Florence

Florence is the stepping stone to Tuscany, one of Italy's most alluring regions. More specifically, it's the stepping stone into the northeastern edge of Tuscany, a part of the boot that sees the jagged Apennine mountains rise on one side and undulating valleys roll away on the other, the occasional honey-coloured hill town capping the peaks.

For holidaymakers, this is a land for lazy days by the poolside, morning cappuccinos on sleepy piazzas, wine tasting in world-class vineyards, and steaming away in natural hot springs. Of course, there's also all the joys of Florence itself right there – a day trip into the city will awe with visions of Michelangelo's David, the exquisite spires of Giotto's Tower, and the rich collections of the Uffizi.

A luxury villa in the Florence Area can come in all shapes and sizes. There are rustic farmhouse conversions now packed with elegant designer interiors. There are grand castles that date back to the Middle Ages, gilded with Baroque frontispieces. There are serene agritourismos with swimming pools hemmed in by vineyards and on-site kitchens that serve the finest Tuscan farm-to-table food.

Use your luxury villa in this stunning part of Tuscany as your base as you explore a region rich in highlights.

Make a trip south to the walled city of Siena. It comes alive in the late summer months with the rambunctious Palio festival, where centuries-old clans compete in a ferocious bareback horserace around the main plaza. When it's not race day, the town is a moody mix of stone-fronted Medici palaces and redbrick towers from the 13th century.

Closer again to Florence is the beautiful hilltop town of San Gimignano. Some say it's the most handsome town in Europe, draped lazily between the forests on a bluff in central-north Tuscany. Spot the 14 towers that sprout from the maze of inner streets – they're now a UNESCO site and stand as testimony to the feuding houses that once vied for control of the place. Weekend markets pop up on the piazzas there, too, in a medley of vine-ripened tomatoes and homemade Italian olive oils.

Wine lovers will surely be tempted by a luxury villa in the Florence Area, too. The Chianti Valley begins just south of town. But you could keep going, and you'll enter the old-growth zones of Montepulciano, where the local vino nobile is a crafted yet rustic taste of a real full-bodied Tuscan red. After a day of exploring, head back to your luxury villa and relax in the private pool as you take in your own little pocket of Tuscany.