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If you want to spend a few days getting as far away from the pressures of everyday life as possible, you may want to consider the advantages of villa holidays in Tuscany.
The region is an area of almost unrivalled natural beauty and there are plenty of rural retreats available if you want to enjoy the views in solitude.
Tuscany has a range of landscapes to choose from, depending on exactly what type of surroundings you want to relax in.
Many of the villa rentals in Chianti come with views of rolling hills, vineyards and forests, while the scenery in the Garfagnana area is dominated by the Apuan Alps and Apennines.
Choose accommodation close to the coast and you will be able to experience the beauty of the Tyrrhenian Sea's shoreline, or head to rural parts of Arezzo for some stunning views over farmland.
Wherever you choose to stay, you can be assured that you will be untroubled by the helter-skelter of modern life for a few days.
The rural villas are mostly located close to picturesque villages, which have shops selling the local specialities, which include beef, pork, truffles, olive oil and fruit. Of course, you'll also want to try the world-famous Tuscan wine.
Most of the villages and small towns have restaurants selling traditional local cuisine, giving you the chance to try some of the peasant dishes as they are meant to be cooked.
Tuscany is also home to several major cities, which are easy to reach from many of the villas in Italy which are available to holidaymakers.
Siena, Lucca and Pisa all have plenty to recommend them to tourists, but the one you are most likely to want to visit is Florence.
The capital of Tuscany, Florence is renowned as one of Europe's great cultural centres, thanks in part to the presence of the Uffizi. The gallery is home to one of the finest art collections in the world and you will be able to see works by Botticelli, Da Vinci and Michelangelo.
You'll probably also want to leave a few hours spare to wander around Florence, which has some remarkable architecture and a lively atmosphere which can make a spot of people watching great fun.
