Tuscany Villas - The Epicentre Of Tuscan Culture

Every summer, thousands of tourists flock to the north of Italy to a prime tourist destination within that country, and providers of rental holiday accommodation (in the form of Tuscany villas) have their hands full keeping up with the demand. The quaint authenticity maintained in this type of accommodation has contributed to its continued popularity with tourists from all over the world.

And yet, how many of these tourists are aware of the history behind this type of accommodation, or of its importance to the locals? It is easy to dismiss Tuscany villas as simply a form of accommodation, but the truth is that their connections to the culture go far beyond that; in fact, in certain ways, these buildings can be considered to be the epicentre around which the region's everyday life revolves.

An Inspiration to Artists

One of the best examples of how Tuscany villas serve as a microcosm of the region's lifestyle and culture are their often carefully manicured gardens, which provide a marked contrast to the largely agricultural landscape. The artistic nature of these gardens, coupled with the exquisite architecture of the villas themselves, has inspired many famous works of art from painters and sculptures.

One of the most famous examples of this is a painting by Leonardo da Vinci depicting the annunciation, which is set against a background of the gardens of a local villa. Further links to art can be made through the world-renowned Medici family, famous benefactors of the art and culture of the region. Villa Medici, their residence at Fiasole, is still one of the most iconic examples of Renaissance architecture in the region, and offers a fascinating glimpse into the region of that time period.

This, though, is far from the only example of how the region's cultured elite once lived. A large number of original, meticulously restored Tuscany villas from the time period are open to the public, and any of them offer a glimpse into not only how the upper echelons of Italian society lived at the time, but also the principles they upheld and the things they deemed important - culture being one of the main aspects in this regard. As noted above, the gardens of these residences are also generally well worth a visit, although more from the aesthetic point of view than the cultural. Still, a little eye-candy is part and parcel of any tourist trip, and these locations fit that bill nicely.

It is clear, then, that the role of the villa in Tuscan society – especially in past centuries – goes far beyond a simple place of accommodation. This type of building has heavy ties to the cultural elite, which, while somewhat diluted today, cannot be overlooked in its importance.

Jonathan Magoni is Senior Manager of Cottages to Castles, a family owned company specialising in high quality holiday villas, apartments and cottages in Italy. For spectacular Tuscany villas or accommodation in the Italian lakes, ski resorts or city centres, we offer only the very best. Discover Italy at your own pace and without time restrictions in our hand picked villas and cottages.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.