beguiling and undiscovered Italian region yourself?

Alternatively check out the video of Gary Rhodes cooking in Le Marche here.

It’s also worth knowing, Vintage Travel have some stunning Le Marche luxury accomodation!

The region of Tuscany is at the heart of Italian fashion, with boutiques and fashion outlets lining the streets of the cosmopolitan cities such as Florence and Prato.

The city of Prato has always been closely linked to fabric and clothing, with its roots dating back to the Middle Ages, when local wool artisans began to focus on fabric production.

Since this time, wool weaving has played an imperative role in the economic development of the whole of the Tuscany region, and Prato is now considered the most important centres for wool and textiles in Europe, and the leading innovators of putting technology into fashion.

Tuscany is home to three designer fashion outlets, the Gucci Outlet, Prada Outlet and the Berberino Fashion Outlet. All three outlets are best accessed from the city of Florence.

The Gucci outlet is located in Leccio Regello, where Gucci-lovers can purchase lasts season’s range for more than a 50% reduction. Designer enthusiasts can also enjoy musing through Fendi, Armani, Hogan, Rossi, Valentino, Yves Saint Laurent, and many more world-renowned and exclusive fashion designers in the ‘Gucci Mall’, making it a ‘shoppers’ paradise’ in every sense of the word.

In 2006, the Barberino Fashion Outlet was opened in the north of Florence, which features more than 90 leading designer boutiques, offering year-round reductions of up to 70%.

The Prada Outlet, officially named ‘Lo Spaccio’ is located in Montevarchi, where ecstatic shoppers are in their element, sifting through row upon row of Prada, Jill Sander and Miu Miu items, at significantly reduced prices.

Special shopping excursions are put on in Florence, enabling dedicated followers of fashion to visit all three outlets and shop until they drop. The Pasquale’s taxi service will pick shoppers up from their hotel in Florence and ferry you around either one, two or all three of the fashion outlets.

To arrange, what could be considered as the ‘ultimate designer shopping experience’ in one of the most important fashion regions in the world, visit the site here.

Vintage Travel have some suitably fashionable luxury villas in Tuscany too!