An opportunity to stay at Villa Gamberaia, one of the most famous historical villas in Tuscany

The Villa Gamberaia is a 14th Century Tuscan villa located on the outskirts of Florence, ten minutes' walk from the ATAF bus stop at Settignano, and famous for its beautiful "hanging" garden. Villa Gamberaia has featured in almost every book about the formal gardens of Tuscany since Platt and Morgan's Italian Gardens of 1884.

The garden of Villa Gamberaia, one of the most famous historical villas in Tuscany

 From 1895 until 1925, Villa Gamberaia was owned by the increasingly eccentric Princess Jeanne Ghyka, sister of Queen Natalia of Serbia, who lived here with her equally eccentric American companion, Miss Blood, and thoroughly restored the villa and reconstructed garden. It was she who substituted pools of water for the parterre beds. Although, as her great beauty faded, she was only ever glimpsed, if at all, draped from head to foot in veils, Lady Sybil Cutting of Villa Medici and mother of Iris Origo, reported being told that the princess would sometimes emerge from the villa at dawn to swim in the pools. The villa was badly damaged during WW II but brilliantly restored from 1954 onwards by Marcello Marchi.

Villa Gamberaia seen from the garden

While innumerable visitors have made the pilgrimage to visit this enchanting Tuscan villa garden, few seem to have realised that we now have the opportunity to stay at Villa Gamberaia, one of the most famous historical villas in Tuscany! That's right - you can spend your vacation at one of the most beautiful and famous villas in Tuscany, indeed, in all of Italy, either in the guest houses that have been created in some of the annexes to the main villa or in the main villa itself. The apartments are self-catering and furnished in exquisite and luxurious taste. In addition, the reception rooms and grounds of the villa can be rented for events and Tuscan weddings.

One of the guest rooms at Villa Gamberaia

Click here for more information about vacation accommodation and events opportunities at Villa Gamberaia.

Don't forget to visit Elena Spolaor's Travel Guide! Up-to-date news on what to see and where to stay in Chianti and all of Tuscany & Umbria. Chianti Travel Guide

Holiday accommodations in Chianti

Author: Anna Maria Baldini

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The upper floor of the Mercato Centrale in Florence has re-opened today

Great news! The upper floor of the Mercato Centrale in Florence has re-opened today. Readers of my posts will know I'm a great enthusiast for the Mercato Centrale in Florence, both for its wonderful Art Deco cast iron architecture (called "Liberty" style in Italian after the Liberty shop in London) and for its amazing contents - edibles of every kind displayed with Italian flair. The upper floor has been closed over a long period for restoration and now we can see that they have not only restored it but created a really pleasing public area, high and light, for sales of food products to take away (cheeses feature prominently) but also to stop for something to eat or drink in a great ambiance.

Upper floor of the Mercato Centrale in Florence re-opens

So this is an additional reason not to miss this architectural gem right in the middle of Florence. And not just for the architecture. The Mercato Centrale is a working market - real Florentines flock here to buy their supplies. Some are restauranteurs and others are Florentine housewives who like the huge choice, freshness and prices of the fruit,vegetables, meat, salumi and sea food on offer.

The Mercato opens Monday through Saturday early in the morning (7 am) and closes at 2 pm. By 1.30 pm many of the stalls are already closed or closing. I'll report back if these hours will be extended with the availability of the newly restored space upstairs.

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Don't forget to visit my Tuscany Travel Guide! Up-to-date news on what to see and where to stay in Chianti and all of Tuscany. Tuscany Travel Guide

Author: Anna Maria Baldini

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