Tuscany is one of the most renowned tourist locations in Europe, due to it popular history, its impressive artistic heritage, its fantastic countryside and its products (especially the wines appreciated all over the world). Tuscany is mainly a hilly region, apart from for the mountains of the Apuan Alps; and it also has a stretched coast along the Tyrrhenian Sea. The first inhabitants of Tuscany were the Etruscans, who built on the 1st century BC the town of Fiesole, located eight kilometers from Florence.
Several cities witness the florid history of Tuscany. The first surely is Florence, the real icon of Tuscany, place of birth of the Renaissance, capital of the region and a city that has been visited by travelers, artists and intellectuals from all over the world for centuries: Goethe, Keats and Lord Byron are just few names. Florence is rich of churches to visit: its Gothic Cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore and the Duomo (completed by Brunelleschi); the Baptistery of San Giovanni; Orsanmichele, the Basilica di Santa Croce (with the artistic touches of Giotto, Cimabue and Brunelleschi), the Basilica di San Lorenzo and the church of Santa Maria Novella. Collections of paintings and various artistic pieces are conserved in Florence's museums: the Galleria degli Uffizi is one of the biggest museums in the world and it hosts masterpieces of Tiziano, Giotto, Masaccio, Tintoretto, Raffaello, Rembrant, Goya and many others. The Galleria dell'Accademia, the Bargello, the Archeological Museum, the History of Science Museum (with original instruments of Galileo) and Casa Buonaroti are also interesting and rich galleries to pay a visit to. Walking in Florence, you can discover the charm of this city and its stunning features: Ponte Vecchio, the oldest bridge in town; Piazza della Signoria, a true open-air museum; Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli gardens; San Lorenzo market; and Spedali degli Innocenti, the first orphanage in Europe.
Tuscany has other beautiful cities of art and culture to visit: Siena, with its medieval atmosphere and the famous Palio race; Lucca, with its medieval walls around; Pisa, with its leaning tower; Livorno, San Giminiano, Montalcino, Pienza and many more.
But a holiday in Tuscany doesn't mean only art and culture: this region has flourishing and productive land, luxuriant landscapes, thermal spas and fantastic beaches.
The region of Chianti is an exciting area to pass trough, with its hills drawn with row of vines, cypress trees and olive groves. Val d'Orcia and Val d'Elsa are as well two beautiful areas, with flourishing vegetation and pretty tiny medieval villages.
In the south of Tuscany, there is the Maremma: this is an untamed and intact area, where nature reserves protect the environment. The Maremma is one of the least crowded parts of Italy; it is featured by large spaces where animals can wander in a state of nature. The coast of Maremma is also very diverse: long sandy beaches, woods descending to the sea, sheer rocks and untouched islands. Mixed to this suggestive landscape, the eyes of the visitors can glimpse medieval villages, bastions, castles, monasteries and cathedrals.
Tuscany's thermal spas are known since the ancient times ad used for health and therapy. Beneficial waters can be found for example in Saturnia, Montecatini Terme, Pitigliano and Chianciano Terme.
Whether you are planning a cultural holiday, a relaxing trip or a family vacation, Tuscany has several accommodation opportunities to offer you: hotels, resorts, apartments or villas for rent are available in all the parts of the region.
Beaches and seaside resorts are another important peculiarity of Tuscany. Versilia is located in the north of the region and it covers 20 kilometers of sandy beaches, organized in more than four hundred bathing establishments. Viareggio is the main town of this area and it is very famous for its incredible Carnival parade, featured by colorful floats with animals, monsters, politicians and various creatures.
Other renowned spots in Versilia are Forte dei Marmi, Lido di Camaiore, Marina di Pietrasanta and Torre del Lago Puccini.
Tuscan archipelago is another place to mention. Only few other tourist resorts in the world have similar scenery within such a small area, so rich and varied: the underwater environment gratifies the scuba divers, the mountains are surrounded by centuries-old forests, the beaches attract tourists, the bays are encircled by the typical Mediterranean vegetation; and small hill towns lie in a timeless harmony. Elba and Capraia are the main islands of the Tuscan archipelago and are both interesting spots which offer great hospitality.
When we talk about Tuscany, we can't forget its main products, such as extra virgin oil and red wine: Chianti Classico, Rosso di Montepulciano and Brunello di Montalcino are esteemed all over the world.
Author Resource:
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