Tuscany
Tuscany is located in central Italy and stretches from the Apennines to the Tyrrhenian Sea. Its landscape, artistic heritage and stand-out cities – first among them Florence – make Tuscany an unquestioned protagonist of international tourism. In this region, nature has many different facets, starting from the coast that alternates long and sandy beaches, like the Versilia beach, with rocky cliffs and steep headlands. The islands of the Tuscan Archipelago, surrounded by Mediterranean vegetation, a crystal-clear sea and rich seabeds, are peerless. You can admire sceneries of uncontaminated nature in the Apuan Alps and in several protected areas, such as the Orbetello Lagoon, home to many species of migrant birds, including pink egrets. However, the most typical sceneries of the region are those that merge the beauty of nature with the millenary work of man. The amazing Gulf of Baratti and the sites of Vetulonia, Vulci and Pitigliano guard necropoli and vestiges of the Etruscan civilization, while Roselle and Cosa evoke memories from the Roman Age.Medieval villages, historical towns, castles and defense systems, country churches (the so-called pievi) and beautiful abbeys, are scattered all over the territory and their profiles stand out in the landscapes of the Orcia Valley, Chianti and the Maremma. Finally, Tuscany is full of spas: Montecatini, Saturnia, Montepulciano, Monsummano and Bagno Vignoni, which offer relaxing holidays thanks to their thermal waters and well-equipped facilities for all types of treatments.
PROVINCE OF FLORENCE
Situated in northeast Tuscany, the Province of Florence covers areas with different geographical and environmental characteristics, including Mugello, Montagna Fiorentina, Valdarno, part of Chianti and Empolese-Valdelsa. At the Province’s center, in a basin crossed by the Arno River, stands the magnificent City of Florence, one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, filled with historical relics and artistic masterpieces by the greatest masters of Humanism and the Renaissance. These creative geniuses made an indelible mark on the world’s architecture and art: Giotto and Brunelleschi, Michelangelo and Vasari, Michelozzo and Leon Battista Alberti, just to mention a few. Every year, Florence, unanimously recognized as the cradle of the Renaissance, attracts crowds of Italian and foreign tourists to admire the marvelous churches, sumptuous buildings, and museums that make it so unique. The city’s charm also extends to its territories, beginning with the natural amphitheatre created by the hills surrounding Florence, where unique places such as the small towns of Fiesole and Certosa del Galluzzo stand.The whole area is made up of stunning landscapes such as the Chianti Valley, where visitors can follow numerous art or wine and food itineraries, and other areas, from Mugello to Valdarno, that hold a wide variety of surprises: ancient castles, Medieval rural churches, and villas. Wherever one turns, historical towns and art treasures make this province absolutely unique, a place where nature and culture intertwine as in a dream. Each and every town, with its own particular features, is a world to be discovered: Empoli with its rich cultural heritage contained within 15th-Century city walls; Sesto Fiorentino with the famous “La Montagnola” Etruscan tomb; Impruneta, with its terra-cotta production; or Borgo San Lorenzo, with the remains of its 14th-Century fortifications and a magnificent church; and Castelfiorentino and Barberino Val d’Elsa, among many others. The Florentine territory provides a surprising number of itineraries, making a vacation here an ideal occasion to explore this enchanting area.
PROVINCE OF PISA
The Province of Pisa is located in central-western Tuscany, covering a stretch of coastline, wide plains and rolling hills that include the Colline Metallifere to the South. The coastline is made up of extensive beaches surrounded by high dunes and fresh pinewoods, and is home to renowned tourist resorts such as Marina di Pisa and Tirrenia. The inland landscapes vary, depending on the area’s natural features; they assume varying forms and colors, espeically when one arrives at the spectacular badlands that speak to the erosion phenomena that characterizes Volterrano and Val di Cecina. Another extraordinary and striking landscape is that of the famous geysers of Larderello. Archaeological finds are sprinkled all over this splendid and changing landscape, from Romanesque architecture and historical villages to the magnificent city of Pisa with its Leaning Tower and other fascinating monuments. Traditions, cuisine, wines and spas are waiting to be discovered in this unique territory.
THE CHIANTI VALLEY
Located between the Provinces of Florence and Siena, the Chianti Valley has always been considered the heart of old Tuscany, well-renowned around the world for its famous wines. A rich history and wine tradition from the 13th century have made this area an ideal place for those who wish to undertake original trips amid vineyards, hills and characteristic little villages. Within each of these small towns you may run into cellars, castles or simple farmhouses whose names are tied the renowned Gallo Nero brand, symbol of the Chianti of excellence.The valley offers views of great charm: vineyard-covered hills, magnificent forests of chestnuts and oaks, and picturesque Medieval villages rich in artistic testimonies, for instance, Greve in Chianti with its old triangular-shaped piazza lined with town houses, porticoes and loggias. Another typical town is Radda in Chianti, still finding pride in its original town wall, its ancient village charm, the Podestà Palace and long-standing Castle. Not to mention its two simple yet intriguing Romanesque Parish churches (pieve).Castellina in Chianti is also quite worthy of a visit, for it boasts a rather distinctive central piazza intersected by the Medieval Via delle Volte and Gaiole in Chianti. And nearby are historic castles (in Fonterutoli and in San Leonino).The surprises in this overwhelmingly beautiful valley are many – from ancient traditions and gastronomic specialties to a deep love for its product of excellence: the Chianti wine, receiving the highest acclaim just about everywhere!
