Tuscany

Tuscany is one of Italy's world famous regions bordering on Latium to the south, Umbria and Marche to the east, Emilia-Romagna and Liguria to the north, and the Tyrrhenian Sea to the west.

From the Etruscans to the Romans to the Renaissance, Tuscany is possibly the greatest repository of art in the world, from extraordinary paintings and sculpture to frescoes and architectural masterpieces.

Visitors to Tuscany come for many reasons. Many in search of fine art, others to explore the countryside. Gourmets and wine buffs descend on Tuscany to enjoy the simple yet wonderful cuisine and gastronomical delights.

Notable tourist destinations in Tuscany include Florence, Siena, Pisa, Lucca, Arezzo, Cortona the Maremma, the Crete Senesi, and Garfagnana areas, and the island of Elba.

Tuscany is known for its wines (most famous of which are Chianti, Morellino di Scansano and Brunello di Montalcino) and has 120 protected regions (nature reserves).

FLORENCE is the capital city of the region of Tuscany. Historical Florence is surprisingly compact area and majority of the sights can easily be reached on foot. The Duomo is the city’s historical focus, ideally place to explore the Campanile, Baptistry and Museo dell’Opera del Duomo.

To the south is Piazza della Signora, the city political heart, flanked by the Palazzo Vecchio, the town hall and the Uffizzi, one of the leading art galleries.

To the east lies the church of Santa Croce, home to frescoes by Giotto and the Tombs of some of Florence’s greatest man.

To the west stands Santa Maria Novella, the city’s other great church.

Across the Ponte Vecchio and the Arno (the river that bisects the city) is the district of Oltrarno, dominated by Santo Spirito and the Pitti Palace. Containing galleries with works by great Renaissance artists including Raphael and Titian.

SIENA is one of the most enchanting cities in all of Italy.  There are many attractions in Siena that lures millions of tourists there each year. One of the most popular attractions in Siena are the many reddish-brown buildings that has given Siena a very unique and beautiful look. Among the other attractions in Siena are the city’s square, the Piazza del Campo and the Gothic Palazzo Pubblico containing works by many famous artists such as Ambrogio Lorenzetti and Martini. One of the most popular events to occur in Siena is the Corsa del Palio, a horse race that is run twice each summer. The horse race was first run in 1656 and is one of the events that has made Siena famous around the world. Siena also has many beautiful cathedrals, art galleries and churches.

LUCCA,  was once the capital city of Tuscany. It has jealously maintained its independence for a number of centuries. The citizens have nurtured a special pride that is evident in their many churches, especially the unique grand Romanesque cathedral.  Don't leave town until you've had a chance to walk the ancient ramparts and enjoy a visit to the Puccini museum honoring the town's favorite son.

AREZZO is one of the wealthiest cities in Tuscany set on a steep hill rising from the floodplain of the Arno. In the upper part of the town are the cathedral, the town hall and the Medici Fortress, from which the main streets branch off towards the lower part as far as the gates. The upper part of the town maintains its medieval aspect despite the addition of later structures.

COTRONA rises on a high Tuscan hill, fifty miles from Florence between Arezzo and Perugia. Before the city lies a vast and beautiful plain, while behind it are towering yet fruitful mountains. It is a charming maze of old street and medieval buildings like the Palazzo Comunale.

The MAREMMA is one of the last great gems of Tuscany that is still relatively undiscovered. Encompassing the rolling farmland and pristine beaches of the southwestern Tuscan seacoast, the serene villages of the Maremma are a far cry from the overcrowded beach towns and industrial centers of northern Tuscany. If you love fine wine, isolated white beaches, organic farm-fresh cuisine and most of all tranquility, then you’ll fall in love with the Maremma and all that it has to offer.

To then south of Siena and central Tuscany is an area known as the CRETE SENESI, which is characterized by round clay hillocks eroded by heavy rain over the centuries.

To experience the most striking natural terrain in all of Tuscany, head north from Lucca and enter the foothills of the Apuan Alps, the region known as the GARFAGNANA. Your first stop is the once famous spa town of BAGNI DI LUCCA. This charming village on the River Lima boasts impressive homes that recall grander days, and is a fabulous place to enjoy a leisurely meal.

ISLAND OF ELBA lay only 10 km. from the mainland. Elba is the largest island in the Tuscan Archipelago with a particularly mild climate and the third Italian island in size. Elba has become an internationally famous tourist resort. The main town is Portoferraio, with an old port and a modern sea front of hotels and fish restaurants.

GETTING AROUND Motorways or fast dual carriageways link Florence, the hub of Tuscany’s road and rail network, to Siena, Pisa, Lucca and the south.  The Via Aurelia and A12-E80 motorway serve the Tuscan coast. Rural roads, however, can be slow and winding.  Rail links are good and connect most mayor towns.