HomeDestinationsInterestsTop Places to Travel by MonthSearchMenuBest time to go to Tuscany Colorful religious processions are the main highlight of the Holy Week in Tuscany The celebrations start on Palm Sunday (Domenica delle Palme) and continue through to Easter Monday (La Pasquetta) with the most prominent events taking place on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday churches open their doors to the crowds of believers You can visit Castiglione di Garfagnana (in the province of Lucca) where a traditional Processione dei Crocioni is held on that day The procession leaves after the "In coena Domini" mass at 8 pm Thousands of people follow the procession led by a person dressed like Jesus Christ Radicofani hosts another beautiful Maundy Thursday Procession the procession begins the reenactment of the Last Supper followed by the mourning procession commemorating the death of Jesus the parade goes through the entire town and returns to the parish church Participants wear costumes and carry statues of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary holds an Easter Passion Play with 500 residents participating in the reenactment The tradition dates back to 1633 when locals wanted to thank God for sparing the town during plague epidemics and held Good Friday Passion Play for the first time The event consists of two parts: the historical parade and the Passion of Christ scenes Florence marks Easter Sunday with the unique and historic tradition of the Scoppio del Carro features the "Brindellone," a beautifully decorated cart first constructed in 1622 the cart is pulled through Florence's streets by two oxen adorned with floral garlands positioned between the baptistery and the cathedral The festivities begin with the procession at 10 am culminating in the dramatic Explosion of the Cart at 11 am For a quieter experience away from the crowds consider witnessing the same tradition in Figline Valdarno or Cutigliano near the Collegiate Church in Piazza Marsilio Ficino The Maremma region is famous for its impressive Easter procession in Porto Santo Easter Sunday begins with a serene dawn procession winding through the town's streets leading to the ancient ritual of the blessing of the sea the statue of the risen Christ is lifted three times in a symbolic gesture fishermen honor the blessing by sounding the alarms of their docked boats creating a poignant and memorable tradition is a national holiday that celebrates Jesus following His resurrection While it is traditionally a day for families to come together as both Italians and tourists often head out to dine or take leisurely walks through central areas or along the Arno River Many Italians embrace Pasquetta as an opportunity to enjoy the outdoors with family often gathering for a picnic featuring seasonal favorites like pecorino cheese Tuscany invites visitors to immerse themselves in its artistic wonders Everyone can explore the treasures of the Galleria degli Uffizi or the Museo del Novecento in Florence admire the unique displays at the Museo delle Sinopie in Pisa or uncover other cultural gems across the region for a truly enriching Easter experience Wanted in RomeMagazine Wanted in Rome ™ is member of the Wanted World Wide Ltd network.Click here to find out more about our Network or Follow us on social networks © 2025 / 2026 Wanted World Wide LTD Network the company that manages water infrastructure in the Medio Valdarno area in Tuscany (central Italy) has awarded ACCIONA Agua a contract to maintain and upgrade the water and sewage networks in several municipalities within the region ACCIONA Agua will serve 18 municipalities and approximately 171,000 inhabitants in the areas of Mugello and Valdarno in the province of Florence (municipalities of Pontassieve with the possibility of a one-year extension and has a total budget of 35 million euros ACCIONA Agua will handle regular and special maintenance of water and sewage infrastructures including 24-hour emergency operations and extraordinary repairs The agreement also provides for upgrade and renovation work on existing water and sewage networks In order to ensure the system's efficiency and functionality ACCIONA Agua will incorporate a comprehensive management system based on new generation SAP software that will optimise operations and material supplies the company in charge of the integrated water system in Florence has been managing the end-to-end water cycle in the Medio Valdarno area a key territory in the socio-economic development of the Tuscany region This area concentrates nearly one-third of the total region's population and includes 46 municipalities in four different provinces ACCIONA Agua's presence in Italy dates from 1999 and it has extensive experience in the country in both construction and operation and maintenance of water treatment infrastructures ACCIONA Agua currently has a portfolio of more than 40 projects desalination and waste water treatment plants It provides services to more than 2.5 million people in Italy and has over 345 employees in the country Among the most emblematic projects of the last few years are the modernization of the water treatment plant in Florence one of the largest in Italy and the modernization of a treatment plant in the north of Milan one of the most important regions of Northern Italy the service of maintenance and improvement of the sewerage and supply networks of the province of Turin the company operates modular desalination plants under a 10-year drinking water supply contract The company also carried out major sewage treatment projects in such regions as Sardinia the company built the extension of the Guidonia sewage treatment plant in Rome (serving 45,000 people) and the biofiltration plant in Scicli as well as upgrading several plants in Bari I accept Information on data protection In compliance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 on Data Protection and with other Data Protection regulations in force you are hereby informed that your personal data shall be processed by Acciona whose identification data are as follows: Tax ID No (NIF): A08001851; Address: Avenida de la Gran Vía de Hortaleza No.: +34 91 663 28 50; email: protecciondedatos@acciona.com Your data shall be processed in order to send you information through the subscription to our Newsletter through electronic means activities and news pertinent to our activity sectors The consent given by the data subject by indicating that they have read and accept this data protection information comprises the lawfulness of processing the subscription Request cannot be satisfied We may also process your satisfaction or preferences Data shall be stored until the elimination is requested we may give access to your data to service providers (such as technology service providers) who assist us in fulfilling this purpose may be located outside of the European Economic Area in territories that do not offer a level of data protection that is comparable to that of the European Union we transfer User data with appropriate safeguards and always ensuring the security of the same The data subject can exercise their rights of access to or rectification and/or the restriction of or objection to the processing of such data by writing the Department of Data Protection located at Avenida de la Gran Vía de Hortaleza 28033 (Madrid) or by sending the form available in the link: FORM If we consider it necessary in order to be able to identify you, we may ask you for a copy of an identity document. Furthermore, at any time the data subject may withdraw the granted consent by contacting the aforementioned address and file a claim to the Supervisory Authority (Agencia Española de Protección de Datos www.aepd.es) You can also unsubscribe from the Newsletter communication For any further information you can visit the Privacy Police on the website https://www.acciona.com/privacy-policy/ Get more inspiration, tips and exclusive itineraries in Florence Trudie Styler, filmmaker by trade and wife of celebrity singer/musician Sting, lives in Tuscany with all her family by 1999 at the Palagio estate, close to Figline Valdarno (ph. Jaime Travezan) Aerial view of the estate in Figline Valdarno (ph. Allan Pollok-Morris)View of the pool from the house (ph. Allan Pollok-Morris) You often say that this is your home, although you do have other properties in England and in the United States… I think that somebody who gives music to people around the world does live in multiple places, but coming here is always a time of decompression, and it’s more than fun. We can be with the people we love, those we really call friends for life. In addition to the vineyards, the winery and olive oil, we are also making different types of honey.  I love honey! My favorite is acacia, but we also make castagno, millefiori, erica, cherry, lavanda, a small amount of lavender but wonderful. Additionally, Il Palagio we rent our estate for special occasions such as wedding receptions, birthdays and anniversaries. Il Palagio’s vineyards (ph. Allan Pollok-Morris)Portrait of Trudie and Sting at Il Palagio (ph. Jaime Travezan) But your world goes beyond all this, doesn’t it? Pizzerias, bakeries, restaurants, bakeries and ice cream parlors: all the addresses to eat gluten-free in the city 2016American entertainer Frank Sinatra (1915 - 1998) reads in his living room as his dog On the table is a large bowl full of packs of cigarettes (Photo by John Dominis/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images)Photo: Getty ImagesSave this storySaveSave this storySaveAll products featured on Vogue are independently selected by our editors we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links Sleeping in the same quarters as someone famous is a total fantasy (unless But taking a vacation in a luminary’s or celebrity’s former digs is a dream that can actually come true thanks to companies like Airbnb and HomeAway Ever wonder what it was like to have a drink—or 10—with Frank Sinatra by the pool in Palm Springs Or sit on the couch watching Yves Klein swish his blue across a canvas This category of rental properties offers something much more valuable than room service and turndowns: It offers a chance to reside in the spaces once occupied by iconic artists Here are the five most amazing famous rental homes that will make you want to cancel that hotel reservation Frank Sinatra’s Home in Palm Springs Not only did this desert home once belong to Sinatra but it’s also a stunning example of mid-century modern architecture and is equipped with a piano-shaped pool and large outdoor terrace sculptural lighting) and a vintage audio system Yves Klein’s Studio in ParisLocated in Paris’s Montparnasse neighborhood this three-bedroom apartment is in the same building that once housed the studio of the artist Yves Klein The loft-like space is clean and minimal throughout updated and renovated since the time when Klein was there the space looks and still feels like a creative space Sting’s Villa in Figline Valdarno, ItalyThis gorgeous 16th-century villa is located about 45 minutes from Florence who spent summers there for more than 15 years and now rent it out to the public The estate is comprised of the main home and three smaller houses John Steinbeck’s Studio Near Monterey, CaliforniaThe Grapes of Wrath author used to spend time writing in this quaint one-bedroom While it’s tiny (only about 350 square feet) it’s probably one of the more intimate settings that once provided solace to one of the literary world’s most famous and prolific writers marketing consultant and travel writer who has been based in Italy for over 30 years she specialises in promoting Italian food and wine in export markets She organises and hosts her own Italian wine tours She has written for many wine publications including Decanter International rock star Sting is preparing to launch a red wine produced from his Tuscan vineyard Around 30,000 bottles of wine will go on sale in September A name has not yet been announced but it will be a 2007 vintage based on the Sangiovese grape In 1997 the former Police frontman – whose real name is Gordon Sumner – snapped up a 16th century villa called Il Palagio near the small village of Figline Valdarno Five years later he bought a 182ha farm adjoining the Palagio estate and over the years he has turned it into an organic farm ‘The reason why I purchased this property and farm the land is because I wanted to nourish my family with genuine quality products and live in a healthy environment,’ said Sting at a local conference in the town of Figline Valdarno ‘By organically farming my land I am trying to give myself and those who are close to me a healthier life in a natural surrounding.’ Tenuta il Palagio produces virgin olive oil and a range of salamis made from Tuscany’s unique ‘cinta senese’ a special breed of pork Sting and Trudie Styler at their Tuscan estate Sign up to receive the Gourmet Traveller newsletter and offers we choose to share with you straight to your inbox  By joining, you agree to our Privacy Policy & Terms of Use Shelley once described Italy as the “paradise of exiles” and that’s exactly how British musician Sting and his wife A summer haven for their family for the past 18 years Il Palagio has the kind of sensuality that would inspire the romantic poets of a bygone era A sweeping driveway lined with cypress trees leads you past rows of neatly clipped vines and a jumble of olive plantings to a 16th-century Tuscan villa with views across the hills of Chianti Sting and Styler call this magnificent property their Italian home but even they were surprised to have found such an idyllic getaway when they bought Il Palagio after a decade-long search in 1997 many cavernous palazzos with beautiful frescoes that were quite grand,” says Styler ‘Let’s call the search off’ “This was the last place on the list we stepped out of the car and came across that view and it took our breath away Situated near the medieval town of Figline Valdarno the 320-hectare estate encompasses dense oak forests tranquil lakes beyond its vineyards and olive groves It’s a part of Chianti sometimes dubbed Chiantishire by the British press because of its popularity with big-name visitors such as prime minister David Cameron Bryan Ferry and Sting and Styler themselves Figline Valdarno sits between medieval cities such as Arezzo Vineyards roll into the distance and there are plenty of bicycle paths hiking trails and the odd monastery hidden in the hills Art lovers can examine the Renaissance masters at the Uffizi or potter around the monthly antiques market in Arezzo only 20 kilometres away is a wine lover’s paradise and restaurants such as Da Padellina serve benchmark bistecca Fiorentina for those who want to indulge their passion for serious Tuscan beef The estate was a landmark in the area for centuries before being sold to the Countess Carlotta Barbolani of Montauto It remained in the hands of the aristocratic family until Sting and Styler fell in love with it on that first visit ‘this might be it’,” says Styler “We made an appointment to go back the next day.” soon became the summer retreat for Sting and Styler and their four children It also became the setting for memorable family occasions private concerts and downtime with famous friends Sting sees it as a place to “restore body and soul” He has also recorded tracks for three of his albums “It’s been an inspiring place to be creative,” Sting says “But it’s also the perfect refuge where I can switch off and enjoy the peace and the beauty that surrounds us.” When the couple bought the estate from Duke Simone Vincenzo Velluti Zati of San Clemente Over the years they’ve not only expanded and restored the property they’ve turned it into a thriving agricultural enterprise as they have less time to spend in Tuscany they have decided to make Il Palagio’s historic villa plus three smaller villas within the grounds and two others nearby “We made a move to New York three years ago,” Styler says “That means that we are not nearly as close to it any more – we’re 3000 miles away.” Styler couldn’t bear to part with the property and thought opening it up as an agriturismo of sorts was a perfect compromise “The gardens are so established now and the vineyard is looking so healthy The central feature of Il Palagio is the imposing sandy-coloured villa which has commanding views of the vineyards the olive trees and the Apennines Mountains in the distance Along one side of the three-storey residence an ivy-covered loggia draws you through an archway to a huge chess set on a terrace where the musician and his friends gather for an evening aperitivo overlooking the large swimming pool below French doors open onto a manicured garden lined with eight cypress trees more panoramic views and a stone fountain that once belonged to Sophia Loren There’s a tennis court nearby and a winding path leads to where Styler’s black Friesian horses graze on the hill English gardener Trevor Hunter and his team manage the eight hectares of gardens which contain centuries-old oak trees and two lakes they’ve planted roses and fruit trees and added bridges and fences in the woodlands “Sting and Trudie like little surprises when you walk around a corner,” jokes Hunter Working with landscape architect Lady Arabella Lennox-Boyd and interior designer Alain Mertens Styler and Sting have created an elegant yet comfortable haven that invites you to curl up with a book or explore the magic of the gardens In the main villa there are nine light and airy guest rooms with views across the gardens or the vineyards Tuscan armoires and original paintings give several rooms a classic feel while others have a funky Asian element that reflects the couple’s flirtation with the Far East All have large ensuite bathrooms with claw-foot tubs and classic fittings the sitting rooms are filled with plush sofas and ethnic rugs from faraway places An antique walnut table is laden with books covering topics from ancient history to Leonardo Da Vinci a guitar lies on a red velvet sofa where Sting sits and strums before breakfast a small chess set sits in a nook filled with morning sun Walls covered with intimate family photos and a famous face or two make you feel the family has just stepped out of the room “I thought of taking all the pictures down,” Styler says “but I don’t want it to ever look like a hotel I want our guests to feel that we are very near to them and that our genuine wish is for everyone to have a beautiful time where they can relax and feel they are in a home and not a hotel.” The dining room has a vaulted ceiling covered in a fine restoration of Renaissance grotesque and the nobles’ chapel has been turned into a gym and yoga studio all roads lead to the kitchen where chef Alba Papi uses fruit and vegetables from the estate’s organic garden to create a menu tailor-made to every guest’s dietary needs whose family has been in the region for 300 years says she feels like a nonna to Sting and Styler’s children Occasionally she joins their personal chef in London to make pasta a mano for big occasions and in the summer she runs a cooking school at the villa bistecca alla Fiorentina and pollo in fricassea are often on the hand-written menu along with Papi’s pizza nights in the courtyard “We roll out the table and the guests get to put on their plates the ingredients that will go onto their pizze,” Styler says “They put their name on their plate and it’s given to Alba and she makes that pizza to that recipe So she can be making 30 different pizze that night.” Papi is not the only staff member who has a personal connection to the property who runs the household and takes care of the house guests Their father began managing the property for the duke in the 1930s and their childhood was spent playing hide-and-seek in the days when peasants still toiled in the vineyards but he never imagined he would build a career at Il Palagio “When Trudie and Sting decided to buy the property but the duke said it was very important for me to stay Trudie and Sting were so fantastic I continued to work – so I never had my sabbatical year.” Bina credits Sting and Styler for giving the property a future “No one was living in the house any more the fields were neglected and so were the gardens,” she says “They brought it back to life without changing its character.” The rolling hills surrounding Il Palagio were once known as the “barn of Florence” for the grains fruit and vegetables grown there over the centuries Sting and Styler had their own vision for organic produce and also turned their attention to making wine and olive oil a world-renowned consultant for biodynamic winegrowers a respected Tuscan oenologist with experience in California and France First they set about planting more than 11 hectares of new vines and replenishing the soil Now Il Palagio produces between 50,000 and 70,000 bottles a year Sales have been boosted by glowing endorsements from big-name US critics including James Suckling and Robert Parker Fans will recognise the names on the labels Message in a Bottle is predominantly sangiovese while When We Dance is 95 per cent sangiovese with a blend of canaiolo and colorino grapes merlot and cabernet sauvignon that’s aged for 15 to 18 months in French barriques and refined in bottles for another six months Il Palagio oenologist Paolo Caciorgna says the estate is producing interesting wines that express the characteristics of the local terroir as well as those of Tuscany He is not deterred by the competition in a region well known for its fine reds “Certainly there is lively competition because Tuscany produces so many wines and there are famous areas such as Chianti Classico and Brunello,” Caciorgna says on a tour of the property’s original cellar “But the idea is that every territory frantoio and moraiolo olives grown on the estate ‘How do you feel about honey?’ and he said I have never grown honey.’ And I said ‘Do you want to try?’ And he said “We put about 80 hives around the acacia trees and then we went to the chestnut groves and put a bunch there near the lavender.” Today the estate produces more than five types of honey including Thousand Flowers a wildflower honey that has a rich caramel Whether it’s the charm of the villa or its panoramic views the atmosphere at Il Palagio clearly captivates the staff as much as Sting and Styler even before you taste the freshly prepared food and fine wine “It is not just a restored villa – there’s an energy that lives here by the second day they are much more relaxed Sometimes when guests leave I even see them cry.” The chess board at Sting and Trudie Styler’s Tuscan estate English musician and long-term Italian resident Sting is opening his vineyard for a special visit with wine tastings as part of a fundraising drive to help restaurateurs affected by the covid-19 crisis The three-day visit was included in an international online auction offering luxury holiday packages of tours and wine tastings to the highest bidder with more than $1 million raised for small businesses in the restaurant sector The package entitled "Experience Il Palagio with Trudie Styler, Sting and Riccardo Cotarella," kicked off at $48,000 but by the time the auction closed at midnight on 10 April the price had risen to $140,000, reports the Winenews website The three-day stay also includes a "Gran Wine Tasting" for 10-12 people together with the producers Sting and his wife Trudie Styler and their oenologist Riccardo Cotarella at the estate located midway between Florence and Arezzo The auction included tours and tastings at other celebrated vineyards in Tuscany including Antinori Castello di Bossi (Chianti) and Tignanello In Turin, the Egyptian Museum is seeking an assistant registrar who will research and design on collections and exhibitions. The position is open-ended and a master’s degree is mandatory; a doctorate or graduate school in archaeology or Egyptology is preferred. The search expires Jan. 31. For information, see the website of the Egyptian Museum of Turin In Milan, the Milan Triennale is seeking an institutional affairs manager. Fixed-term contract of 18 months for recruitment purposes, degree in architecture or engineering and knowledge of the Cultural Heritage Code required. Applications must be submitted by Jan. 31. For information, see the Milan Triennale website In Cuneo, the Itur Cooperative is looking for reception and ticketing staff at museums in the Cuneo and Valleys area. Bachelor’s degree required. For more information see the full ad DON’T MISS OUR NEW PRINT MAGAZINE. Starting in January, Finestre Sull’Arte is doubling down: in fact, our quarterly print magazine is coming out. 168 full-color pages of articles and insights, which you won’t find at newsstands, but you can have delivered directly to your home by subscription, for only 29.90 euros a year. For info and subscriptions click on this link Want to receive all our updates? Click here to sign up for our newsletter Trestina, 37 points, is certain of the play-out, but is not yet sure of playing it at home, because it could be reached or overtaken by the three teams that are behind, Sangiovannese, Terranuova Traiana and Figline, the first at 36 points, the yellow and blues with 35 points who today would be directly relegated with Fezzanese. We close with Beoni's yellow and blues who, in case of success over the amaranth, will avoid direct relegation to Eccellenza, while in case of a draw at Del Buffa Figline will have to hope that Sangiovannese and Terranuova Traiana do not draw. Figline is certainly relegated if it loses. This is the complete picture. (Thanks to Leonardo De Nicola and Dimitri Lepri).