Any excuse to get out of town when it's steaming hot is a good one, and there are plenty of places for a cool retreat near Florence. Villa Demidoff at Pratolino, a half-hour bus ride north of the city, is such a spot. The villa itself - dating from the 16th-century - is a bit of a mess, but the enormous gardens are a rural delight. One marvels that has survived is Buontalenti's massive statue of the Appennino, a stone giant rising from a fountain. It's a great place for a picnic, and concerts are held in the summer months.