Villa Mangiacane - A free night offer during April and May
During April and May Villa Mangiacane, a 15th century wine and olive grove estate in the Tuscan hills, is offering a free night for those booking four and five nights. Situated just seven miles and a 20-minute drive from the historic city centre of Florence, the Villa is both a perfect base for cultural exploring and a relaxing, luxurious retreat.
Built for the Machiavelli family from designs by Michelangelo in the 15th century, Villa Mangiacane is set in 600 acres of vineyards and olive groves with two outside pools and 28 individually designed rooms and suites.
After hectic sight-seeing schedules, the vineyards, olive groves and pools set in tranquil gardens offer a rural escape from the city and provide perfect al fresco settings for lunches and picnics served with award-winning wines and distinctive olive oil from the estate.
Inside, the comfortable salons and the loggia with restored renaissance frescoes and arches framing a view of the Duomo, offer restful havens to contemplate the beauty of the region. Here you can also learn more about Villa Mangiacane’s intriguing past and how it provided cynical diplomat Niccolo Machiavelli with the sanctuary needed to write ‘The Prince’ - one of the most inflammatory treatises in the history of political thought. 2013 marks the 500th anniversary of Machiavelli’s arrest and incarceration.
In this culturally rich corner of Italy, it’s not surprising that there are many things to discover and do while based at Villa Mangiacane. The following are just a taster:
Cookery classes
Guests can book private Tuscan cookery lessons from either local connoisseur and History of Art professor Francesca Boni or author and chef Marcella Ansaldo. Depending on the weather and season, the chef greets guests in the Olive Oil Kitchen or in the herb garden where the lesson begins by selecting fresh herbs. Cooking lessons begin at 11.00 and last for approximately three hours, including lunching on the results. Price per person: €180
Bacchus vineyard, cellar and Villa tour with lunch
The Villa offers a walking guided tour through the vineyards, gardens and wine cellar followed by a wine tasting of a selection of the estate’s best wines and local gastronomic specialties. Price per person: €25
Local Events
Springtime of the Renaissance, Sculpture and Arts in Florence, 1400-1460
Palazzo Strozzi Until 18 August 2013
This exhibition illustrates the “miracle” of the Renaissance in Florence predominantly through masterpieces of sculpture by artists such as Ghiberti, Donatello, Dello Delli, Filippo Lippi, Nanni di Bartolo, Agostino di Duccio, Michelozzo, Francesco di Valdambrino and Mino da Fiesole.
palazzostrozzi.org
Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Festival
Teatro Comunale – Florence – May 2 / June 24 2013
The festival is one of the oldest traditional cultural events in Florence. The Stabile Orchestrale Fiorentina began in 1928 and the first Festival was staged in 1933, which, over the years grew to international fame. The Festival has its own Ballet Company called Maggio Dance. The programme this year includes: Don Carlo, Macbeth, The Rape of Lucretia and concerts directed by Claudo Abbado and Daniel Baremboim.
maggiofiorentino.com
Prices
Villa Mangiacane prices start at €300 per room per night and include VAT and buffet breakfast.
A special promotion is running during April and May.
From 14-19 April: stay five nights and pay for four nights.
From 12-16 May: stay four nights and pay for three nights
From 20-24 May: stay four nights and pay for three nights.
To book, visit mangiacane.com.
