Tuscany Travel Guide
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.
Travel Guide
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Description:
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.
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Lazio and Umbria
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Description:
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.
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Description:
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.
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Via Ricci 9 (Tourist office)
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Description:
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.
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Campo dei Miracoli Pisa
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+39 050 560 547
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www.opapisa.it
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Description:
Cortona is a richly historic city that enjoys a scenic position
above Lake Trasimeno and the plain of Valdichiana, dotted with
olive groves and vineyards. It is one of Tuscany's oldest cities
and home to some its best-preserved Etruscan buildings.Cortona also has a strong artistic pedigree reflected in its
status as a 'City of Art', and was home to Luca Signorelli and
Pietra da Cortona. A good place to begin a tour of the city is at
its oldest part, the base of Porta Colonia where the original walls
from the 4th century BC are still visible. Other highlights of the
city include a ramble along the cobbled streets and clambering up
cut-stone staircases to gaze over a cityscape little changed since
the Renaissance and in many cases, the Middle Ages. Via Janelli in
particular has some of the oldest houses in Italy, many with their
original timber supporting the overhanging upper stories.Other key sights in Cortona include the church of San Francesco
(notable as the first Franciscan church outside Assisi), Palazzo
Comunale, and Museo dell'Accademia Etrusca (which houses a number
of major Etruscan artefacts).
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www.cortona.com
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Description:
The distinctive skyline of the charming medieval village of San
Gimignano is redolent of a modern cityscape with its many towers,
hence its nickname the 'medieval Manhattan'.Only 14 of the original 72 towers remain, however, which is
unsurprising as their dual role as status symbols and defensive
structures saw them caught in the middle of the many feuds and
battles that eventually caused the town's downfall. Nevertheless,
these 14 towers are among the best preserved in Italy, and are the
envy of Florence and Bologna whose towers have been destroyed. San
Gimignano enjoyed an ideal position on the main pilgrimage route
connecting Northern Europe and Rome, and prospered during the
middle ages. In modern times, its fortune stems from tourism and
wine production.The ideal starting point for a visit to San Gimignano is the
Piazza del Duomo which is the centre of town and framed by
historical buildings. Nearby is the Collegiata, a church dating
from the 11th century, famed for its frescoes which include The
Creation by Bartolo di Fredi. For shopping and souvenirs head to
Via San Giovanni.
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www.sangimignano.com
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Description:
Pisa is home to one of Italy's most famous attractions, the
Leaning Tower, yet is also celebrated for its outstanding
university, proud maritime heritage dating back three millennia,
and its status as birthplace of Galileo Galilei, the world's
greatest astronomer.Other notable sites are the strikingly beautiful square Campo
dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles), the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo
which displays wonderful arabesque panels, and the Museo Nazionale
di San Matteo known for its collection of Florentine art from the
12th through to the 17th century. And yet Pisa's identity will
forever be linked to its Leaning Tower, an accident of engineering
caused by the combination the top-heavy marble of the building and
the shifting subsoil of its foundations. Other buildings have also
suffered over the years, notably San Michele dei Scalzi on the
Field of Dreams.
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Description:
The charming city of Lucca is laid-out on ancient Roman roads
and framed within well-preserved and photogenic medieval
ramparts.The city was home to Puccini, and is famed for its chamber
music, and celebrated for its museums, monuments and splendid
Romanesque churches. With its flat terrain and narrow lanes, Lucca
is perfectly suited to explore on foot or bicycle, the same methods
local people use to commute.Key sights on a visit to Lucca are the Duomo, San Michele, San
Frediano, Museo Nazionale Guinigi and Torre Guinigi. The remains of
an ancient Roman amphitheatre can be found on Piazza del Mercato,
lined by buildings dating from the middle ages. Casa di Pucini is
an essential stopover for opera fans as Puccini lived and composed
in this well-preserved 15th century building.
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