Tuscany and Ligurian Riviera in a nutshell
Tuscany is a
land of charm, where the genius of man, combined with the beauty of nature, made
this enchanted Region one of the most visited by travellers since the middle
ages.
And it is a living sculpture. You may have visited it ten times, you still will
have much more to see and discover about this unique region. Think of Arezzo,
home town of Petrarch, father of the modern Italian language, or of Guido
d’Arezzo, inventor of modern musical scale. Or think of the beautiful frescoes
of Piero della Francesca or the 15th century church of Santa Maria delle Grazie.
And there is old Cortona, capital of Chiantishire, and Asciano with its nearby
14th century monastery of Monte Oliveto Maggiore; and of Volterra, an ancient
stronghold dominating the sea with its thick ramparts and its countless
masterpieces. And what about Lucca, with its intact city walls and its romantic
elliptical-shaped Piazza Anfiteatro; and Montepulciano with its splendid
medieval churches and renaissance palaces and world-wide renowned wines. Not to
speak about Florence, which is an authentic jewel box, proud of its innumerable
museums, palaces and churches.
Tuscany is an architectural as well as a natural feast, with its strongly
perfumed air, permeated by the scent of shrubs, bushes and spontaneous
Mediterranean flowers. Everything in Tuscany speaks about Eternity
Furthermore,
when based at this villa, all of Liguria is within very easy reach.
The Ligurian Riviera is better knows as "the Riviera", and is one
of those places people read about once, and dream about forever. A secluded part
of the Italian region of Liguria, near the French Border, the Riviera is a
ruggedly beautiful stretch of coastline, inset with five tiny colourful villages,
perched between the Mediterranean Sea and a range of steep coastal hills. The
aura of romance about the place is enhanced by the very names of the five
villages: Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. Here,
historic churches ring the time of the day as they call attention to their
incredible beauty, and wherever you go, you are bound to suddenly come across
one of the Riviera's numerous grand aristocratic villas, some of which have
remained in the family for centuries. This picturesque and culturally rich
region, boasts breathtaking sea views and gorgeous mountain backdrops, and is
close to the heart of Europe and to the artistic and architectural wealth of
Central Italy. This fascinating Riviera is situated on a gulf that embraces the
warm, intensely blue Mediterranean sea, rich in tones and shades, and an inland
of olive groves and deep green forests all still to discover. Here you will
enjoy the most beautiful sunsets, and the extremely romantic footpaths, cut
through lush extensive Lemon orchards and olive groves.
For those who love sports, tennis courts, soccer fields, basketball courts,
public swimming pools, horse riding, sailing schools, windsurf and water skiing
and boat renting, just to name some, are all available to you. Ample, sunny,
golden sand beaches and pebbles are tempting and seductive. For nightlife lovers,
restaurants, pizzerias, discos, ballrooms, movie theatres, theatres and night
clubs, will satisfy you by every standard.
The landscape here - with its multicoloured villages, and the spectacular
coastline - is so unique, that the Riviera has been listed in 1998 as a world
heritage under the protection of Unesco. Here you will find untamed nature.
Fifty years ago, only few people knew of this happy stretch of coast. Today, the
Riviera IS always a paradise, but no longer a secret. Such an Eden could not
stay secret for long. The scent, the flavour and the colours of the little
villages overlooking the deep blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea, should be
discovered and tasted slowly, like a very special glass of wine.
When you are actually here, do not be astonished if you surprise yourself asking:
Why not settle in this paradise?
