Welcome to Tuscany
Known worldwide for its artistic heritage, history, culture result of the time of the Etruscan civilization and the Renaissance; diversified's beautiful landscapes from the mountains to the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Tuscany is widely regarded as the true birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, and has hosted some of the most influential people in the history of the arts and science, like Petrarch, Dante, Botticelli, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Galileo Galilei, Amerigo Vespucci and Puccini.
Its unique culinary tradition, fine wines, the most famous of which are Chianti, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Morellino di Scansano and Brunello di Montalcino crown its uniqueness.
Lucca
Lucca is one of the provinces of Tuscany on the left of the Serchio; its territory extends north to the Garfagnana, east to the Versilia coast, and west to the province of Pistoia.
Lucca has preserved the charm of its medieval Old Town. Also this is one of the most beautiful and famous cities of Italy.
Called the city of 100 towers and 100 churches, is in fact full of churches and monuments, works of art to visit; some of them: Ilaria del Carretto by Jacopo della Quercia, il Volto Santo (the Holy Face), Cathedral of San Martino, church of San Michele in Foro, Basilica of San Frediano, Museo di Villa Guinigi, many others.
Lucca is famous for its medieval walls, walls with ramparts of the sixteenth century, remained intact in all their grandeur of fortifications, on which worth a relaxing walk, watching the city from a wonderful angle.
Lucca is also famous for its beautiful villas, some of which can be visited, among them: Villa Mansi, Villa Reale.
Lucca Comics & Games
In the historical center of Lucca in late October, early November is held Lucca Comics & Games, which is the most important Italian exhibition dedicated to comics, animation, games (role-playing, board games, card) and the imaginary fantasy and science fiction.
Participate in all the major operators, and a growing number of specialty shops, recreational and cultural associations and comics. luccacomicsandgames.com
Links:
Lucca Wiki: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucca
Site of the Turism of the Province of Lucca: turismo.provincia.lucca.it
Villas in Lucca, Association of Villas and Palaces in Lucca: villelucchesi.net
Attractions:
Ponte a Moriano: Convent of the Angel
Florence (Firenze)
Important university center, and center, historical, artistic, economic and trade fair.
In modern times has served as the capital of Grand Duchy of Tuscany under the rule of the Medici and Lorena families.
Was the capital of Italy from 1865 to 1871, after the unification of the country.
Today Florence is the capital of the province of Florence and Tuscany.
Links:
Touristic Guide: firenze-online.com
aboutflorence.com/firenze/index.html
Where to eat:
In the center, near "Piazza della Signoria".
Trattoria Buzzino, typical Florentine trattoria, Tuscan dishes,
Via dei Leoni 8r, 50122 Florence - Tel 055.239.80.13. Good food, reasonable prices, tested.
Songs:
Firenze Bottegaia, Riccardo Marasco:
Pisa
The Tower is the symbol of Pisa because of its characteristic slope and the most famous monument in Piazza del Duomo.
In the Piazza del Duomo, also known as Piazza dei Miracoli, there are the greatest examples of Romanesque Pisan.
The square is the most famous and visited monuments of Italian art.
On the square stand the Cathedral, the Baptistery, the Bell Tower (Leaning Tower or the Leaning Tower), and the Cemetery.
Also: Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, la Fortezza Nuova (the New Fortress), Church of Santo Stefano, Church of the Spina, La piazza dei Cavalieri.
Links:
Youth Information: informagiovani-italia.com/cosa-vedere-pisa.htm
Songs:
Evviva la torre di Pisa, Mario Latilla
Migliarino San Rossore Massaciuccoli Natural Park
The Regional Park Migliarino, San Rossore Massaciuccoli, established in 1979, covers about 24,000 hectares located along the coast between Viareggio and Livorno.
Although the focus of a highly urbanized area, this area has retained considerable natural character, so that there is a rare example of undeveloped coastal area.
There are several ways to access and visit to the territories of the Park.
The best and safest way to discover the Park of San Rossore Migliarino Massaciuccoli is to use the guided tour service made available by the Regional Park Authority, also required to know the locations of the Presidential Estate of San Rossore, and Tenuta Salviati in Migliarino.
Suspension bridge
It is realized with structures which rest on four steel cables held in tension; measuring 227 meters in length, 36 meters in height on the riverbed and 80cm wide.
In 1990 it was entered in the Guinness Book of Records that counted as "the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in the world".
Since 2006, the torch was passed to Kokonoe Yume Bridge in Japan.
Link: wikipedia.org
Siena
Since 1650 is the city of Palio.
Siena is one of the most beautiful cities in Italy, located at the heart of Tuscany between the Chianti and Maremma, rich in history, art and culture;
Links:
Sito ufficiale del Turismo: terresiena.it
Siena su Wiki: it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siena
Le dieci cose da vedere: chiantiturismo.it
Cosa vedere: toscanissima.com/siena/sienaarte.php
Storia, Arte e Cultura: siena.guidatoscana.it
Altre info: paesionline.it/siena/da_visitare_siena.asp
Collodi
Collodi is officially recognized as the birthplace of Pinocchio, the famous puppet protagonist of the novel for children by Carlo Collodi.
Attractions:
- Pinocchio Park;
- Historic Gardens of the Villa Garzoni;
- Church of Saint Bartolomeo (Bartholomew), patron saint of the village, celebrated 24 August;
- Collodi Castello: medieval village, close to the Park of Pinocchio.
Links:
Pinocchio: pinocchio.it
Collodi: collodi.com , collodi.net
Carlo Collodi: it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlo_Collodi
San Miniato
San Miniato is a land rich in history and tradition.
The historical town is strategically located on a hill along the Arno halfway between Florence and Pisa; the city until the final conquest of Florence, was therefore the scene of clashes between the two capitals today.
See Diocese of San Miniato is an important economic and industrial zone of leather and is famous for its white truffles.
Truffle market: from 40 years in San Miniato holding the National Exhibition of the White Truffle, which throughout the month of November, the city turns into a great tasting workshop in the open.
Links:
Wikipedia: it.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Miniato
San Gimignano
The city of a hundred towers.
San Gimignano, a city of beautiful towers, rich in History, Art and Culture in the green Tuscan countryside is perched on a hill (334m high) dominating the north of Siena Val d'Elsa.
The towers are evidence of the strong economy in the late Middle Ages, allowed the creation of an urban aristocracy, who expressed his political and social supremacy in the construction of the towers, once symbols of power in the fourteenth century it grew to 72 towers (today they have remained 14).
For the typical medieval architecture of its historic center was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Among the specialties of the towered city is the famous Vernaccia and saffron.
Links:
Wikipedia: it.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Gimignano
Official Site: sangimignano.com
Youth Information: informagiovani-italia.com/sangimignano.htm
Volterra
Volterra is now a village, with its characteristic medieval, in Val di Cecina.
Volterra saw born, with the Etruscan civilization, the manufacture of the alabaster, becoming the traditional center of manufacturing and exclusive result of experience on manufacturing techniques, handed down over time by craftsmen.
Links:
What to see: comune.volterra.pi.it
Wikipedia: it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volterra
Volterra and Val di Cecina: volterra-toscana.net
Volterra.net: volterra.net
Leonardo Da Vinci
Leonardo Museum
museoleonardiano.it
Links:
Terre del Rinascimento:
terredelrinascimento.it
Places to visit neighboring Tuscany - The Cinque Terre
The Cinque Terre is a jagged coastline of the eastern Ligurian Riviera, the Riviera di Levante, situated in the province of La Spezia, between Punta Mesco and Punta Montenero, in which there are five villages, small towns or, as once said, lands: Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore, listed moving from west to east.
The Cinque Terre is one of the Mediterranean areas and natural habitats most pristine and largest of Liguria.
The wine growing, typical of the area, has helped create a unique landscape with traditional dry stone walls, typical of the hills overlooking the crystal blue sea with bays, winding paths and enchanting small beaches between cliffs.
The Cinque Terre can be reached by train along the railway line Genoa-Rome, with regional trains at approximately every hour stop in all villages of the Cinque Terre. Trenitalia - Timetable
Some links:
Consortium Cinque Terre: cinqueterre.it/info.php
Cinque Terre on Wiki: it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinque_Terre
National Park of the Cinque Terre: parconazionale5terre.it
Bird's eye view: youtube.com
Useful Links
regione.toscana.it - Website of the Tuscany Region
turismo.toscana.it - Main portal of tourism in Tuscany
mediasoft.it/italy/ (geography)
comuni-italiani.it - Toscana: provinces, municipalities, forecasts, maps, information.
Servizio Agrometeorologico Arsia - Toscana