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 Duomo Museum in Florence © Italian Tourist Board Tuscany's rolling hills are garlanded with cypress trees, lush
vines and olive groves that make way here and there for sleepy
villages and medieval hill towns. The area rests languidly in the
middle of the Italian peninsula, with parts stretching to the
coastline of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Snaking through the Tuscan
landscape from Florence to Pisa and soaking its thirsty banks is
the Arno River. Akin to the gentle flow of a river is the ebb of
life in the region. People work in the fields in much the same way
their ancestors did before them, producing some of Italy's finest
wines and olive oils. From this same landscape emerges a profusion
of art and architecture that has fashioned Italy onto the cultural
map. Tuscany was the birthplace of the Renaissance, a period of
unprecedented innovation in art, architecture and humanist
scholarship. The grandeur of the High Renaissance was enjoyed
during the Medici family's reign when they commissioned the art and
architecture that lives on within the elegant precincts of
Florence.
Resorts See our separate guides to the following Tuscany holiday resorts: Assisi, Pisa, Cortona, Lucca, San Gimignano and Siena Attractions  Leaning Tower of Pisa © wsuph001 Leaning Tower of Pisa
The world-famous Leaning Tower of Pisa was built as a
freestanding bell tower (campanile) behind the city cathedral.
Constructed during the 11th and 12th centuries, the tower is the
third oldest building in Pisa's Cathedral Square. Originally
intended to stand vertically, the tower now leans towards the
south-west due to uneven foundations in the loose earth. At its
highest point the tower reaches 186 feet (57m) above ground level,
and has 296 steps leading to the top floor. It is not certain who
the original architect was but it was most likely designed by
Diotisalvi.
Address: Campo dei Miracoli Pisa;
Telephone: 050 560 547
Excursions Chianti Region
A circular route from Siena through the Chianti hills is a
scenic and sensory experience. The route covers the villages of the
Chianti Classico wine region garnished with ancient castles and
rambling farmhouses. The vineyards and wooded hills of the Chianti
are best explored along its winding back roads or from within its
sleepy hamlets. By car, visitors would keep a lookout for signs
marked 'vendita diretta'. The first stop is at Castello di Brolio,
a magnificent vineyard owned by the Ricasoli family since 1167. The
SS484 will take you south of Brolio and north past the hamlets of
San Gusme, Campi and Linari before rejoining the road for a
diversion to the Meleto castle. Another worthwhile stop is at Badia
a Coltibuono for its restaurant and Romanesque church. The winding
road west to Radda in Chianti is especially picturesque. A further
nine miles (15km) from here north to the hamlet of Volapia is a
delightful travel back in time as is a visit to Castellina in
Chianti. Within the ramparts of this walled village is the Bottega
del Vino Galla Nero at Via della Rocca 13, showcasing the region's
delectable wines and olive oils.
Etruscan Sites
Attracted by the mineral wealth found in the regions of Tuscany,
Lazio and Umbria, the Etruscans made their way to Italy around 900
BC. Traces of Etruscan civilisation can be found in their burial
sites and in the artefacts found in their tombs. They were
preoccupied with the afterlife and dedicated much effort in
building burial sites carved into rock or constructed from stone
slab and reached by dedicated rock-cut roads.
For an exploration of Etruscan artefacts start at Grosseto. The
Museo Civico Archeologico in Grosseto contains a selection of
Etruscan artefacts that were found in tombs nearby. Head north from
here to Roselle, the most important excavated Etruscan and Roman
remains in Tuscany. From here follow the road leading east for 34
miles (54km) to the Etruscan village of Saturnia to explore its
rock-cut tombs and on to Sovanato the famous Ildebranda Tomb.
The town of Pitigliano is peppered with Etruscan tombs and tunnels.
The town itself is a spectacular vista of houses jutting out over
soft limestone cliffs and caves bordering the River Lente. The
cliffs contain numerous caves that have been used to store local
wines and olive oils and the town itself is a labyrinth of medieval
streets that have carried the passage of many a traveller. From
this quaint town, head west to the extensive necropolis on the
outskirts of Marsiliana. Complete the trip with a stop at Talamone
and Maremma for a visit to the Etruscan temple, Roman villa and
baths.
Address: Lazio and Umbria
Montepulciano
Montepulciano is Tuscany's highest hilltop town, built along a
narrow limestone ridge at 1,950ft (605m) above sea level. Sheltered
within the town's fortified walls are charming streets packed with
Renaissance-style palaces and churches. Its most celebrated
achievement is its Vino Nobile wines. Also of interest is the
Madonna di San Biagio, a delightful pilgrimage church on the
outskirts of the town. For a dip into Etruscan reliefs and funerary
urns collected by Pietro Bucelli, visit his Palazzo on Via di
Gracciano del Corso 73. For splendid views, take a stroll to the
Palazzo Communale and climb the tower.
Address: Via Ricci 9 (Tourist office);
Opening time: Palazzo Communale tower is open 9am to 2pm, Monday to Saturday.
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