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villas

Accommodations, Destinations, Europe, Italy

7 Tuscany Luxury Villas Ideal for Families and Friends

Catherine Sweeney
February 25, 2016
3 Comments
7 Tuscany Luxury Villas Ideal for Families and Friends

7 great holiday rentals in Tuscany for bringing friends together and spending quality time with families.

estevillas, Europe, italy, tuscany, villas

About Catherine Sweeney

Catherine Sweeney is a travel enthusiast with a lifelong passion for going places. A weekend getaway, an international journey, a cross-country road trip, or a local jaunt — they’re all on her radar. And it’s all made extra special when she’s enjoying the finer things in life with Mr. TWS, her husband and co-blogger. Get inspired as they share photos and stories highlighting the best of destinations, food, wine, history, culture and the arts.

Thank you, Getting on Travel!

Traveling with Sweeney, Best Baby Boomer Travel Blogs 2022, Getting on Travel

2018 NATJA Silver Award Winner

Recent Posts

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How cool to make my own perfume at @fragonardparfu How cool to make my own perfume at @fragonardparfumeurofficiel in Grasse, France with @gocollette! I think my scent fit me perfectly. The floral part of the ingredients was lilacs — in my version, the lilac fragrance was very subtle. Have you ever made your own fragrance? New post coming soon about our time on the French Riviera on the Collette Mediterranean Coastal Journey small group tour. #gocollette #catherinexcollette #france #traveltuesday #ifwtwa1 #explorefrance #fragonardparfumeur #grasse #parfumeur #perfumelovers #travel #lovetotravel
Catalonia on my mind … some of the highlights of Catalonia on my mind … some of the highlights of Barcelona and Costa Brava from our Mediterranean Coastal Journey tour with @gocollette: . Strolling around Eixample and the Gothic Quarter . Cable car up Montjuic for castle and Barcelona views . Visiting Gaudi’s Casa Batllo and Sagrada Familia . Sea view hotel on the coast . Dali museum in Figueres . Tour of Girona These and more in latest blog post “Best of Barcelona and Costa Brava (link in bio). #gocollette #catherinexcollette #catalonia #visitcostabrava #barcelonatrip #visitspain #catalunyagram #traveltheworld #guidedtravel #collettetours #ifwtwa1
A day in Paso Robles wine country — #winewednesd A day in Paso Robles wine country — #winewednesday pics from a great day of wine tasting with friends at @sculpterra @mcpricemyerswines and @daouvineyards we also loved the art at Sculpterra and spectacular views at Daou. Cheers, all! #california #pasorobleswinecountry #art #sculpture #wineandart #ifwtwa1
Antoni Gaudi’s La Sagrada Familia — one of the Antoni Gaudi’s La Sagrada Familia — one of the highlights of Barcelona and Costa Brava on our @gocollette Mediterranean Coastal Journey tour. Work began in 1882, and the project was taken over by Gaudi in 1883 until his death in 1926, with other architects continuing with his plan. Although it has been said that the work will be complete in 2026, locals we talked to don’t think that will be the case. Link in bio to new blog post. #gocollette #catherinexcollette #barcelona #spain #catalonia #travelblogger #guidedtravel #mediterranean #spaintravel #gaudi #architecture #sagradafamilia #traveltuesday #ifwtwa1
Can you see yourself spending some time here on a Can you see yourself spending some time here on a hot summer day? A summer place to dream about … the charming seaside villages of the Costa Brava region of Spain. We had a lovely walk between the popular beach holiday towns of Calella de Palafrugell and Llafranc with @gocollette and imagined ourselves staying in one of the apartments overlooking the harbor and Mediterranean Sea. 🏝️🏖️☀️🌊 #gocollette #catherinexcollette #mediterranean #beachlife #coastalliving #seasidetown #travelblogger #costabrava #visitcostabrava #summerdays #ifwtwa1
Happy Monday! Starting my week with a look back to Happy Monday! Starting my week with a look back to awaking to this lovely sunrise over the Mediterranean in the Costa Brava region of Spain. This was during the first part of our coastal journey with @gocollette. Post coming soon! #catherinexcollette #gocollette #mediterran #spaintravel #sunriselover #visitcostabrava #travelgram #mondaymorning #lovetotravel
Imagine yourself on the French Riviera and follow Imagine yourself on the French Riviera and follow the sun! 🌞 I loved taking in the sights and vibes on our @gocollette Mediterranean Coastal Journey. These scenes include Monaco, Nice, Èze, and sights along the way. #gocollette #catherinexcollette #mediterraneantour #followthesun #coastaljourney #europeantravel #travelgram #frenchriviera #mediterraneanvibes #traveltuesday #ifwtwa1
Some of our favorite dishes of our @gocollette Med Some of our favorite dishes of our @gocollette Mediterranean Coastal Journey tour for #foodiefriday -- penne strascicate in Florence; sliced tuna tartare in Marseille; scallops in Barcelona, Spain; mussels in creamy garlic sauce in Marseille; beef ravioli in Nice (my personal favorite!); panisse (chickpea) fritters in Marseille; cheese-filled focaccia in Recco, Italy; chicken croquettes in Figueres, Spain. Follow along for more specialties we loved, too. . . #gocollette #catherinexcollette #mediterraneanfood #mediterraneantour #foodiegrams #ifwtwa1 #favoritefoods #travelforfood
Happy and romantic travelers, @mrtws1 and me, on o Happy and romantic travelers, @mrtws1 and me, on our @gocollette Mediterranean Coastal Journey small group tour (link to itinerary in bio). There’s much to share in upcoming posts here and on the blog, so stay tuned! Pictured: 1, 2, 3 Barcelona; 4 Girona; 5 Besalu; 6 Abbey of Fontfroide; 7 Marseille; 8, 9 Nice; 10, 11 Genoa; 12 Cinque Terre; 13 Florence; 14 Tuscany #gocollette #catherinexcollette #europeantravel #landtour #guidedtravel #mediterraneancoast #travelgram #happytraveler #travelblogger #traveltheworld #summertravel #ifwtwa1 #traveltuesday
Along the way between Costa Brava in Spain and Mar Along the way between Costa Brava in Spain and Marseille France on our @gocollette tour we visited the @abbaye_de_fontfroide, a beautifully-preserved medieval abbey near Narbonne. We were guided through many parts of the Cistercian abbey and enjoyed the gardens. Special events, concerts, and art shows are also held at the abbey. After the tour, we savored locally-produced food and wine in the restaurant. #gocollette #catherinexcollette #france #abbayedefontfroide #explorefrance #occitanietourisme
Focaccia is a specialty of the Liguria region of I Focaccia is a specialty of the Liguria region of Italy and we had a chance to see a demonstation of making a cheese-filled version at Da ö Vittorio in Recco, followed by a delicious lunch. Here’s a virtual taste for #foodiefriday. Buon appetito! #gocollette #catherinexcollette #ifwtwa1 #italianfood #focaccia #italianrestaurant #travelforfood #guidedtravel #travelgram #mediterraneantour #foodlover
Do you like to ride cable cars as much as I do? I Do you like to ride cable cars as much as I do? I love taking them when I travel. I was happy to find out that in Barcelona on our @gocollette tour I’d be able to take the ride up Montjuïc to see panoramic views of the city and roam around the old castle grounds. #gocollette #catherinexcollette #barcelona #montjuic #cablecar #spain #visitbarcelona #guidedtravel #collettetours #viewofthecity #traveltheworld #barcelonaview
Meet Jean-Philippe! J. P. (as he asked us to call Meet Jean-Philippe! J. P. (as he asked us to call him) was our @gocollette Mediterranean Coastal Journey tour manager. Very familiar with all places on the itinerary, he expertly guided us from Barcelona to Tuscany over 15 days, sharing information and helpful tips about our destinations, and regaling us with entertaining anecdotes. He is knowledgeable, organized, personable, and fun! Thanks, J.P., for a great time! #gocollette #catherinexcollette #guidedtravel #collettetourmanager #europeantravel #travelgram
In Aix-en-Provence, the city where Paul Cézanne l In Aix-en-Provence, the city where Paul Cézanne lived and painted in his studio on a hilltop, we took a walk with our @gocollette tour manager and admired the sights. @mrtws1 and I had visited several years ago (in winter that time) and were delighted to have a chance to return to this charming city in the Provence region of France on our Mediterranean Coastal Journey tour. #gocollette #catherinexcollette #aixenprovence #provence #explorefrance #guidedtravel #provencefrance #travelgram #europeantravel #visitprovence #francetourisme #traveltuesday #ifwtwa1
What fun! Great time in Tuscany on a truffle hunt What fun! Great time in Tuscany on a truffle hunt with Tartuffi Nacci and @gocollette in San Miniato. The specially-trained dogs are enthusiastic in their search for the truffles and found three for our lunch. Delightful to sit outside on the patio and enjoy antipasti and pasta with delicious truffles. #gocollette #catherinexcollette #italy #tuscany #ifwtwa1 #truffledog #trufflehunting #truffles #travellingthroughtheworld #travelgram #instatravel #europeantour
In Manarola, one of the five towns of Cinque Terre In Manarola, one of the five towns of Cinque Terre, with @gocollette. #italy #mediterraneancoast #cinqueterre #europeantravel #liguria #gocollette #catherinexcollette #travelblogger #travellingthroughtheworld
Just a glimpse of Genoa, Italy from our first day Just a glimpse of Genoa, Italy from our first day of walking through the old city. Our @gocollette local guide explained much of the city’s history and shown us various aspects of its architecture, character, and culture. #gocollette #catherinexcollette #genoaitaly #guidedtravel #unesco #italy #travelitaly #europeantravel #liguria #italygram
The good life in Portofino, Italy — relaxing and The good life in Portofino, Italy — relaxing and sipping a Vermentino on #winewednesday with @gocollette at Dolce & Gabbana @caffeexcelsiorportofino on a beautiful warm and sunny day. #gocollette #catherinexcollette #mediterranean #wine #italy #portofino #ifwtwa1 #goodlife #travelgram #travelblogger
What a lovely hilltop village — St. Paul de Vanc What a lovely hilltop village — St. Paul de Vance on the French Riviera (see third photo). This was a wonderful excursion on our @gocollette Mediterranean Coastal Journey tour. There are many art galleries and shops to browse along the medieval lanes. The views of the area are great, too. #gocollette #catherinexcollette #france #explorefrance #frenchriviera #mediterraneantrip #travelgram
It’s so nice to be in Nice. Sorry for the pun! A It’s so nice to be in Nice. Sorry for the pun! Arrived yesterday late afternoon and strolled around town and beach. More to see and do today on our @gocollette Mediterranean Coastal Journey tour (itinerary link in bio). By the way, that’s Mr TWS in first photo taking pics toward the beach🏝️ #gocollette #catherinexcollette #niceisnice #lovenice #travel blogger #beautifuldestinations #explorefrance #cotedazur #ifwtwa1
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