'''Tuscany''' (Italian: ''Toscana'') [http://www.turismo.toscana.it/ttgg/htmle/ttidgge.htm] is a region on Italy's west coast, on the Tyrrhenian sea. It is one of the most popular places to visit in a country that is itself one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. There are several reasons to visit Tuscany: some of the most important ones are seeing Renaissance art in Florence, eating Tuscan food and tasting the excellent local wines, and after all this enjoying a day at the beach in Viareggio.

Regions

Provinces

  • Arezzo (AR)
  • Florence (FI)
  • Grosseto (GR)
  • Livorno (LI)
  • Lucca (LU)
  • Massa-Carrara (MS)
  • Pisa (PI)
  • Pistoia (PT)
  • Prato (PO)
  • Siena (SI)
  • Other regions

  • Casentino
  • Chianti - (Classico) between Florence and Siena
  • Crete senese
  • Lunigiana
  • Maremma
  • Mugello - northern part of the province of Florence
  • Valdarno - an area located south east of Florence
  • Val di Chiana
  • Val d'Orcia
  • Versilia
  • Cities

  • Florence (''Firenze'') - capital
  • <!-- capital top, alphabetise the rest -->
  • Arezzo
  • Calenzano
  • Carrara
  • Casciana Terme
  • Castiglion Fiorentino
  • Cavriglia
  • Chiusi
  • Cortona
  • Empoli
  • Fiesole
  • Forte Dei Marmi
  • Grosseto
  • Livorno
  • Lucca
  • Lucignano
  • Massa
  • Montecatini Terme - mineral water drinking therapy
  • Montepulciano
  • Montevarchi
  • Pienza
  • Pisa
  • Pistoia
  • Pitigliano
  • Poppi
  • Prato
  • Radicondoli
  • Radda In Chianti
  • San Gimignano
  • Siena
  • Volterra
  • Valiano
  • Viareggio
  • Arcidosso
  • Other destinations

    The Tuscan islands:

  • Elba
  • Giannutri
  • Giglio
  • Montecristo
  • Pianosa
  • Understand

    Tuscany has two very diverse faces - the art cities such as Florence, Siena, Lucca and Pisa on one hand, and the countryside on the other. The small towns, villages, castles, villas and vineyards of Tuscany make a welcome change from the traffic and noise of some of the larger Tuscan cities.

    Get in

    By air

    International flights commonly come in to Milan or Rome, where one can rent a car and do the three-hour drive to Tuscany.

    Florence and Pisa have important airports. Every major city has a railway station.

  • '''Pisa International Airport Galileo Galilei''' [http://www.pisa-airport.com/], located 1.5km (1 mile) north of Pisa city centre.
  • '''Florence Airport Amerigo Vespucci''' [http://www.airport.florence.it/], Located four kilometers from the center of Florence.
  • Do note that Delta Airlines (US Carrier) now has a direct flight from New-York JFK to Pisa, offering a cheaper, alternative to flying into Florence.

    By train

    Florence, Pisa and Grosseto are important rail destinations. Florence has two major rail stations, Santa Maria Novella (SMN) in the city center and Campo di Marte (CdM) a bit further away.

    Connections from Florence to the rest of Italy by train are generally fast and frequent and EuroStar Italia services are available. Easy connections can be found to:

  • Milano
  • Orvieto
  • Rome
  • Bologna
  • Ravenna
  • Cinque Terre (reachable by train to La Spezia or Riomaggiore, or connecting from Genoa)
  • Assisi
  • Night train services are available from Florence to:
  • Zurich
  • Munich
  • Siracusa
  • Salerno
  • Reggio
  • and others.

    Get around

    By train

    From the central station of Florence you can easily reach most places in Tuscany, including:

  • Siena (1.5 to 2 hours)
  • Pisa (1 to 1.5 hours)
  • San Gimignano (by train to Poggibonsi, 1 hour ride, and then a bus that runs every 30-40 minutes, 25 minute ride)
  • Volterra (also reachable by bus from Poggibonsi)
  • Lucca
  • Arezzo
  • By bus

    See

  • Cathedrals. Every Tuscan city has a cathedral (''duomo''), each one prettier than the other.
  • David. ttp://www.polomuseale.firenze.it/accademia/. Michelangelo's masterpiece is in the Galleria dell'Accademia in Uffizi Gallery. ttp://www.polomuseale.firenze.it/english/uffizi/. The best collection of Renaissance art in the world is in

    Do

    Besides wandering in beautiful cities and looking at Renaissance art, there are many other things you can do in Tuscany. For example, you can learn to cook or just taste Tuscan food, do trekking, golf or go to a health spa.

    ''See also: Wine tourism#Italy''

    Most of the important traditional wine producers are located along the axis formed by Florence and Siena. The most famous region is Chianti along with neighboring Montalcino and Montepulciano. The white wines are less famous than the reds, but as an exception the Vernaccia of San Gimignano is recognized as a DOCG wine. The Tuscan wine industry has evolved a lot during the last 30-40 years, and the result is what is called ''Super Tuscan'' wine, famously produced in Bolgheri but also in Maremma and many other parts of Tuscany.

  • 2Be Travel Designers. ttp://www.2beinsiena.com. 39 334 9363263. nfo@2beinsiena.com. . We offer the visit to the wineries in Montalcino, Chianti, Montepulciano and Bolgheri area togheter with a lunch in selected restaurants. Visit of ancient Abbeys and Etruscan remains, fortresses and villages. Build your travel experience togheter with us, following your needs and wishes! Best Wine tasting, awsome sceneries and gourmet lunch. A professional service offered by licensed drivers speaking english.

  • . ttp://www.sangalgano.org. The impressive Abbey of San Galgano and its best sight: the sword in the stone
  • Learn to cook Italian Cuisines in Florence, Italy. ttp://www.tuscany-cooking-class.com. Good Tastes of Tuscany, a wonderful cooking school in Florence, Italy which allows you to take home the recipies of Italian delights.

  • Organic Tuscany Cooking Classes. talian Cooking School. oc. Pino, Certaldo 50052. 1 347 417 5907. ttp://www.organictuscany.org. Organic Tuscany offers week-long cooking classes in the Tuscan countryside with accommodation in a magnificent 19th century villa. The program includes visits to local organic farms where the fresh, local food they use is grown, hands-on cooking lessons with traditional Tuscan and Italian recipes, wine and oil tastings and tours of Florence and Siena.

    Eat

  • Authentic Tuscan cooking class. trada Fillinelle, 5 Tavarnelle Val di Pesa, FI. nfo@uptothevilla.org. ttp://www.cooking-class-authentic-tuscany.com.
  • [http://www.cooking-class-authentic-tuscany.com Authentic Tuscan cooking class] in a Chianti villa, one-day tailor-made course up to 6 people. Enjoy a fantastic cooking course in a spectacular villa from the 1500s in the Chianti hills. We will teach you everything you will need to know to prepare an authentic Tuscan meal with a hint of international twist from the antipasto course to the dessert. Carry back with you the ability to recreate an enviable Italian dinner at home, from homemade pasta, lasagne, panzanella and ribollita to tiramisu and schiacciata con l'uva. While we cook we will have a great time!.
  • Drink

    The question about what to drink in Tuscany is easy to answer. The region is famed for its wines, most notably the ''sangiovese'' reds ''Chianti'', ''Brunello di Montalcino'' and ''Vino Nobile di Montepulciano'' and the white ''Vernaccia di San Gimignano''. Of these, Chianti can be anything from inexpensive, drinkable plonk to, when it comes to the best examples of ''Chianti Classico'', a world class wine. The wines of Montalcino and Montepulciano are generally of a high standard, and in particular Brunello regularly receives lots of awards (something reflected on the price as well). If you are not prepared to pay a fortune for your wine but would still like something a bit nicer, both Montalcino and Montepulciano have the common man's version of their wines, ''Rosso di Montalcino'' and ''Rosso di Montepulciano''.

    Of these traditional wines perhaps only Brunello has the power to accompany a big Florentine steak, ''bistecca alla fiorentina''. For something fleshier, you have to turn to the ''Super Tuscan'' wines. These commonly use ''cabernet sauvignon'' to complement or to completely replace the traditional grapes. Famous examples are ''Sassicaia'' and ''Tignanello''.

    Sleep

    Renting

    Renting in Tuscany is a very popular way of staying in the beautiful Tuscan countryside. Many Italian owners have renovated palazzos, castles, farmhouses, villas and barns that are dotted around the beautiful rolling countryside. Years ago, many of the rental properties were of questionable quality?some were dark, kitchens were old fashioned, bathrooms often had a shower nozzle on the wall, the drain in the floor, no curtain and the toilet right alongside. Now the standard of renovation is quite high. A property, if fully renovated, will usually have newly tiled kitchens, bathrooms with shower stall, and brand-new appliances. Simple renovations will often have large rooms with little furniture in them. There will be one main room with a dining table alongside an open kitchen and one sofa (even if the hosue sleeps 6!). The kitchen will have a stop top and no oven, and no TV or telephone. More elegant properties will have sponge-painted walls, artwork, and beds with high-quality linens. Bathrooms can have ornate fixtures.

    Italian owners are learning they can go online and promote their own property. Finding a property that is located in the situation you want and that offers all the amenities you desire depends on how detailed and open each owner is. Clearly each traveler needs to evaluate her own willingness to risk dealing with an unknown owner. In addition to working with an individual Italian owner through her own website, there are many agencies that represent Italian owners and have offer a selection to clients.

    Rental Agencies

  • '''Ville et Village''' [http://www.villeetvillage.com] Mail: [mailto:rentals@villeetvillage.com] Phone: 1-510-559-8080 Large selection of villa and apartment rentals in most parts of Tuscany including Lucca, Florence, Siena, Arrezzo, Cortona, and Montepulciano. From village houses to free-standing villas with pools.
  • '''Toscana Home Service''' [http://www.toscanahomeservice.com/] Mail: [mailto:info@toscanahomeservice.com] Skype: toscanahomeservice | Phone: +39 320 230 3632 Offers holiday accommodations in the beautiful Tuscany, besides tourist services such as wine and food tours, Italian cooking classes, outdoor activities, bike rentals and itineraries, thermal baths, motorbike hire, car hire, boat hire, cultural tours, art tours and more.
  • '''Farmhouse in Tuscany''' [http://www.vogliadiagriturismo.com/en/agriturismo-in-toscana.html] Mail: [mailto:info@vogliadiagriturismo.com] Vogliadiagriturismo.com; Rural houses, bed & breakfast and their lastminute for lodging in heart of the Tuscan countryside
  • '''To Tuscany - Private Villa Rentals''' [http://www.to-tuscany.com/] Mail: [mailto:lisa@to-tuscany.com] Phone: +44 (0)207 193 7782 Over 250 hand-picked Tuscan private villas to rent. Check out the site for real time accommodation availability.
  • '''Travel Eden - Farmhouses and Villa Rentals''' [http://www.traveleden.com/holiday-rentals/tuscany-and-florence/1.html] Mail: [mailto:info@traveleden.com] Quality self catering holiday farmhouses and villas.
  • '''Just In Toscana - Farmhouse in Maremma Tuscany''' [http://en.justintoscana.com] Mail: [mailto:justintoscana@gmail.com] Phone: +39 349 4986298 B&B, Castle, Farmhouse, Hotel and Villas in Maremma Tuscany.
  • '''TravelTuscany.net''' [http://www.traveltuscany.net] A good resource to find budget & luxury self catering accommodations in Florence & Tuscany. Mail: [mailto:info@traveltuscany.net] Phone: +39 335 8361633
  • '''Florence Villas''' [http://www.florencevillas.com] Mail: [mailto:info@florencevillas.com] Phone: +39 335 6898344 Florence Villas offers short and long term holiday rentals throughout Tuscany, for the groups of all sizes.
  • Stay safe

    Women travellers should be particularly careful with eye contact in Tuscany. What is perceived as normal eye contact in some cultures is in local culture perceived as very flirtatious, and is an open invitation for would-be Romeos. These men could be very dangerous people and on the look out for single foreign women

    Get out

  • Perugia, Umbria