Chianti’s Vendemmia

Wine produced in Italy is consumed all over the world, with Tuscany’s Chianti region one of the most well-known varieties of Italian wine. The grape-growing region is located not too far from Florence, so if you are looking for homes for sale in Tuscany, it will be easy to take a wine-tasting tour to find your favorite vineyard. Better yet, you just might find yourself fortunate enough to participate in the annual vendemmia, or grape harvest. It happens only once a year, but it is the adventure of a lifetime.

Florence Short Film Festival

With its reputation of fostering some of the most notable painters and sculptors who ever lived, Florence may not be the first city that comes to mind for spotlighting emerging artists. Its status as host of an annual short film festival that promotes young and undiscovered talent reveals that art is more than history — it is an ongoing event in Florence. When you decide to investigate Florence real estate opportunities as a short or long term resident of the city, surprises like this pop up all the time.

The Medici Dynasty: a Theater Show in English

Whether you are new to Florence, currently considering settling in the city, or just coming to visit for a short time, it is worthwhile to learn something about its rich history. If there is one name that refers to the first family of Florence, it is the noble Medicis who flourished in every respect during the Renaissance. The family included bankers and popes, farmers and merchants. However, by the middle of the 18th century, the Medici’s patrimony was at risk when one of its last heirs lay dying.

Famous Florentines

Florence is the birthplace of some of the most famous characters in history. The names of its Renaissance men are so well-known that they are often reduced to single words: Dante, Leonardo, Michelangelo. Indeed, the influence of Florence reaches far and wide; two of the world’s seven continents, North and South America, owe their names to Florentine explorer Amerigo Vespucci.

Italian Fashion: Shopping Tours Around Florence

When not hunting for Florence real estate, or when you have secured your ideal home and need to find that perfect new outfit for your house warming party, take advantage of the shopping opportunities available to local residents and visitors. Whether you are partial to Prada, brand-loyal to Burberry or flaunt your fashion based on the deal of the day, a visit to one of Florence’s nearby outlet malls is a smart way to spend both time and money.

Italy is the New Tax Paradise

Have you ever imagined relocating to Italy, but worried about the fiscal consequences of paying taxes in a foreign country? Wealthy individuals residing overseas are now encouraged by the Italian Revenue Agency to apply for a tax scheme that would collect an annual flat tax of only €100,000 on income made abroad. The time is right for purchasing real estate in Tuscany or elsewhere on the spectacular Italian peninsula.

Florence Gelato Festival

In Italy, dessert is more than an afterthought at the end of lunch or dinner. In particular, the Italian-style ice cream known as gelato is a highlight of any trip to Florence.

English Language Movies in Florence

Living abroad in a city whose main language is not your own can sometimes leave you feeling isolated. It is natural for students and even established expats to feel homesick and long for a taste (and sound!) of a place where your language is dominant. If you are living in short term rentals in Florence as a student or professional, the linguistic landscape will vary between beautifully strange and terrifyingly incomprehensible. No matter your level of competence in Italian, there are just some things that do not translate between different cultures.

Set Your Roots in Italy

There are so many reasons to move from one country to the next. When it comes to Italy, need we say more? Not only is it beautiful, but this country is one that is rich in culture.

Giardino Torrigiani: The biggest private garden in Europe

For most people, the choice to live in an urban center instead of the suburbs or a rural setting involves a preference for a city’s architecture, efficient infrastructure and available opportunities for work and entertainment. Some cities are better than others at offering parks and green spaces for those who must live without their own plot of land to enjoy nature, and Florence is one such city. In particular, access to the Giardino Torrigiani, Europe’s largest private garden, can make even the most humble of residents feel like royalty.

Florence Property Market Rising After Economic Fall

The start of the 21st century has been a volatile time for the housing market in many parts of the world. In Italy, the first decade saw a steep rise in housing values, greater than 50 percent when adjusted for inflation. With the global financial meltdown in 2008, property prices began to fall. Then the Euro crisis that began in 2011 had an even more severe influence on the struggling Italian economy. Since 2008, housing prices in Italy have fallen 23 percent after inflation adjustment, according to figures provided by the European Central Bank.

Museo di Leonardo da Vinci: Halls and Secrets

He was an architect, engineer, inventor, painter and sculptor. His scientific inventions and artistic contributions have had significant impact on the way the world functions and the way its inhabitants think, even centuries after his birth. Florence is thus the logical home to a museum dedicated to the genius and mystery of Leonardo da Vinci. Comprised of several halls each dedicated to his areas of expertise, the Leonardo da Vinci Museum achieves something that would make the master proud: you learn a little, and you want to explore a lot.

The UNESCO Center in Florence

UNESCO is a familiar acronym to most travelers, since its touristic heritage sites are visited by people all over the globe. As a specialized branch of the United Nations, its Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has existed since 1945, charged with the mission to promote access to and appreciation of the world’s important places of interest. Its headquarters are in Paris, but it has offices in many of the world’s major cities, including Florence.

Sala Michelangelo: Uffizi Museum’s “Michelangelo Room”

The Uffizi Gallery Museum is one of the biggest attractions in Florence. A former palace with dozens of offices (“uffizi"), the museum is made up of two floors of 45 halls that are now filled with beautiful and important works of art.