Top 10 list of destinations

Our location in the heart of Tuscany means you are uniquely positioned to explore Italy's icons. While our proximity to Florence connects you to the Alta Velocità (high-speed rail), the ultimate luxury is convenience. For many of our most exclusive destinations, a private Mercedes transfer or a direct helicopter flight from the Villa's grounds is the definitive way to travel.

Here is our curated list of the top 10 destinations for an unforgettable day.

1. Rome (Roma)
Welcome to the Eternal City, the seat of the Roman Empire and the heart of Christendom. A living museum spanning millennia, where guests can privately tour the Colosseum, marvel at Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, and trace the history of Western civilization. This ancient power and history now intersect with modern luxury, from Michelin-starred dining to the flagship ateliers on the Via Condotti.

• By Helicopter (from Villa): ~55-65 minutes.
• By Private Car: ~3 hours 15 minutes.
• By High-Speed Train: ~90 minutes (from Firenze SMN).
• By Air (from FLR): ~55-minute flight (the train is significantly faster door-to-door).

2. Milan (Milano)
Italy’s powerful northern capital of finance, fashion, and design. Once ruled by the great Sforza and Visconti dynasties, Milan is a city of ambition and style. Exclusive experiences include securing a private viewing of Da Vinci’s "The Last Supper" at Santa Maria delle Grazie, attending a premiere at the legendary Teatro alla Scala, and priority access to the flagship ateliers of the Quadrilatero d'Oro (Golden Fashion Triangle).

• By Helicopter (from Villa): ~60-70 minutes.
• By Private Car: ~3 hours 30 minutes.
• By High-Speed Train: ~1 hour 50 minutes (from Firenze SMN).
• By Air (from FLR): ~50-minute flight (the train is the preferred, more efficient option).

3. Venice (Venezia)
A city built on water, Venice is a miracle of engineering and imagination. For centuries, La Serenissima ruled the Mediterranean as a formidable maritime republic. That legacy of power and opulence remains in the Byzantine mosaics of St. Mark's Basilica and the gothic splendor of the Doge's Palace. The ultimate luxury is experiencing it from the water: arriving by private Riva taxi, enjoying a private viewing at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, or attending the exclusive events of the Biennale.

• By Helicopter (from Villa): ~45-55 minutes.
• By Private Car: ~3 hours.
• By High-Speed Train: ~2 hours 15 minutes (from Firenze SMN).
• By Air (from FLR): Not applicable. The train is the only direct and logical choice.

4. Naples (Napoli) & The Amalfi Coast
A city of raw energy, history, and the birthplace of pizza. Naples was once a grand royal capital, which is evident in its opulent palaces and Teatro di San Carlo. It serves as the soulful gateway to two world-changing sites: the hauntingly preserved Roman city of Pompeii, frozen in time by Vesuvius, and the mythical island of Capri. From here, a private yacht or driver is essential to explore the jet-set villages of Positano and Ravello.

• By Helicopter (from Villa): ~90-100 minutes (to Naples or Capri).
• By Private Car: ~4 hours 45 minutes (to Naples).
• By High-Speed Train: ~3 hours (from Firenze SMN to Napoli Centrale).
• By Air (from FLR): ~1-hour flight.

5. Portofino
The pinnacle of the Italian Riviera and a global icon of la dolce vita. This tiny, pastel-colored fishing village was transformed into a playground for royalty, from the Duke of Windsor to Hollywood stars like Elizabeth Taylor, in the 1950s. Today, it remains one of the world's most exclusive harbors, a haven for super-yachts, designer boutiques, and sunset aperitivi on the 'Piazzetta.' The ultimate experience is arriving by private tender and dining at the legendary Belmond Splendido, overlooking the bay.

• By Helicopter (from Villa): ~30-35 minutes.
• By Private Car: ~2 hours 30 minutes (to Santa Margherita Ligure, followed by a short private transfer or boat to the harbor).
• By High-Speed Train: Not direct. Journey: ~3+ hours.
• By Air (from FLR): Not applicable (nearest airport is Genoa).

6. Forte dei Marmi
This is the most exclusive and fashionable beach destination on the Italian mainland. Its name ("Fort of Marbles") comes from the marble trade of the nearby Apuan Alps (where Michelangelo sourced his stone). Since the early 20th century, it has been the private summer sanctuary for Italian industrialists and nobility, like the Agnelli family. It is famous for its elite, full-service beach clubs, discreet villas, Michelin-starred dining, and a town center filled with luxury boutiques.

• By Helicopter (from Villa): ~20-25 minutes.
• By Private Car: ~1 hour 10 minutes. An easy, direct journey to the coast.
• By High-Speed Train: Not applicable.
• By Air (from FLR): Not applicable (nearest airport is Pisa).

7. Cinque Terre
A dramatic UNESCO World Heritage site, these five impossibly beautiful villages (Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, Riomaggiore) were built over centuries by farmers and fishermen. They cling to steep cliffs above the Ligurian Sea, accessible only by footpaths, rail, or water. The luxury approach is to bypass the crowded trails and experience it as it was meant to be seen—from the sea. A private Riva boat from La Spezia allows you to explore hidden coves, swim in private, and be dropped off at Vernazza’s harbor for lunch.

• By Helicopter (from Villa): ~25-30 minutes (to La Spezia or Monterosso).
• By Private Car: ~1 hour 30 minutes (to La Spezia, the gateway for your private boat tour).
• By High-Speed Train: ~1h 30m (from Florence to La Spezia), then a short local train or private boat.
• By Air (from FLR): Not applicable.

8. San Gimignano
The "Medieval Manhattan" of Tuscany. This UNESCO-protected town presents an unforgettable skyline of 14 surviving medieval towers. In the 12th and 13th centuries, rival noble families built these tower-houses as symbols of their wealth and power. It is a perfectly preserved journey back in time, best experienced with a private guide, a climb up the Torre Grossa for a commanding view of the Chianti hills, and a tasting of the local Vernaccia white wine.

• By Helicopter (from Villa): ~10-15 minutes.
• By Private Car: ~40-50 minutes. This is a classic, scenic drive through the Tuscan hills.
• By High-Speed Train: Not applicable.
• By Air (from FLR): Not applicable.

9. Bologna
Nicknamed 'La Dotta, La Grassa, La Rossa' (The Learned, The Fat, The Red), Bologna is the historic and culinary heart of the region. It is home to the oldest university in the Western world (founded in 1088) and is a UNESCO site for its nearly 40km of beautiful medieval porticoes. For the modern pilgrim, it is the capital of Italian cuisine—the source of tagliatelle al ragù and mortadella—and the nucleus of the 'Motor Valley' (Ferrari, Lamborghini, Pagani).

• By Helicopter (from Villa): ~20-25 minutes.
• By Private Car: ~1 hour 20 minutes.
• By High-Speed Train: ~35-40 minutes (from Firenze SMN).
• By Air (from FLR): Not applicable.

10. Verona
A city of timeless romance, Verona is known globally as the setting for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Long before that, it was a powerful Roman city, and its 2,000-year-old Roman Arena di Verona is one of the world's best-preserved amphitheaters. The ultimate experience is attending the famed Opera Festival from a VIP seat within the Arena. Verona is also the gateway to the exclusive spas and Riva boat excursions on nearby Lake Garda.

• By Helicopter (from Villa): ~40-45 minutes.
• By Private Car: ~2 hours 30 minutes.
• By High-Speed Train: ~1 hour 30 minutes (from Firenze SMN).
• By Air (from FLR): Not applicable.