Tuscany Experience

See How the Garden Lies

Advantages: Stunning. Well worth visiting
Disadvantages: Short of its former glories

...we both quite enjoy visiting gardens while on our travels, especially when the weather is nice. And when we were in Tuscany last year, the weather was very nice. But nice weather and a pretty garden would not, on their own, have driven us to visit VILLA GARZONI (actually, we were driven by me) in the stunning hill-top village of Collodi, 17km north-east of Lucca. Sound familiar? Carlo Lorenzini, the author of Pinnochio, grew up here and used Collodi ...
...the ancient town, lie the Gardens of Villa Garzoni. The Garzonis were a powerful family who originally hailed from Pescia but they sided with the Ghibellines and as a result, had their property confiscated around the 13th century. They then settled in Lucca and by the 17th century had risen in prominence to the extent that they were able to build a handsome villa in 1633. It's thought the same Marquis Romano di Alessandro Garzoni who had the villa ...

proxam 06.10.2006 · Read full review
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Review of Gardens of Villa Garzoni

Not the da VINCI Code

Advantages: Leonardo's birthplace
Disadvantages: Leonardo overload

...of a certain Leonardo Da Vinci who, when not painting sardonic smiles on the Mona Lisa, was most probably inventing wooden heliochoppers and such. It's not freaky happenchance that this village shares its name with the great man though, for this was his birthplace way back in 1452. Actually, at first sight not a lot has changed since L da V first drew breath here...if you discount the tour buses parked below the castle and palace of the Guidi Counts. ...
...explores the figure of Da Vinci and the symbols and images associated with him. According to the leaflet, "This affords a suitable perspective for a meditation on today's world and on the human condition." Hmmm, I must've stooped to tie my lace - that went right over my head. I may not know much about art, but I know what I like. This wasn't it. To me, Signor Vacchi had one idea, then battered off 20-30 variations of the theme. But what do I know? ...

proxam 01.11.2005 · Read full review
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Review of Vinci

Lucca revisited

Advantages: Cycling around the city walls
Disadvantages: Parking

...We stayed just outside Lucca in a lovely converted farmhouse with a beautiful pool surrounded by olive and oleader trees and stunning views of the mountains. Lucca itself has the beautiful circular Piazza Anfiteatro at its centre, where 4 or 5 storey terracota and yellow painted buildings curve around enclosing you in another world. Cafe tables around the edge let you sit and watch the world go by. The whole city is surrounded by a huge, very wide ...
...moped riders! Lucca also has a tower with a large tree growing from the top and another even taller tower next to the Duomo San Martino (cathedral). This is a nice place to visit to get away from the heat and bustle and sit and think. The darkness of Italian churches and cathedrals and the smell of insense and candles makes for a very calming experience. Remember to take something to cover shoulders and don't wear shorts...the guide books are actually ...

friedagaric 17.08.2004 · Read full review
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Review of Lucca (Italy)

A Tuscan Delight

Advantages: Everything for a relaxed, away from it all break.
Disadvantages: Not for small children or those with walking difficulties

Where to start? Pisa airport where my wife and I landed on the start of our Tuscan adventure no frills quick baggage reclaim and out into the glorious sunshine. We decided to take a taxi to our destination instead of waiting for the service bus that runs regularly from Pisa to Lucca. Our driver was unfamiliar with the village of Santa Maria del Giudice, where our apartment was located, but he was friendly and helpful and finally got us there. The ...
...two levels, a kitchen, bathroom and small living room/bedroom with a double bedroom on the mezzanine above. Outside was a small terrace with a table and chairs that was sunlit throughout most of the day. Cozy, comfortable with all that was required to look after oneself. The village itself is just off the main road from Pisa to Lucca and boasts 3 grocer shops, 3 hairdressers, 3 restaurants a sports bar and a pasticceria. A regular bus service runs ...

alexhillier1 11.09.2007 · Read full review
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Review of Tuscany (Italy)

Massa - Aghinolfi castle

Advantages:
Disadvantages:

Montignoso is one of the smallest communes of Lunigiana (the name of this part of Tuscany), but has always played an important part in history. This is thanks to its position on top of a hill from which it dominates the valley below which is crossed by a stream. Its position also allows it control the Tyrrhenian coast which is only four kilometers away. The Castle is first mentioned in documents of the year 753 A.D., when the Longobard king Astolfo ...
...of the abbey of Nonantola near Modena, of a piece of land in this area. From the name 'Aghinolfo' came out the clear Longobard origin of the castle, even if it's not sure that its foundation was been effected by the King in person or by a vassal of him, while it's certain that the zone of Montignoso belonged at that times to the crown. Certainly the castle was the most powerful of the valley and shelter for all the populations of the zone in case ...

giannit 10.10.2000 · Read full review
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Review of Massa (Italy)