Tuscany- one of the most attractive regions for tourists, both in terms of the number and enduring value of cultural and artistic attractions, and due to a wide selection of magnificent resort areas. Tuscany is located in the center and borders in the northwest with, in the north - with the region, in the east - with and, in the south - with, and 397 km of the western coast are washed by the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian seas. 3 million 746 thousand people live in Tuscany, the capital of the region is.

Geography

The territory of the region is 66.5% covered by hills, about 8.4% is occupied by valleys, 25.1% of Tuscany belongs to mountain ranges, such as the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines and the Tuscan-Roman Apennines. characterized by gently sloping sandy shores. includes several islands located around the main island of the archipelago -. The archipelago includes the islands of Gorgona and Capraia (of volcanic origin) - in the Ligurian Sea, Pianosa, Montecristo, Giglio and Giannutri - in the Tyrrhenian.

Most high mountains: Monte Prado (2054 m), Monte Giovo (1991 m), Monte Pisanino (1946 m), Alpe Tre Potenze (1940 m). Mount Amiata (1738 m) is an extinct volcano.

Mount Amiata. Photo flickr.com

Main rivers: Arno (241 km), Ombrone (161 km), Serchio (111 km), Cecina (73 km), Magra (70 km), Sieve (62 km).

Main lakes: Bilancino (artificial, 5 sq. km), Chiusi (3.9 sq. km), San Casciano (2 sq. km), Montepulciano (1.9 sq. km).

The average annual temperature on the coast is a maximum of 16 °C on the coast, gradually decreasing towards the center and north of Tuscany. The flat areas (Valdarno and Val di Chiana valleys) experience the highest summer temperatures, sometimes reaching 40 °C, in stark contrast to the minimum winter temperatures, which sometimes drop to below freezing. Snow falls in the mountains and sometimes in the hilly areas adjacent to them, but extremely rarely in flat places and almost never on the sea coast.

Story

The first mention of the presence of man on these lands dates back to the 2nd millennium BC. Around the 9th century BC. appear the first evidence of stay throughout the central Etruscans. The heyday of the Etruscan civilization on the territory of modern Tuscany falls on the 6th century BC: roads were built, among which the so-called Vie Cave between Sovana, Pitigliano and Sorano are still preserved, the majestic sacred thermal complex "Bagnone" was erected in Sasso- Pisano, the swamps were drained and the main Etruscan cities were built - Arezzo, Chiusi, Volterra, Populonia, Cortona and Roselle. In the III century BC. The Etruscans were defeated by the Roman army, and after a period of prosperity, accompanied by the development of crafts, mining and processing of iron, trade, Etruria began to decline. The Romans, having settled on the lands of the Etruscans, began to build new cities.

Volterra. Photo flickr.com

After the fall of the Roman Empire, the region fell under the rule of the Ostrogoths and the Byzantines, and then the Lombards (569), who founded the duchy with its capital in Lucca. From the 11th century, fortress cities began to be actively built throughout the region, during the same period Pisa became the most powerful and influential city in the region and extended the power of the maritime republic to almost the entire territory of Tuscany.

From the XII century, the period of free communes begins, and Pistoia becomes the first commune in Italy. The first forms of democracy develop, which brought cultural, social and economic independence to Tuscany. In the same period, the independent Florentine and Siena Republics were formed, constantly at war with each other. Gradually, by the 16th century, Florence subjugated all Tuscan territories, including Siena. The Grand Duchy of Tuscany lasted until the middle of the 19th century. In 1860, Tuscany joined the Kingdom of Sardinia, which later became the Kingdom of Italy and then the Italian Republic.

culture

Italy is the country with the largest number of listed properties in the world, and Tuscany is one of the regions (together with Campania, Lombardy and Piedmont) that is richest in protected properties. These are the historical centers, San Gimignano, Pienza, Duomo Square, Val d'Orcia.

Tuscany is famous for its cultural heritage; a huge number of historical monuments and works of art are concentrated in this region. The cities of Florence, Pisa, Siena and Lucca are world-famous, rich in cultural monuments of Arezzo, Pistoia and Prato, perhaps less known among tourists, but no less rich in cultural attractions of Livorno, Grosseto and Massa.

Painting by the Tuscan artist Giovanni Fattori "Oxen in harness" (1867-1870, gallery of modern art in Palazzo Pitti, Florence). Photogiovannifattori.it

And besides, in Tuscany there is a huge number of small towns, many of which are medieval fortress cities perfectly preserved over the centuries, fraught with priceless works of art. These are Cortona, Lucignano, Sansepolcro, Castiglion Fiorentino, Poppi (in the province of Arezzo); San Gimignano, Pienza, Colle di Val d'Elsa, Montepulciano, Chiusi, Monteriggioni (in the province of Siena); Fiesole and Certaldo (in the province of Florence); Massa Marittima, Orbetello, Pitigliano, Roselle, Sorano and Sovana (in the province of Grosseto); Bolgheri, Campiglia Marittima, Piombino, Populonia and Suvereto (in the province of Livorno); Barga, Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, Castiglione di Garfagnana, Pietrasanta, Viareggio, Villa Basilica (in the province of Lucca); Aulla, Fivizano, Fosdinovo, Pontremoli (in the province of Massa Carrara); Calci, Lari, San Giuliano Terme, San Miniato, Sasso Pisano, Vicopisano, (in the province of Pisa); Carmignano and Poggio a Caiano (in the province of Prato); Pescia, Quarrata, Montecatini Terme, Larciano, Collodi, Serravalle Pistoiese, Montevettolini (in the province of Pistoia).

Tourism

Tuscany is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world; among the regions of Italy itself, it ranks second after Lazio. Thanks to his richest cultural heritage, beautiful scenery, diversity of landscape, Tuscany is able to satisfy a wide range of tourist requests: from sightseeing to relaxing holidays in or by the sea. In general, more than 12,000 tourist structures of any type are available to guests of the region, and it is Tuscany that holds the national championship in the number of agritourism hotels, of which there are over 4,000.

Tuscany is proud of its rich tourist tradition, and not only thanks to such world-famous cities as Florence, Pisa, Siena and Lucca. The region is also rich in many other places, attractive for their beauty and centuries-old history. The small but interesting towns of San Gimignano, Volterra, Cortona, Pienza, Pitigliano, larger centers such as Arezzo or Lucca annually attract a huge number of tourists, primarily from abroad.

Pitigliano is a city that has grown out of the rock. Phototrekearth.com

Health tourism offers many resort places, first of all, in Versilia, where lovers of sea bathing already gathered at the beginning of the 20th century. Excellent places to relax by the sea are rich in the 100-kilometer stretch of coast between Livorno and Piombino, called the "Etruscan Coast", as well as the Tuscan Maremma. The islands of the Tuscan archipelago, among which the island of Elba stands out, attract lovers of scuba diving and boat trips.

Agritourism and accompanying wine and gastronomic tourism is well developed in all rural areas of the region, especially in the places of Maremma, Chianti, Mugello, Crete Senesi, Val di Chiana, Val di Cecina, Val d'Orcia.

Recently, cycling tourism has also been actively developing in the region: many equipped cycling routes wind through hundreds of kilometers in places of virgin nature among breathtaking landscapes.

Thermal tourism offers wide choose centers in Saturnia, Rapolano, and Montecatini, while the complex in Monte Abetone attracts skiers and outdoor enthusiasts every winter.

Thermal center in Saturnia. Phototurismocongusto.it

As an example, let's take a short tour of the roads of Chianti.

It is difficult to say what attracts travelers more to the area located between Florence and Siena: ancient cities that carefully store the treasures of art and history or the unique beauty and diversity of the landscape. The first thing that meets on the way of a tourist heading from Florence towards the famous Chianti hills is the Carthusian monastery in Galluzzo. The main church of San Lorenzo and the monastic buildings certainly deserve attention for their unique architecture, characteristic of many Carthusian buildings. The monastic ensembles of this order are often called Certosa, and Certosa del Galluzzo is recognized by experts as one of the most outstanding Carthusian complexes in Italy (it is second only to the Pavia Certosa).

Monastery complex of Certosa del Galluzzo. Photoflickeflu.com

The monastery was founded in 1342. Since then, the small refuge of the Carthusians has been completed and rebuilt until it acquired modern look. The most important part of the entire complex was and remains a large courtyard, framed around the perimeter by a wide loggia. For people familiar with the work of Filippo Brunelleschi, the architectural design of the courtyard will remind the famous Orphanage in Florence, only instead of babies in medallions, holy representatives of the Christian Church are depicted.

The heart of Certosa is the church of San Lorenzo, which in times of trouble played not only a spiritual, but also a practical role. was designed like a real citadel and served, among other things, as an observation tower. The cloister of the monks is widely known not only for its architecture, its glory is made up of an extensive library and an amazing pinacoteca, on the walls of which five lunettes with images of scenes from the life of Christ by Pontormo (16th century) have been preserved.

Continuing the journey towards Certaldo, first we pass a small town San Casciano in Val di Pesa, known primarily for the church of Misericordia, which houses several paintings of great artistic value, and then let's look at Fiano. Spread out on the highest of the surrounding hills, the city looks surprisingly picturesque against the backdrop of green fields and misty mountains. Here, Lucardo Castle and the Church of San Martino will open to our eyes, and a little further away - the Romanesque church dedicated to St. Lazarus.

The hilly landscapes are visibly enlivened by the small rivers Peza and Elsa - these are small tributaries that feed the famous Arno River. Just on one of them - Elsa and there is a town Chertaldo. The higher part of the city, known as the Castello (Castle), is very attractive for tourists because the medieval quarters dating back to the 13th-15th centuries have been preserved almost unchanged. Of particular interest in the old town are the Palazzo Vicari (or Palazzo Pretorio) and Boccaccio's house. This house invariably attracts admirers of Italian literature, because. in it was born in 1313, lived the last years of his life and died in 1375 Giovanni Boccaccio - the author of the famous short stories "Decameron". Now the building has been given to the national center of Boccaccio, there is also a unique library, which contains the works of the famous Italian author, published in different years and in different languages ​​of the world.

Palazzo Pretorio in Certaldo. Phototuscany.hotelcertaldo.it

Not far from Boccaccio's house is the Church of Saints Michele and Jacopo (XIII century), which has been restored in our time, the courtyard of the church is worth seeing additionally. On the right side is the tomb of Giovanni Boccaccio, the tombstone for which was made in 1503 by the sculptor Giovanni Francesco Rustici. Further in the direction of travel, a small square will open, where the Vicars Palace is located. IN different time it served both as a palace of supreme power and as the residence of the Florentine vicars (their coats of arms are emblazoned on the laconic facade of the building). The interior of the palazzo is decorated with frescoes by the artist Pier Francesco Fiorentino (late 15th - early 16th centuries).

Next comes the city San Gimignano, which amazes travelers with the unusual beauty of the silhouette with many towers. To many tourists, it seems to be the most picturesque of the cities of Tuscany. The main squares of San Gimignano - Piazza del Duomo and Piazza della Cisterna (on which a water tank has been located since the 13th century) can be called typical Italian squares, however, they are worth a close look, and also, be sure to visit the university church and the palace of city government ( Palazzo del Popolo, XIII-XIV centuries), which houses a magnificent art gallery.

San Gimignano. Photopisaconguida.it

From San Gimignano the road leads to the town Poggibonsi, a little away from it is the secluded convent of San Lucchese.

medieval village Monteriggioni stands out against the background of the surrounding nature with powerful fortress walls and fourteen watchtowers. This outpost was built in 1213 as a watchtower to guard the northern borders of Siena, which lies surrounded by soft hills covered with green vineyards and silvery olive groves. Here, in the areas of Castellina and Greve, grapes are grown for the famous Chianti wine.

Fortified city of Monteriggioni. Photohungarianprovence.blogspot.it

Worth a visit to the place Castello di Brolio- the birthplace of modern winemaking, producing Chianti wine. It was here that in 1870 Baron Bettino Ricasoli discovered the original recipe for the most famous Italian wine in the world. To obtain a divine drink, he took several specific varieties of grapes, both red and white, and in order to achieve a characteristic taste and aroma, he added raisins to the barrels. Not such a complex composition, but real wine can only be tasted here, among the Chianti hills, where Tuscan air and the Italian sun are added to the divine aroma of grapes.

Castello- di- Brolio And his famous vineyards. Photolifeandtravel.com

Famous Tuscans

Many people come from Tuscany who brought fame to the region and all of Italy and made an invaluable contribution to world art, culture and science.

These are Dante Alighieri (born 1265), Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475), Leonardo da Vinci (1452),

writers and poets Pietro Aretino (1492), Francesco Petrarca (1304), Giovanni Boccaccio (1313), Carlo Collodi (1826); Giosue Carducci (1835);

painters, sculptors, architects Giotto (1267), Cimabue (1240), Luca Signorelli (1445), Duccio di Buoninsegna (1255), Simone Martini (1284), Antonio del Pollaiolo (1433), Fra Beato Angelico (1400), Sandro Botticelli (1445), Benvenuto Cellini (1500), Donatello (1386), Filippo Brunelleschi (1377), Piero della Francesca (1420), Giorgio Vasari (1511), Giovanni Fattori (1825), Amedeo Modigliani (1884);

Sandro Botticelli, self-portrait. Photo from sitelighter.com

thinkers and scientists Niccolò Macchiavelli (1469), Galileo Galilei (1564); travelers Giovanni da Verrazzano (1485) and Amerigo Vespucci (1454), music theorist Guido Aretinsky (990), inventor Antonio Meucci (1808), composer Giacomo Puccini (1858).

Of the famous Tuscan contemporaries, actors deserve attention, Leonardo Pieraccioni, Giorgio Panariello; musicians Lorenzo Cherubini (Jovanotti), Gianna Nannini, Irene Grandi, Piero Pelu; football players, Luciano Spalletti, Marcello Lippi, gymnast Yuri Keki, directed by Franco Zeffirelli.

Leonardo Pieraccioni in his film The Beautiful Wife. Photomovieplayer.it

Tuscany... The name of this charming Italian region is absolutely on everyone's lips. What is it connected with? I kept asking myself this question, I didn't understand why. this region is so popular...

Probably, I just didn’t realize that Tuscany is a real “treasury”! This region is infinitely rich in:

• Significant historical events... for example, it was thanks to the great Dante Alighieri that the Tuscan dialect formed the basis of the modern Italian language, and the author of the Divine Comedy became the "father of the literary Italian language"!

• Prominent figures... it was here that such great figures of science and culture were born: Leonardo da Vinci, Francesco Petrarca, Giovanni Boccaccio, Niccolò Machiavelli, Galileo Galilei, Sandro Botticelli, Michelangelo Buonarroti, Amerigo Vespucci and many others! Tuscany is home to a paradoxical amount of exceptionally talented people!

• Amazing cities... Tuscany is a necklace that consists of the real diamonds of Italian urban planning and architecture: Lucca, Arezzo, San Gimignano are simply amazing! There is even a legend that it is so beautiful that it refers to one of the cities in the world, which in the truest sense of the word can drive a person crazy with their beauty.

• Treasures of world culture... It would not be an exaggeration to say that the region is simply filled with masterpieces of world art, moreover, Tuscany is the cradle of a new stage in the history of culture, because it was there that the great Renaissance began.

• Natural resources... The landscape of this region is so diverse that absolutely everyone will find a place to their liking. The flat terrain occupies about 10% of the entire area of ​​the region, and on the remaining 90% you can find absolutely everything. Tuscany has both mountain ranges and softly contoured hills. The coast of the region, along which there are various islands surrounded by coral reefs, seems endless. In addition, even an extinct volcano "fell asleep" in the province of Florence!

Thus, even from the introduction, you can understand that the endless praises in relation to Tuscany are well deserved! This region leaves no one indifferent, which is why Tuscany is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Italy.

How to get there

There are several ways to get to the Tuscany region. This can be done not only by land and by air, if you try very hard (since the proposed option is quite limited), then it is possible to reach the coast of the region by sea;).

But this option will please only those who are planning their flight from Moscow, since direct flights were open only for this direction. Unfortunately, residents of St. Petersburg will have to make a transplant, as in the previous version.

Below is the current timetable for Moscow, which indicates: validity period, departure and arrival times (local time), flight number, days of the week on which the flight operates.

You can read more detailed information related to the modes of transport in the city in the article of the same name.

By train

Much to the chagrin of travelers, there is currently no direct train that would bring you to the capital of the Tuscany region.

However, I would like to share with you 3 ways to get to Florence by train if you are coming from Genoa, Milan or Rome.

I can warn you right away that a more or less decent room in the historical center of the city will not be found cheaper than 70 EUR per person. Either it will be a special offer that the site puts up very often, or it will be something like a bed in a hostel. But for people who are not limited in the budget, there will be plenty of room to roam: 5-star luxury hotels, where renting a single room for 1 night will start from 250 EUR, abound in the city.

As for the rest of the cities in Tuscany: the price will be slightly lower (by 10-15%), and the choice will be less (due to the small size of the city). But you can always try your luck and try to look for offers from locals, who are often more loyal.

You can see the prices for apartments, and compare the cost of rooms in hotels by.

Nutrition

Eating out in restaurants in Tuscany is expensive. If you're on an unlimited budget, there are a number of Michelin-starred restaurants in Florence. Here are some of them:

• IL PALAGIO. Address: Borgo Pinti 99, 50121, Firenze

• RISTORANTE IL LATINI. Address: Via dei Palchetti, 6R, 50123, Firenze

• IL SANTO BEVITORE. Address: Via di Santo Spirito, 64/66r, 50125, Firenze

• ENOTECA PINCHIORRI. Address: Via Ghibellina, 87, 50122, Firenze

For dinner in such a restaurant for two people, you will give at least 150 EUR, and as a maximum ... it all depends on your talent;).

Even a dinner for two in a middle-class restaurant will cost you 60-70 EUR. Therefore, people who cannot afford something like this will either have to eat in restaurants from the category “cibo di strada” - street snacks (one such hearty snack can cost about 4-5 EUR), or buy food in supermarkets or food markets, which, of course, will cost many times less.

Excursions

Excursions and tours in Tuscany are not cheap pleasure. Sometimes tourist guides may ask for a 2-3 hour personal tour only in Florence for about 100 EUR, for group tours the price tag starts from 40 EUR. And if you want to travel around the outskirts of Tuscany in a guide's personal car, then be prepared to pay for such a personal tour from 250 EUR. It is difficult to disagree that with a guide you will visit a lot of interesting places, learn a huge amount of new information. But do not despair if you cannot afford something like this, because you can always turn to paper guides (prices for such an "assistant" will start from 10 EUR)! And believe me (checked by me personally), very often really worthwhile places are indicated there, which are usually advised by local residents of the city!

Taxi and transport

About the features of the taxi and public transport in Tuscany will be discussed below.

Main attractions. What to see

When I got to writing this section, I felt a little sick, to put it mildly, because I really didn’t know what to grab onto and what to write about!

There are too many interesting and delightful things in Tuscany! That is why I decided to change the standard section "Top 5" and make it a "UNESCO World Heritage section".

Wait a minute: there are as many as 7 UNESCO sites in Tuscany! And these places are really worth visiting, because it is not for nothing that they are part of the world heritage of mankind :).

top 10

UNESCO World Heritage List in Tuscany:

Moreover, several more sites in Tuscany are candidates and "stand in line" for recognition as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site:

Beaches. Which is better

Conventionally, I would divide the rest on the beaches in Tuscany into several main areas.

Northern part of the Tuscan coast

It is also known as Versilia. Holidays in this part of the Tuscan coast are considered prestigious and elite even among the inhabitants of Italy itself, because not everyone can afford such a vacation. Hotels and restaurants Versions are distinguished by high quality and excellent service, and the beaches - by their environmental friendliness and warm sea.

Despite the high price tag, hotels are packed to capacity during the holiday season, so it's best to make reservations in advance. It is important to note that most of the beaches are paid, and if you are not a hotel guest, then you will have to pay for an umbrella and a sunbed (prices start from 35 EUR for one day use per person).

TO Versions include the following resort towns: Viareggio, Lido di Camaiore, Marina di Pietrasanta, Forte dei Marmi.

Southern part of the Tuscan coast

This part covers the cities of the Tuscan Riviera, which are located on the site from Livorno to Monte Argentario .

Unlike the first direction, prices here are more affordable, so more people can afford this type of holiday. But there are also extremely prestigious seaside resorts here!

The so-called Riviera Etruscans- part of the coast, which belongs to P Provinces of Livorno: Castiglioncello, Marina di Castagneto, Marina di Bibbona, Marina di Cecina . There are consistently many tourists here, in addition, this direction is considered ideal for a family relaxing holiday, because the main amusement parks of the Tuscany region are concentrated in the zone.

Speaking of the second part south coast (Maremma and Grosetto zones), then you can arrange a fashionable vacation in cities such as Punta Ala and Castiglione della Pescaia . Here are the resorts F ollonica, Marina di Grosseto and Tirrenia can please travelers with the affordability of their prices and the quality of the beaches along the coastline.

Islands of the Tuscan archipelago

You can also read about this direction a little below.

Their nature is simply amazing! It feels like you are in the Caribbean: white sand, crystal clear turquoise water, coral reefs. It is in connection with the presence of unique marine flora and fauna that these islands are a favorite place for divers.

Although it seems that a vacation in the Tuscan archipelago is not cheap, it is not entirely true! On the island Elbe there are always many offers for different budgets, and the island Giglio pleases really low prices. Another undoubted plus of a holiday in the Tuscan archipelago is a large number of wild beaches which, of course, are free :).

Churches and temples. Which are worth a visit

As one would expect, there are a huge number of beautiful churches and amazing cathedrals and basilicas in Tuscany.

Therefore, I tried to choose the most interesting and significant of them. All of them are located in different provinces of the region.

Churches in

• The main Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is La Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore.

• Basilica of Santa Maria Novella - La Basilica di Santa Maria Novella.

• Basilica of Santa Croce - Basilica di Santa Croce.

Churches in Arezzo

• Cathedral of Saints and Donato - La Cattedrale dei Santi Pietro e Donato. This temple is the heart of the spiritual life of the city.

• Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie - Chiesa di Santa Maria delle Grazie. This cathedral surprises with its unusual architecture. The inspiration for the creation of such a portico was the Orphanage (orphanage) in Florence.

Churches in Lucca

• Cathedral of Saint Martin - La Cattedrale di San Martino. At the moment, the Cathedral houses the work of the famous Italian sculptor Matteo Civitali. Therefore, the entrance is paid - 3 EUR (just visiting the temple), 5 EUR (visiting and the opportunity to climb the tower).

• Basilica of Saint Fridian - La Basilica di San Frediano. The main decoration of the temple is a mosaic depicting Jesus Christ and the apostles, which decorates the outer facade of the basilica.

• Church of San Michele in Foro - La Chiesa di San Michele in Foro. On the facade of the church there is a statue of the Archangel Michael. According to legend, it is believed that under certain light, a green glow emanates from the statue, the cause of which is the emerald, which was well hidden there.

Churches in

Detailed information can be found.

• Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Il Duomo di Santa Maria Assunta.

• Church of Santa Maria della Spina - La Chiesa di Santa Maria della Spina.

Prato

• Cathedral of Santo Stefano - La Cattedrale di Santo Stefano. The cathedral impresses both with its external and internal decoration. An ideal example of Tuscan architecture in its best traditions.

Churches in

More details can be read.

• Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - La Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta.

• Cathedral of Santa Maria dei Servi - La Basilica di Santa Maria dei Servi.

• Cathedral of San Domenico - La Basilica di San Domenico.

Museums. Which are worth a visit

I think I will not surprise you if I say that Tuscany has a huge variety of museums. You can read about the most famous museums in the whole world in the article about the city already mentioned earlier.

I also suggest that you refer to the articles on Pisa and Siena if you want to know more information about the most interesting museums in these beautiful medieval cities.

In this section, I decided to take an alternative path and talk about the most unusual, perhaps even a little strange, museums that exist in Tuscany.

Truffle Museum in San Giovanni d'Asso (Il Museo del Tartufo a San Giovanni d'Asso)

Yes, indeed, in Tuscany, in the small town of San Giovanni d'Asso, there is a museum in which they will share with you all the possible and impossible information about this amazing mushroom “under the name of truffle”. An interesting fact is that it is in Italy that about 20% of the "world's truffle reserves" are concentrated. Tuscany is very lucky in this regard - the "truffle season" here lasts almost all year round. And no kidding, the truffle is truly a regional pride!

Address: Piazza Antonio Gramsci, 1, 53020 San Giovanni d'Asso SI

Opening hours: a April-November - every day from 10.00 to 13.00 and from 15.00 to 18.00

Ticket price:

The total cost is 4 EUR.

Discount for students - 3 EUR.

For children under 13 years old - 2 EUR.

For children under 6 years old and disabled people - admission is free.

wine goreone museum (World Wine Town)

A real open-air museum city dedicated to exceptional Italian wines

In the exposition you will be able to find out absolutely everything that you “ever wanted to know, but were afraid to ask” about wines :). Moreover, the complex also houses hotels, restaurants, a wine academy and a culinary school! The place is a must for anyone who loves and appreciates this noble drink!

Address: Casone Ugolino, Via del Casone Ugolino, 24/32, 57022 Castagneto Carducci LI

Excursions and tours are conducted by appointment.

Gucci Museum (Gucci Museo)

This is a real paradise for people who understand fashion: the exposition is located on 3 floors of one of the historic buildings in the heart of Florence - Palazzo di Mercanzia. The amazing atmosphere of the place adds a certain entourage to the museum.

In addition, in addition to the museum, you can also visit a library or a cafe / restaurant (which are open to absolutely everyone, and not just museum visitors).

Address: Piazza della Signoria, 10, 50122 Firenze FI

Opening hours: daily 10.00-20.00. Exceptions: January 1, August 15, December 25.

Ticket price: 6 EUR.

***

In addition, you can look into very specific museums:

parks

In this section, I tried to present the whole range of natural resources that are located on the territory of Tuscany: protected areas, national and archaeological parks, mountains, baths, valleys, grottoes...

The list is endless, so I chose those places that I have not mentioned before.

Park in the Maremma area - Parco Naturale della Maremma

This park has beautiful beaches. But it is worth noting that access to some of them is closed, and to some it is limited, since the entire territory is a natural protected area.

Via del Bersagliere 7/9, Alberese.

Archaeological Park "Citta del Tufo" - Parco Archeologico "Città del Tufo"

On the territory of the park there are ancient Etruscan necropolises (III-II centuries BC), which are considered a unique archaeological monument.

Palazzo Pretorio | Piazza Pretorio, 12/a, Sovana, Sorano.

Biancane Naturalistic Park - Parco Naturalistico delle Biancane

An extraordinary park whose landscape has been influenced by the geological and geothermal processes taking place in this area.

Strada Provinciale Bagnolo, Monterotondo Marittimo.

The Baths of Fosso Bianco – Le Terme del Fosso Bianco

Thermal springs, which are located in the depths of the forest.

Via del Bollore, Bagni di San Filippo.

Terme di Saturnia - Terme di Saturnia

Well-known Tuscan thermal springs, adapted for a convenient visit to the place by visitors.

Saturnia, Grosseto.

Stretti di Giaredo - Stretti di Giaredo

Extraordinary beauty natural canyon! A place that has not yet become one of the areas of mass tourism;).

loc. Cavezzana Gordana, Pontremoli.

Laguna di Orbetello

One of the most picturesque lagoons in the region, which is surrounded by sandy spits. It is a nature reserve, because various species of migratory birds live there.

SS Aurelia Km 147 | Orbetello - Monte Argentario - Gr, Albinia, Orbetello.

Mount Capanne - Monte Capanne and Mount Pania della Croce - Pania della Croce

Marciana, Elba Island.

Piglionico, Molazzana.

Two picturesque mountains, which are a favorite place for hiking and walking.

Grotta del Vento (grotto) - Grotta del Vento and Tourist Grotto Antro del Corchia - Grotta Turistica Antro del Corchia

fraz. Levigliani di Stazzema, Stazzema.

Two delightful grottoes that are open to tourists. Really exciting places!

Botanical Garden “Pietro Pellegrini” – Orto Botanico "Pietro Pellegrini"

Via dei Colli | Pian della Fioba, Mass.

nearby islands

In this section, it is worth mentioning Tuscan archipelago, which is also the largest marine national park in the Mediterranean.

The Tuscan archipelago consists of 7 fairly large islands and a huge number of smaller islets. These islands are also called the "Seven Sisters", which include:

Each island has its own characteristics and unique aspects: they differ not only geologically, but also historically. For example, an island Montecristo was recognized as a State and Natural Reserve in 1971. Islands Giglio and Giannutri are distinguished by the presence of absolutely virgin, untouched nature - the central part of the islands is not inhabited by people. Island Elbe famous not only for the stunning beauty of its beaches, but also for its history. This island became the place of "honorable exile" of Napoleon Bonaparte, who in 1815 managed to escape from the island in order to leave another vivid memory of himself in history - the "Hundred Days" of returning to power. But, it is important to note that each of the "sisters" is absolutely beautiful and has unique natural resources: colorful reefs, blue grottoes, clear water, special flora and fauna.

neighboring regions

The region of Tuscany shares a common border with 5 other Italian regions: Lazio, Marche, Umbria and Emilia-Romagna.

North

North of Tuscany is a region whose inhabitants are famous for their endless love for 2 things: good meat dishes and fast, racing cars. And this is not surprising: Emilia-Romagna is home to delicious meat dishes (lasagne/spaghetti alla bolognese = lasagne or spaghetti alla bolognese) and legendary racing cars (Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati).

Northwest

To the west of Tuscany is another unusually interesting and beautiful Italian region -. Small but charming attracts tourists with excellent beaches and seaside resorts, in addition, there is the famous national park. It is this region that is home to the popular "green" pesto alla genovese (pesto alla genovese).

South

South of Tuscany is one of the most famous Italian regions - Lazio where the capital of Italy is located - the eternal city. Colorful and rich in antique (and not only!) sights Lazio attracts tourists from all over the world, for a huge number of travelers is on the list of must-see cities. That is why I believe that the phrase "all roads lead to Rome" has a full right to exist.

East

A little east of Tuscany are located Umbria and Marche. Umbria, fortunately or unfortunately, has remained a little in the shadow of Tuscany, so domestic tourism is well developed in the region - many Italians prefer to go to Umbria, where vacation prices are slightly lower, and nature is in no way inferior to the "untwisted Tuscany". Moreover, it is in Umbria produce the most famous Italian chocolate - Perugia (). In its turn Marche famous for its seaside resorts, clean beaches and warm sea. But the "pearl" of the region, in my opinion, is the city - the birthplace of Rafael Santi.

Food. What to try

The word "Italy" for many is synonymous with the word "pizza". But this is not entirely fair: indeed, pizza is prepared in absolutely every region, and in every major city you can find a couple of excellent pizzerias, the owners of which are, as a rule, Neapolitans. This is not surprising, since everyone's favorite pizza was "born" in Naples, so the Neapolitans, like no one else, know the correct recipe for its preparation.

All this introduction was necessary in order to emphasize one, in my opinion, very important fact: when you are planning your trip to a certain area of ​​Italy, do not be lazy and check out the features of the regional cuisine, because only there you can taste the most authentic dish.

Now, with peace of mind and a sense of accomplishment, I can move on to describing the features of Tuscan cuisine :).

Hot dishes

• In my opinion, truly the "queen of the Tuscan table" is Florentine steak - bistecca alla fiorentina (bistecca alla fiorentina). Only beef is used to prepare this type of steak. Moreover, a real steak can only be prepared from the meat of a special breed of cows - " chiantina» (the name is given in honor of the Chianti Valley). The steak is not marinated, no spices are added (except for salt, pepper and oil, which are served already during the meal), the meat is eaten without a side dish - all in order to feel the real taste.
• Bistecca alla fiorentina- it is always a steak with blood, there are 2 degrees of meat roasting: al sangue- fried, but with a little blood and molto al sangue- almost raw meat in the center. It is important to note that the portion for one person is simply huge, since the size varies from 450 to 1500 grams. The price of such a portion, respectively, is cosmic (beef is sold at a price 23 EUR per kilogram, add here the price for preparation, service and everything will come out 50 EUR per serving for one), but once such a dish is worth affording, especially if you consider yourself a meat lovers!

• The next rather specific dish of Tuscan cuisine are brains in Florentine - cervello alla fiorentina (cervello alla fiorentina). When cooking, beef brains are used, which are fried in breadcrumbs, flour and eggs. In general, all kinds of offal are very often used in Tuscan cuisine: brains, scars, liver, stomachs, and so on. This part of the specific Tuscan dishes falls on the fan, because not everyone may like this.

• Also, in the regional cuisine of Tuscany, game meat is very often used: deer, roe deer, wild hare, pheasant, duck, etc. Therefore, one of the most typical types of pasta in Tuscany are pappardelle with wild boar stew - pappardelle al cinghiale (pappardelle al cinghiale). Pappardelle are wide, long and flat ribbons of pasta that are extremely common in Tuscany and can be served with various sauces and stews.

• But lovers of fish dishes should go to the Tuscan Riviera, where there are a lot of them. I would like to highlight cacciucco - cacciucco- a thick seafood soup, whose birthplace is the city of Livorno. Completely different seafood can be added to this dish: mussels, octopus, squid, langoustines. In addition, the composition of the soup should include at least 5 varieties of different fish (for example, sea bream, catfish, moray eels, scallops, devil or eel). Why 5? In accordance with the name of the dish, since the letter "c" is used five times when writing the word "cacciucco".

Dessert

Of the desserts, I would like to mention 2, which are typical for the Tuscany region.

• My favorite is the cake, which is prepared on the basis of chestnut flour - castagnaccio (castagnaccio). In addition to chestnut flour, water, olive oil, pine and walnuts, raisins and rosemary are also added to its base. Thus, the dessert is not too sweet and with a very peculiar taste.

• Another popular dessert is a cake called zuccotto - zuccotto. This is a soft biscuit-curd dessert, to which rum essence and pitted cherries are also added, which gives the cake a refined and delicate taste.

Holidays

In Italy, many holidays are celebrated, which (or analogues of which) exist in Russia. Examples include: Christmas, New Year, Easter, Labor Day. Another category already includes the Day of the Proclamation of the Republic, Ferragosto, All Saints Day - they are nationwide, therefore they are celebrated by the whole country.

In addition, there are a number of regional celebrations and folk festivals. It is this category of festivals, typical only for the region of Tuscany, that will be discussed in this section. Believe me, there are a huge number of them, but we will only touch on some of the brightest and most famous celebrations of Tuscan cities.

• firenze. Florence especially celebrates the feast in honor of the patron saint of the city, which is John the Baptist. Every year on June 24, the city hosts a grand costumed parade and antique-styled folk festivals. But the crown of this festival is a sporting event - Calcio Storico - a football "historical" match, which is held according to the rules of the 16th century.

• Viareggio. Another great event of the region is the Winter Carnival, which takes place in Viareggio. In terms of its significance as a celebrity, it is on a par with the Venice Carnival. But if the latter is a more subtle act, then the Carnival of Viareggio is the essence of pure and crazy fun, which is accompanied by a parade of wagons, where huge papier-mâché dolls are installed. It all ends with fireworks.

• Siena. The most famous sporting event in small town Siena is the historical Palio - il Palio di Siena. The Siena Palio is a traditional horse race that takes place in the main city square (Piazza del Campo). They are held 2 times a year (July 2 and August 16), and every time this is a grand event. After the winner is determined, the city is “dressed up” in the flags and banners of its team, which will decorate the historical center until the next competition.

• Pisa. The feast in honor of the city's patron Saint Ranieri (June 16) is the most important event in Pisa. The most delightful part of the holiday is the so-called Luminara, when the entire embankment of the Arno River is decorated with thousands of candles, thus creating an unforgettable and magical atmosphere…

In cities such as Arezzo (June/September), Massa Marittima (August) and Sansepolcro (September), historical games and competitions stylized under the Medieval Era will take place. Crossbowmen and riders, who are dressed in typical medieval attire, compete in agility and accuracy. A very impressive sight, it seems that you have really been transported in time! But in Montepulciano there is another fun - every last Sunday of August, a race with huge wooden barrels is arranged in the city .. Why? A tribute to tradition - the city has been famous for its excellent wine for many centuries!

Safety. What to watch out for

My main advice regarding security in Tuscany is: "be extremely careful with your personal belongings, money and documents."

Unfortunately, this is a country that has a bad reputation, as theft is widespread here. Especially often such unpleasant incidents occur in cities where there are a large number of tourists. Florence is just full of pickpockets! They are just waiting to guess the right moment (when the tourist is distracted by the next attraction) and not miss the opportunity to pull your wallet out of your bag or pocket!

I would advise you to be extremely careful and not leave your things unattended for even a minute!

Things to do

While in Tuscany, you definitely won’t get bored, because absolutely every day of your trip can be filled with various activities and entertaining entertainment!

Below you will find a selection of alternative options for what you can do in your free time from museums;).

extreme sports

Tuscany provides a lot of opportunities for lovers of extreme sports, for those who simply cannot live without adrenaline!

Here are some of them:

• Skydiving and paragliding - the provinces of Luca and Arezzo (from 150 EUR);

• Rafting - Arno River (from 50 EUR);
• Motofreestyle - Florence (from 100 EUR);
• Rock climbing - provinces and communes: Monte Argentario, Grosseto, Arezzo, Elba Island (from 60 EUR);
• Diving - Tuscan archipelago (from 40 EUR);

• Surfing - Versilia zone (from 65 EUR).

*Prices are for a one-time lesson with an instructor.

Souvenirs. What to bring as a gift

Oh, this eternal dilemma: what to bring to others or yourself as a memory of your trip to Italy ... There are many options, it’s impossible to list them all, let’s omit the “standard” fridge magnets, key chains and the like, and focus on really worthwhile things that can be brought from Tuscany.

Already by tradition, I first offer a few items from food and drink.

• In my opinion, the most convenient (in terms of transportation) and typically Tuscan gift will be the famous macaroons, which are called Cantucci – Cantucci. It seems to me that this is one of the most recognizable Italian sweets, which is also very often served in restaurants along with coffee or a digestif (divestivo). The price of a 300 gr package will start from 3 EUR.

• "In vino veritas" = "Truth is in the wine", and the true Italian wine, which is on everyone's lips, is Chianti. In my opinion, it would be very good form to bring a bottle of really good wine produced in the Tuscan Chianti valley as a gift. Prices will vary, of course, that wine with many years of aging will cost several times more (from 35 EUR and more). But the most affordable and quality wine will start from 9-10 EUR per bottle.

• From Tuscany (in particular from Florence) it is imperative to lead leather products, which is of excellent quality and will serve you for more than one year. Every cent spent will really be worth it! In the central Florentine markets, you can find absolutely any item of accessory made in leather: wallet, case, belt, bag, etc. The price will vary depending on the size of the item and the complexity of the work performed.

• Also, Florentine paper and products made using it are especially valued: notebooks, diaries, photo albums, postcards, envelopes. Not only are these products themselves "little works of art", but they will also last you a very long time (an unusual compliment to paper, isn't it?), because they are made of dense and high-quality material. The price will also change depending on the item you choose.

• And now I would like to draw your attention to a souvenir that will not differ in practicality, but will be an extremely warm memory of the Tuscany region. In my personal opinion, it is Pinocchio doll (Pinocchio) will always be able to fill your heart with pleasant memories not only of your trip to Italy, but also of your childhood ... remember, for example, Tolstoy's mischievous Pinocchio, which is a Russian adapted version of Pinocchio! It is important to say that Carlo Collodi, who created this wonderful character, was from Tuscany, so the “wooden boy” also has Tuscan roots;) The price asked for such a souvenir varies: starting from 5-6 EUR and ending with hundreds of EUR if the finest work was done by the master.

Shopping and shops

And shopping - for tourists these are two inseparable things!

I would like to note that Florence is the birthplace of five Italian fashion houses that have gained worldwide fame: Salvatore Ferragamo, Roberto Cavalli, Gucci, Emilio Pucci, Ermanno Scervino. Trust me, the luxury shopping here is amazing!

Of course, in addition to luxury brands, the city also has stores from the “mass-market” and “no name” sectors. But you can read about this in an article dedicated to exactly where the assortment of shops and the main shopping streets of the city are described in great detail.

I would like to focus your attention on the most profitable type of shopping - shopping in outlets. We can say that the outlet is the point of intersection, where the quality of the best brands in the world is combined with a fairly affordable and pleasant price. This is explained by the fact that collections from previous seasons are usually presented in such places, and this fact greatly reduces the price tag for branded items.

Below is a list of the main outlets that are located in the Tuscany region. In them you will find the whole range of stores presented on the Italian market of world brands "for different wallets".

• The Mall Via Europa 8, 50066 Lecchio, Reggello

• Barberino Designer Outlet Via Meucci, 50031, Barberino di Mugello

• Valdichiana Outlet VillageLocalita Farmiole 2, 52045 Foiano Delta Chiana

bars

In my opinion, the characteristic type of establishments of this kind in Tuscany are wine bars or "vineria" ("vineria"), each of which has a separate "enoteca" ("enoteca") - storage for wines that are already bottled.

Usually such "wine places" are located in small, narrow streets, which gives the place a special atmosphere of comfort, tranquility, warmth and "lamp-likeness". It is in such places that you want to hide and hide from the daily bustle of the city, from crowds of tourists, to escape from reality. The moment you sit in one of these places in pleasant company with a glass of wine and snacks that are served with your aperitif, time stops. And nothing else exists: no problems, no worries, no worries. Such places are pure magic that cannot be expressed in words. In order to understand these emotions, you need to allow yourself such a “small but quite affordable luxury” at least once in your life.

Here are some examples:

• Enoteca Sei Divino! Borgo Ognissanti 42 | Angolo Via Del Porcellana, Florence

• Enoteca DiVinorum. Piazza della Cisterna 30 | Via degli Innocenti, 5, San Gimignano

• Enoteca La Dolce Vita. Vicolo di Voltaia Nel Corso 80/82, Montepulciano

• Casa Porciatti - Enoteca & Wine Bar. Piazza IV Novembre 1-2-3, Radda in Chianti

• La Nicchia Winebar Enoteca Bistrot. Lungarno Amerigo Vespucci 34/r, Florence

Clubs and nightlife

But with discos and nightclubs, in my subjective opinion, things are sadder in Tuscany.

In order to have fun in a nightclub, you better head either already to the coast (in summer season there are often beach parties), or go to Florence. Here, the choice of discos, nightclubs and bars where you can dance is already larger.

• Flo Lounge Bar. There is no special dress code, the entrance fee is included in the price of a drink (from 10 EUR) or a table reservation (from 20 EUR).

Address: Viale Michelangiolo, 82, Firenze

• Blanco Beach Bar. There is no special dress code, and the cost for entry and table reservation must be specified by phone (may vary from day of the week). The price for a drink starts from 10 EUR.

Address: Viale Generale dalla Chiesa 11, Firenze

Usually they gather the most people, as "theme parties" are often held.

Tuscany - holidays with children

When you travel with your family, the question always arises: how to make your vacation so that everyone is comfortable and interesting.

Personally, I am not familiar with a huge number of children for whom going to an average museum (which is not adapted for kids) causes wild delight. But I have met a lot of children who like rides, water slides and ice cream in my life;). And even adults… because I consider myself and my friends to be exactly in the category of “adult children”, especially when it comes to a trip to an amusement park or a water park! This type of spending free time, in my opinion, is a compromise - it is interesting and fun not only for children, but also for “adult children”.

Such theme parks are also located in Tuscany, and more precisely in the province of Livorno. I previously classified this area as a “beach family vacation”.

Two more wonderful theme parks are located in the province of Grosseto (Follonica) and in the province of Lucca (Colodi): But we are interested in the “tourist division”, which I would conditionally divide into the following areas.

The main tourist centers of the Tuscany region

Florence, Siena, Arezzo, Grosseto, Casentino, Cortona, Volterra, Montalcino, Livorno, Lucca, Pistoia, San Gimignano, Pienza, Montepulciano... The list goes on.

It is in these cities that the main attractions of the Middle Ages and the Italian Renaissance are located (some of them are marked on the map).

Tuscan valleys, hills and plains

The most famous of them are: Val d'Orcia, Chianti Valley, Metaliferous Hills, Pisan Hills.

• Mountain ranges. The most important of them are: Apennines, Apuan Alps, Alps in the province of Arezzo, mountain ranges in the provinces of Siena and Grosseto.

• Coast of Tuscany. On the coast of the Tuscan Riviera there are a large number of famous resort towns. Examples would be: Livorno, Viareggio, Forte dei Marmi, Piombino, Punta Ala and many others.

• Tuscan archipelago. It includes 7 major islands and a huge number of small islands and rocks.

• Tuscan thermal springs. The standard of quality here are such cities as Montecatini Terme, Chianciano Terme, Monsummano Terme, Casciana Terme, Terme di Santuria.

Information is just an insane amount - the region is very rich in sights, both man-made and natural. Therefore, I will try to reveal each of these areas in more detail in the course of the article.

Features of the mentality

The Italian mentality is a separate story that can be told to children instead of a fairy tale, there are too many quirks lurking here. Even after I have lived here for a certain amount of time, the Italians continue to amaze me with some of their features, which still seem "overseas". But there is nothing to do - you have to adapt!

I would like to tell you in more detail about the special daily routine and the course of everyday life in Italy.

The daily routine is completely subordinate to meals, where lunch is a dividing line. The head of an Italian works in this way: I will have time to do what I have time to do, but it is impossible to postpone or skip lunch, because it is sacred! Therefore, do not be surprised that in the period from 12:00 to 14:00, everything in the city dies out.

After lunch, you need to have a little rest, otherwise the work will not go further. They dine late in Italy, usually restaurants start to open at 18:00 (the rest of the time - except for lunch - they are closed), and the peak of their work comes at 20:00. Accordingly, they finish eating already at 22:00-23:00 hours, so putting off some business for the time “after dinner” is a disastrous thing, because the evening was created for dinner and relaxation after dinner ...

Due to the fact that the evening meal is usually plentiful: the first (this is pasta) and the second (meat or fish dishes), sometimes the whole thing is accompanied by appetizers and dessert, then in the morning Italians don’t really want to eat. Therefore, the traditional Italian breakfast seems strange to us, accustomed to cereals and sandwiches. If an Italian has breakfast at home, then he drinks coffee with cookies, but usually they have breakfast outside the home. Italians order a cup of coffee, freshly squeezed juice and take a croissant or other pastry, which usually costs 3-4 EUR. In Moscow, for such “ridiculous money”, you definitely won’t have such a tasty breakfast in a cafe ...

As for the course of the working week, you need to be extremely attentive to the schedule of shops, supermarkets and pharmacies. On weekends, everything opens later than on weekdays if it opens... For example, Sunday in Italy can turn into a real quest to find a working supermarket or pharmacy, because usually everything is closed. There are rare exceptions: there are a number of shops that are open until 12:00, but an even rarer occurrence are supermarkets that are open all day (usually large supermarkets that are already outside the city center, for example, Lidl, always open on Sundays). I’m just silent about shops that work 24 hours a day, they either don’t exist at all, or it’s such an “endangered species” that there are 1 or 2 of them in the whole city. But in this case, there is always a salvation: small shops / shops that are run by the Chinese or Pakistanis, who have a different mentality from the Italians and are ready (or forced) to work 24/7. These are the ways to retreat from the "hopeless situation" and ways to adapt to the "Italian mentality";).

You can also refer to my article about the region, where I also write about some features of the Italian mentality.

5 things to do in this region

To sum up our exploration tour of the amazing region of Tuscany, I would like to present you with a list of 5 things that, in my opinion, are a must-do in this region! Otherwise, you cannot say that you have seen Tuscany:

How to move around the region

We have already partially touched on this topic in the course of the article in different sections, let's clarify the remaining details.

Let's return to the discussion of ways to move around the Tuscan archipelago.

There are few companies that deal with this specific area, and prices are sometimes inflated (especially in comparison with the buses and trains we are used to). Therefore, it is better to always check the tariffs for certain types of transportation directly on the website of the maritime operator. The cost starts from 15 EUR for a one-way ticket for one person.

The main maritime operators are:

1. Toremar
2. Moby Lines
3. Blu-Navy
4. Corsica-Sardinia Ferries

Ferries usually depart from the city of Piombino Marittima and arrive on the island of Elba.

Taxi. What features exist

In my subjective opinion, taxis in Italy are "not suitable for permanent use" because the prices are relatively high. In Tuscany, in various cities of the region (and in the country as a whole), the price tag is approximately the same. One trip around the city can cost you 12-20 EUR. The exception is trips to various airports, usually such a route has a fixed cost.

The price for a standard trip may vary depending on some indicators that are controlled by the meter installed in the car: travel time and the distance traveled between the required points. Sometimes the meter calculates the final amount for only one indicator, sometimes for two (this varies from taxi to taxi). There is also a different "starting fare" when boarding a passenger, it may vary depending on the city and time of day (evening and night trips are more expensive).

If you do not have cash with you, then there is an option to pay for the trip with a credit card. But this becomes possible only if a payment POS terminal is installed in the taxi. Therefore, it is always better to clarify this detail in advance before starting the trip.

Public transport

The most easily accessible public means of transportation in the Tuscany region are the train and the bus.

I already wrote about the features of these modes of transport at the very beginning of the article, when I talked about how you can get to the Tuscany region.

The cost of moving within the region may vary. Basically it all depends on the distance between the points of departure and reaching. For example, a bus from Florence to Siena will cost 7.80 EUR. But a train ride from Florence to Prato will cost only 2.60 EUR.

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The Tuscany region is located in the central part of the Apennine peninsula, on the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea. The relief in the region is varied: in the east and northeast the Apennines, Chianti and Pratomagno ranges stretch, from the northern part - the ranges of the Apuan and Ligurian Alps, and along the valley of the river. Arno and closer to the coast begins a small strip of plains.

It's no wonder why this region is so loved by vacationers in Italy. Tuscany is one of its most beautiful parts, the birthplace of many schools of architecture and painting, a place of unique historical richness, as evidenced by numerous tourist reviews. This is the place of formation of the Etruscan civilization, the Apennine ancient culture, the state of the Lombards and the Roman Empire, in addition, the birthplace of the Renaissance. An incredible number of cultural sites are concentrated in this place, due to which as many as 6 cities of the region fall into the UNESCO List (among them are the historical centers of Siena, Florence, Pienza and San Gimignano, the Val d'Orsia valley and Pisa Square).

Italy, Tuscany: attractions

Many tourists, coming here, remember with pleasure the picturesque town of Volterra with its Pinacoteca, Palazzo dei Priori, Romanesque cathedral, art gallery, baptistery, Etruscan museum of Guarnacci and the Etruscan arch. In the town of Certaldo there is an opportunity to see the villas of Cetinale, Chigi, Volte Alte, Chela, as well as the castle of Velcaro. Pienza arose through the efforts of Pope Pius II on the site of the former village of Corsignano, whose roots go back to the Etruscan era. This is one of the most picturesque settlements in the region. Its decorations are the Palazzo Piccolomini Palace, which has a luxurious park, the Duomo Cathedral, the Palazzo Borgia (the collections of the Museo delle Cattedrale and the Diocesan Museum are now located here), the Palazzo Comunale Town Hall, Ammannati, Cardinale Atrebatense and Gonzaga, the Church of San Francesco (the oldest in the city, built in the eleventh century), in addition, the grottoes of Monticchiello and the monuments of Pieve Consignano.

In Lucca, the sixteenth-century ramparts, the Roman amphitheater, the churches of San Fernando, San Michele, Santa Maria Forisportam, the Pinacoteca, the eleventh-century Cathedral of San Martino, as well as the delightful villas of Torrigiani, Mansi, Garzoni di Pesca and Marlia with their luxurious gardens. Churches worth seeing in Pistoia are San Francesco and Madonna del Umilta. In Arezzo, the Piazza Grande, the Church of Maria della Piave, the Fraternita dei Laichi Palace, the Bishop's Palace, the Loggia of Vasari are interesting, in addition, the churches of San Michele, Sant Donatus, Santa Maria in Gradi, the Basilicas of San Domenico and San Francesco, the Cathedral of Sant'Agustin and a huge number of others architectural monuments. Each of these towns causes genuine delight among vacationers, who then share admiring reviews with all their friends.

Resort Tuscany

The Tuscany region in the mind of a tourist is mainly associated with the Siena-Florence-Pisa triangle. These once warring and powerful republics became the real focus of medieval Italian life. These republics have been gone for a long time. But the enchanting climate, the sea and the mountains of the Mediterranean, which Italy can give vacationers, remained outside the power of man and time.

Tuscany in the summer is an opportunity to kill three birds with one stone with a well-aimed tourist shot, while devoting time to history, seeing the Tuscan Maremma (including the baths and Saturnia). It is not for nothing that you can see mostly only admiring reviews about the region! In addition, you can sunbathe on luxurious beaches. Italy is famous for them! Tuscany coast provides vacationers with a chic, wide, sandy coastline.

To sea!

For some, this will be a discovery, but in Tuscany (Italy) there is a sea - the Tyrrhenian. Consequently, there are also resorts, reviews of which also arouse interest in this region. Forte dei Marmi has long been preferred by show business stars, European aristocrats and famous fashion designers, for whom Italy (Tuscany) is ideal for relaxing. The coast in Marina di Carrara and Marina di Massa is simpler, and so is the public, while there are more hotels, and the beaches are longer. But in Monte Argentario, yachtsmen are in charge. In addition, there is Elba Island with seven dozen beaches where you can go diving and snorkeling. Italy (Tuscany) is famous for this. Resorts of the region will be considered in more detail below.

Impressions in Livorno

Livorno, the “ideal city” of the Renaissance, is famous for the Venetian area with a dense network of canals and a huge number of old buildings, the Montenero shrine, the Mascagnano Museum, the monument to Ferdinand the First Medici, the fortresses of Castello Nuovo and Castello Vecchia. Therefore, the impressions of vacationers from staying here are only the most vivid.

Attractions Prato

Here you can see the Cathedral of Santo Stefano, the Pretorio Palace, Castello del Imperatore ( old castle), the churches of Sant'Agostinho, Santa Maria delle Carceri, San Domenico, San Francesco, San Fabiano, and San Vincenzo (cloister). No wonder many tourists are attracted by this particular city in Tuscany, which they are happy to tell all their friends about. Italy as a whole is full of attractions, but here they are concentrated very tightly. In Massa you can see the Malaspina Castle, in Piazza Aranci the Palazzo Ducale, the Cathedral, Marina di Massa (picturesque port) and Alpi Apuane Pietro Pelegrini (mountain botanical garden).

Nearby Carrara today is famous for its Palazzo Ducale and its cathedral.

Idyll in Chianti

Once in Tuscany, you need to visit the Chianti region for at least two days, which is advised by many vacationers here, try the wine of the same name, and also enjoy the view of the hills. You can also spend the night here - the main number of castles are currently operating in the mode of hotels, although there are also hotels that are more familiar to us. Tuscany (Italy) provides high-quality service to its vacationers. At the same time, amazingly trained staff is amazing, anticipating the desires of their guests. Basically, they have shops that sell bottled Chianti, aromatic olive oil and other gourmet things, which is what makes this region and Italy in general famous. Tuscany, reviews of which can be found exclusively admiring, pampers vacationers with its freshest olives and aromas.

Tuscan Islands

They stretch between Corsica and the coast of the region. Judging by the reviews, the greenest, largest and most visited among them is Elba Island. Today it is considered part of the Tuscan Archipelago National Park and a prestigious resort area, which is famous for its olive and eucalyptus groves, picturesque beaches, the Baths of San Giovanni, the churches of Forte della Stella, Misericordia and Santissimo Sacramento, the fortresses of Forte del Falcone and Portolongone, the monastery of Madonna Montserrat, Palazzina dei Mulini ( Napoleon's exile took place here), as well as the Villa San Martino, which today houses his museum. The coast of the island is completely built up with elite resort areas, among them Capiloveri, Portoferraio, Porto Azzurro, Lacona, Prochio, Rio Marina, Cavo Marchiana, Campo del Elba, Marciana Marina, Marino di Campo and Poggia stand out. It is not surprising that many famous personalities like Tuscany (Italy) so much, the rest in which is difficult to compare with anything.

The island of Giglio, near Cape Argentario, is a diver's paradise, as it is a granite rock that plunges steeply into the sea. Many of the scuba diving enthusiasts are happy to talk about this place later. The island's rocky shores alternate with small beaches, while the ancient towns of Giglio Castello, Giglio Porto and Campese are famous for their fine cuisine. The island of Capraia is located off the coast of Corsica and is known to many for the picturesque lake that occupies the crater of the volcano.

Giannutri is famous for its untouched nature and incredibly beautiful sea, which attracts romantics so much. The miniature Gorgon Island, which lies opposite Livorno, is incredibly beautiful, but it is not accessible for visiting (a prison is located in this place). The same fate befell the flat little island of Pianos near Elba, and, in addition, the island of Montecristo, which lies between Corsica and Giglio.

The amazing cities of Fiesole

This is a small town in Italy, which is located very close to Florence - the distance between them does not exceed 10 kilometers. In this ancient town, which appeared in the sixth century BC. e., the remains of the fortress walls of the Etruscan dwellings, as well as the amphitheater and ancient baths, the legacy of the legendary Roman period, could be preserved. By the way, theatrical performances and concerts are still held in the amphitheater, about which vacationers here then talk with delight for a long time.

All the main historical and architectural sights of the town are concentrated in its center, on the square. Mino da Fiesole - the episcopal and Pretorio palaces, the Cathedral of San Romolo. Nearby is the Bandini Museum, where you can get acquainted with the stunning sculpture and painting by Italian masters of the 13th-15th centuries.

San Gimignano - the territory of luxury

This is a city of luxurious palaces and majestic medieval towers, which Italy is famous for. Tuscany, on the other hand, has collected a huge number of monuments, including San Gimignano. This attracts thousands of tourists to the city every year, who initially read the reviews about the city. In the Palazzo del Popolo there is an art gallery with works by Benozzo Gozzoli, Lippi, Pinturicchio and other masters of the Florentine school of painting. The city also has a museum of religious art, a wonderful archaeological museum, the main city museum, which consists of 10 exhibition and spacious halls. Another interesting place, which it is advisable not to meddle with for the faint of heart, is the Museum of Torture and Torture.

By the way, the historical center of this city is included in the UNESCO list.

Such an unusual Lucca...

Many people like the cities of Tuscany. Italy as a whole is able to amaze and surprise vacationers. An example of this is Lucca. This Tuscan town is often referred to as the "city of 100 churches". In fact, there are a great many of them here. Built in different eras, they miraculously managed to survive to the present day, while others can only be seen in the form of ancient ruins.

Of great interest is the Cathedral, located in Piazza San Martino, the Church of San Giovanni, the basilicas of St. Fredian, San Pietro Somaldi, as well as other historical and architectural buildings.

Renaissance art lovers should go to the National Museum in order to admire the work of Bronzino, Tintoretto, Giordano, while fans of unhurried long walks will be interested in the wide shady alley that stretches along the fortress wall of Lucca.

Famous Siena

The city, surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, is located in the Chianti Valley, famous as the main center of winemaking in the region. Thanks to its fortress walls, it was able to preserve its own medieval appearance, which is so loved by many vacationers in the country of Italy. Tuscany, on the other hand, generously provides tourists with the full enjoyment of these views.

Its central del Campo is the center of the life of the city - the townspeople once gathered here, wanting to resolve important political issues, as well as to celebrate any events. Currently, the popular Palio races are organized here, which take place twice a year.

On the square you can admire the magnificent Cathedral, famous for the Fountain of Joy, while visiting the Civico Museum - its expositions exhibit stunning frescoes by Simono Martini. Stunning impressions will also remain after examining the works of Sienese painters in the National Pinakothek, in addition, tasting the best in the Enoteque.

Sights of Pisa

The city, which is located on the Tyrrhenian coast, is primarily famous for the architectural white marble Square of Miracles, which includes the baptistery, the famous as well as the Cathedral of Santa Maria Maggiore. Near the square is also the Campo Santo cemetery with holy earth, which was brought in the 13th century from Jerusalem on ships.

An interesting architectural landmark of Pisa is also the 11th-century Basilica of San Pietro a Grado - legend has it that it was erected at the place where the one who landed from Constantinople to Rome landed. The University of Pisa is famous here - it is one of the most prestigious and oldest educational institutions in the world. Here he studied, and then taught Galileo Galilei.

Also noteworthy is the botanical garden, which was founded in 1544. It is an example of a traditional Renaissance garden. Therefore, this place, judging by the reviews, is loved by all fans of architecture and history.

Italy, Tuscany: Florence

Stunning Florence, located near the border between Emilia and Tuscany, was founded in the 59th century BC. e.

At the very beginning, the town was just a settlement for legionnaires, and by the eleventh century, due to its convenient location at the intersection of trade routes, it had completely changed, becoming a major craft and trade center, in which the famous da Vinci and Michelangelo, Machiavelli worked and lived in different eras. and Galileo, Petrarch and Dante. No wonder you can not find a single negative review about this city.

Acquaintance with the city must begin with the squares of Florence, which are a kind of open-air museums. It is interesting to look at Piazza della Signoria, densely lined with the works of the famous sculptors of Italy of the Renaissance, as well as at Piazza Duomo with Giotto's bell tower and the ancient baptistery.

Arriving here, you should definitely visit the most popular museum in the country - the Uffizi Gallery, which presents one of the most complete European collections visual arts Renaissance period, look at the palaces of Vecchio and Pitti, the original statue of David in the Accademia Gallery and, of course, the Boboli Gardens - this is one of the most famous parks in the world.

Tuscany is one of the largest regions in Italy. It is here that you can see endless green hills and plains, lined with strict lines of vineyards. It is here that the immortal monuments of architecture and painting are collected, which millions of tourists who come to Tuscany from all over the world seek to see.

Luxurious, luxurious hotels and old villages, as if stuck in the Middle Ages, are collected in this area.

On the map of Italy, Tuscany is easy to find in the Western part of the country, on the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea, north of Rome.
The capital of Tuscany is beautiful Florence.

Location of Tuscany on the map of Italy

The region consists of 10 provinces: Florence, Pisa, Massa Carrara, Pistoia, Prato.

Ever since the 8th century BC. The Etruscans lived in what is now Tuscany. At the beginning of our era, the lands were conquered by the Romans. In the 5th-7th centuries, Tuscany developed rapidly, large cities were founded. Following the construction of roads and bridges, the main cities appeared - centers of culture and industry.

During the Middle Ages, large cities of Tuscany, such as Florence, Lucca were in a state of continuous wars among themselves for new lands and influence.

By the 15th century, the power of Florence and Pisa reached such heights that it allowed them to become the main centers of culture and production.
Until the Spanish army captured Florence in 1530, it was an independent republic.
Until 1860, when Tuscany became part of a united Italy, the region was ruled by the Habsburg dynasty of Lorraine, Napoleon Bonaparte (represented by his sister Eliza), then the Habsburgs returned again.
An interesting fact is that from 1865 until 1871 Florence was the capital not only of Tuscany, but of the whole of Italy.

Attractions

Tuscany is a treasure trove of the world-famous heritage of amazing architecture and art that amazes the human mind. Most likely, having arrived in this region rich in sights for a short vacation period, you will not be able to fully realize the charm of Tuscany. But if you still decide in advance what interests you most, you can plan an approximate route that meets personal preferences.

You will learn all the details about Tuscany from the video:

What are the must-sees in Tuscany?

In Florence

Florence is famous for its attractions:

In Pisa

There is something to see in Pisa:

In Siena

In Siena you must visit:

You will learn in detail about all the sights of Siena

In Lucca

Lucca is called the city of churches. Definitely worth seeing:

Thermal springs of Tuscany

Another plus of the Tuscany region is the terms (thermal springs, in other words, hot springs).

Near the springs, private hotels-houses with a variety of services are often arranged, so almost everyone can afford to relax in Tuscany, as in a balneological resort.

The most famous and beloved by tourists thermal baths:

Local holidays, events

The brightest holidays in Tuscany can be called:

When choosing a tour or route in Tuscany, it would be great to find an opportunity to visit an Italian holiday, because any guest is sincerely welcome there.

Cuisine and wine

Typical foods and dishes

Probably, every person has ever heard of Tuscan cuisine, its unsurpassed quality and variety with absolute simplicity.

Some facts:

• In any restaurant, wine will be offered for lunch or dinner, if the guest refuses, they will hardly understand;
• Tuscan bread is unique in its kind because it is made without salt.

The Tuscan menu consists of meat, vegetable and, of course, fish dishes.

Here are the main dishes familiar to everyday lunch / dinner:

Desserts (dolci):

• The most recognizable dessert is the one baked from chestnut flour with the addition of Castagnaccio pine nuts;
• A dessert from Florence is zuccotto, which is usually served with ice cream;
• Sand cake - biskeri (bischeri);
• Cantuccini (ital.Cantuccini) - very dry cookies with almonds;
• Tiramisu, the invention of which is claimed by the Tuscans (Sienese).

Sienese believe that tiramisu is their invention

Wine of Tuscany

The concept of "Super Tuscan wines" is not just laudatory words, it is a term in a complex winemaking craft.

It was in Tuscany, the most wine-growing region, that they produced for the first time and to this day they successfully produce and sell popular in Italy, beloved by many, Super Tuscan wines.

For the first time in 1968, wine was produced from the Cabernet Sauvignon grape variety. Sassicaia (Sassicaia), which became the ancestor of these wines with a loud name. In this wine you will find shades of blackcurrant, cherry, plum, which only intensify with time of wine storage. The color of the drink is a deep ruby ​​color.

One of the famous wines of Tuscany is red wine "Villa Antinori" with a fruity-pepper flavor and aroma of dried cherries.

You can list a huge number of other names of excellent wines from this area, here are some: "Guado al Tasso", "Ornellaia", "Sangiovese grosso" and others.

You will learn all the details about Tuscan wines from the video:

Tourists often come to Tuscany to participate in wine and gastronomic tours.

Road to Tuscany

In the Tuscany region, the major airports are located in Pisa (Galileo Galilei Airport) and Florence (Amerigo Vespucci Airport):

• You can fly both from Milan, Rome by local Italian lines, and by international flights;
• You can get from the airport by taxi or order a transfer online in advance;
• Any city in Tuscany can always be reached from the airport in the most convenient and economical way - by train. Tickets are purchased in advance online on the website of the Italian Railways or on the platform in the machine / box office.

Weather

The weather in Tuscany in winter is quite warm, the air temperature almost never drops below 0C, the average is 3 - 8C, there are rains.

Summers are hot and dry, with a temperature of 27-30C, which attracts tourists and locals to the sea.

Beaches

The most visited beaches in Tuscany:

• In the province of Lucca: Forte dei Marmi, Lido di Camaiore, Cecina, in Rosignano white sand beaches;
• A peninsula in the province of Grosseto - Monte Argentario, people come here to the beaches located on both sides of the isthmus that connects the peninsula to the land;
• San Vincenzo in Livorno.

Tuscany is famous for its beautiful beaches.

Conclusion

So, in order to fully experience Tuscany, you need to visit a large city and, of course, small town or village.

View and appreciate the architectural mastodons and the ancient narrow streets, quaintly, lovingly decorated by the inhabitants.

Go to a restaurant (not in the center), where the locals dine, order a steak and a glass of local wine. While waiting for an order, soaking up the aromas, reviewing the photos taken…
That's all, the holiday was a success!

There are many works of art that tell about Italy. "Under the Tuscan Sun" is a famous film, after watching which you want to immediately quit all your business and go here on vacation. And for good reason, because this region is very popular among tourists. Here you can see picturesque landscapes, and architectural monuments of different eras, and swim in the sea. But Tuscany is a large region, covering several cities at once. Let's talk about what you need to see here in this article.

A little more about the region

Tourists adore this resort, speaking very positively about the time spent in this place. At the same time, they praise not only local attractions, but also the beaches of Tuscany (Italy). The region has access to the Tyrrhenian Sea, although the coastline here is not very flat, but if you wish, you can find a place for swimming. However, a beach holiday is not the main thing in Tuscany. First of all, the region is famous for its architectural sights, historical monuments, picturesque nature. Tuscany is the birthplace of many famous Italians, such as Leonardo da Vinci or Michelangelo. On its territory there are several major cities worth seeing. For example, Florence, Pisa, Siena and others.

In addition, this region has a fairly advantageous location. It is located in the central part of the country, just north of Rome. Getting here is equally convenient not only from the capital, but from Milan - another major tourist city. Also, during the high season, several flights from Moscow fly directly to Pisa several times a week.

Tuscany is a mountainous area, so most of it is occupied by hills, which host huge vineyards. Ecotourists and just wine lovers should definitely take the time to tour these places. Travelers recommend coming here in late spring or early autumn, when the heat subsides, in order to comfortably explore the local cities. However, if you want to combine sightseeing in Tuscany (Italy) with a seaside holiday, then best time will be July and August.

History of Tuscany

Most of the sights here are related to history. Therefore, it is worth paying attention to her. The region of Tuscany in Italy has a rich history. The first mention of people who lived here dates back to the Lower Paleolithic. Until the 1st century AD, the Etruscans lived on its territory, after whom, according to historians, the region got its name. Then they were captured by the Romans, who founded the most famous cities of Tuscany: Florence, Pisa, Siena and Lucca. They dominated these lands until the 5th century, and after that they were driven out by barbarian tribes. The local culture was plundered, but the region continued to develop. For example, the Lombards settled in Lucca and made it their capital.

In the Middle Ages, Tuscany was not a single state. On its territory there were several formations at once. For example, Florence, Lucca and Pisa were independent settlements. Often they even fought among themselves. In Florence, banking developed especially rapidly, largely due to the famous rulers of the Medici. It was they who sponsored the construction of many architectural monuments of the city, and also supported the financially famous Leonardo da Vinci. Gradually, the Medici managed to capture the border cities, forming the Grand Duchy of Tuscany.

The last representative of this family died in the 18th century, after which the region came under the rule of the Habsburgs. Napoleon, after the capture of Tuscany, gave the title to his sister Eliza, but she did not rule for long. The region became part of the united Italy only in the middle of the 19th century. In 1865, Florence became the capital of the country. Only in 1871 it was transferred to Rome.

Holidays in Tuscany

In fact, Tuscany is a unique region, where tourists can combine several vacation options at once. But most of the time, of course, is worth setting aside for sightseeing. Tuscany in Italy is considered the largest region in terms of the number of monuments that are under the protection of UNESCO. Moreover, more than half of all Italian heritage sites are located here. Of course, first of all you need to visit Florence, Pisa, Siena and Lucca. If you have time, you can pay attention to small picturesque villages and cities, such as Monteriggioni or San Gimignano.

You can combine sightseeing with shopping. It is developed here, perhaps better than many resorts in Italy. In every small town there are several large shopping centers where boutiques of famous European and world brands are opened. But tourists especially like to visit local sales. They are held here in July and late January. Also everywhere in Tuscany you can find small shops, including supermarkets and souvenir shops. And those who like to study the gastronomic customs of the countries of the world should definitely visit local restaurants, taverns and cafes, as well as open markets selling real olive oil.

Tourists prefer to spend a significant part of their vacation relaxing on the sea. Tuscany in Italy offers its guests several first-class resorts at once, and its coastline stretches for 320 km. At the same time, places for budget holiday quite a bit here. Accommodation even in inexpensive three star hotel will cost tourists a significant amount. Of course, lovers of clear sea and soft sandy beaches should go to Elba Island. It gained the greatest popularity thanks to the developed diving centers.

Florence

Of course, among the cities of Tuscany in Italy, the famous Florence occupies a leading position in terms of popularity. It is from her that many read the inspection of the region. And not in vain, because there really are many attractions, the largest of which we will discuss below. The city was founded in the distant year 59 by Caesar himself, but reached its heyday only in the 15th century. Most of the architectural monuments are concentrated in the old part of Florence. Some of them date back to the Renaissance, which originated in this city. The historic center is located on the northern bank of the Arno River and is entirely included in the World Heritage Fund. Here, guests should pay attention to the Duomo Square and the Cathedral, along with the Campanile of Junno. Or just wander through the local narrow streets that have managed to preserve their historical appearance. And in local museums you can see many masterpieces created by Italians. Here, by the way, the most expensive and respectable restaurants, shops and hotels are open.

You should definitely visit the famous Medici quarter, where the chapel built by Michelangelo himself is located. The attention of tourists is also attracted by the basilica, built in the 4th century. Almost all representatives of the Medici family are buried on the territory of this quarter, as well as the monastery and the Central Market. It is also worth seeing the famous Ponte Vecchio - the only bridge in the city that survived after the Second World War. Florence also has countless temples, each of which is of particular artistic value. Tourists can enjoy not only their external decoration, but also the internal one, for example, look at the numerous frescoes of famous Italian authors.

Among the sights of Tuscany (Italy), it is worth highlighting the cathedral, which is the face of not only Florence, but the entire region as a whole. Its full name is Santa Maria del Fiore. Its construction dragged on for a century and a half, and six eminent architects were responsible for its creation at once. They began to erect it on the site of the old city church, which by the beginning of the 13th century began to collapse. Its first stone was laid in 1296, and construction was completed only in 1434. At the time of its opening, the cathedral was the largest in all of Europe - at the same time it can accommodate up to 30,000 visitors.

The temple was built in the form of a Latin cross. It is 153 meters long and 90 meters wide. The amazing appearance of the cathedral was created thanks to the unique cladding made from several types of marble at once. The dome is made of orange brick, more than 4 million blocks were used to create it. The interior of the cathedral is distinguished by its modesty and simplicity. Here you should pay attention to the clock, which was created in 1443 and is still running, as well as Giotto's bas-relief and busts of famous Italians. Almost next to the cathedral, Giotto's campanile and the baptistery of San Giovanni were built.

Uffizi Gallery

The most famous museum complex not only in Florence, but throughout Tuscany (Italy) is the Uffizi Gallery. It is located in the central part of the city and is located in a three-story building, which is adjacent to the palace of the same name. The gallery itself consists of two parallel buildings shaped like a horseshoe. It was built in 1581, and even then many people considered it one of the most beautiful buildings in Europe. In addition, the gallery is considered the most visited museum in all of Italy. For example, in 2013, more than 1.8 million guests visited here.

The gallery covers an area of ​​over 13,000 sq. m. On its territory there is a huge collection, most of which is occupied by masterpieces created by the Italians. For example, visitors can see paintings created by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Sandro Botticelli. Of the masterpieces of the last artist, it is worth highlighting the painting "The Birth of Venus", which is one of the main exhibits of the gallery. For the convenience of visitors, its halls are arranged in chronological order and cover the history of Italian art from the 13th to the 18th century. There are 50 of them in total, so it will take tourists more than one day to inspect all the monuments.

Sienna

The next picturesque city of Tuscany in Italy, beloved by tourists, is Siena, which is sometimes called the wine capital of the region. As in Florence, its central part is included in the UNESCO heritage list, because most of the buildings here have been preserved since the Middle Ages in their original form. The highlight of the city is not only the local wine, but also the famous Palio races, which are held in July and August. Interestingly, all competitions are held on the main street of the city, which is specially covered with an impressive layer of earth for this purpose.

Siena also has its own Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, which in its appearance resembles the Milanese Duomo. Outside, it is decorated with multi-colored marble and numerous busts and sculptures. Inside, tourists can admire the frescoes created by Renaissance artists. In Siena, you should also definitely look at the Commune Palace, the Tower of the Glutton, the National Pinakothek and numerous churches and museums.

Monteriggioni

Of course, the small town of Montergioni cannot be called a full-fledged resort of Tuscany (Italy), but it is a significant landmark of the region. Here you should look at the huge old castle, built in the XIII century to protect Siena from its neighbors. Gradually, a real city appeared inside the fortress, the appearance of which has been preserved to this day. Here you can see not only the majestic towers, but also the palaces of the Renaissance, as well as the ancient church of St. Mary. By the way, this castle is the most recognizable landmark of Tuscany (Italy), because it was in it that famous historical films were filmed, for example, "Gladiator".

San Gimignano

Traveling in Tuscany (Italy), tourists often stop by another small town - San Gimignano. First of all, it is worth looking at the medieval "skyscrapers". So the locals call the old stone towers who made the city famous. There were 72 of them in total, but only 14 of them survived in their original form. San Gimignano can be explored in just a few hours.

Volterra

The small and gloomy city of Volterra is another place worth visiting during your holiday in Tuscany (Italy). This is one of the oldest settlements in the region, the oldest archaeological finds here date back to the Iron Age. The city is famous for its fortress walls built in the 4th century BC. You can also see it in a couple of hours, but you should not exclude it from your excursion.

Pisa

In the west of the region is Pisa - another famous city in the country, known primarily for its unique leaning tower. And although there are not so many other ancient sights here, it is still worth visiting, especially for young people. The fact is that Pisa is considered a student city, more than half of the inhabitants live here precisely because of their studies. Therefore, a huge number of night bars and clubs for every taste are open here.

But, of course, every traveler dreams of visiting the famous Square of Miracles, where the leaning tower is located. It was built in 1360, while the building began to lean to the side during construction. Now scientists note that its fall has stopped. Of the sights, it is also worth highlighting the cathedral, built in the 11th century. According to legend, once upon a time it was in this place on the coast of Tuscany (Italy) that the prophet Peter set foot. From less famous places, visit the local ancient cemetery. Do not ignore the University of Pisa, which is considered one of the oldest educational institutions in Europe.

Lucca

This city often ends a tourist route in Tuscany (Italy). Lucca attracts tourists primarily with its churches. This small town has managed to retain its unchanging medieval look, which will surely please history buffs. Most of the religious buildings were built here in the Trecento era, as the 14th century is called in Italy. In their reviews, tourists recommend coming to the city in the spring, because at this time flowers bloom everywhere in Lucca. It is sometimes even called the romantic capital of Tuscany. In addition to churches, among which St. Martin, erected in the 6th century, stands out, see the local fortress walls. They are perfectly preserved and completely encircle the city, enclosing it in a ring. Their length exceeds 4 km. The city also has many restaurants serving vintage Italian cuisine that will delight gourmet tourists.

Tourists often like to combine sightseeing with seaside holidays. In Tuscany, all conditions are created for this. For a budget stay, it is best to choose one of the small resorts of the local riviera. But the island of Elba is the most popular. It is the third largest island in all of Italy. At the same time, you can get to it in just one hour by ferry, which departs from the coast at least several times a day. First of all, Elba is famous for its beaches. There are a great many of them here, while there are both sandy and pebbly areas on the island. In addition, due to the location, there are beaches with pink sand and black pebbles. The water near the island is very clean, and the fauna of the sea is rich, so there are many diving centers along the coast.

The capital of the island is the small coastal town of Portoferraio, which has a population of only 35,000 people. You can combine a beach holiday here with a tour of local monuments. For example, visit the oldest fort of the island - Volterraio Castle. In the city, a cathedral was built in honor of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, the Church of Mercy. Elba was last resort Napoleon, so there are plenty of museums dedicated to his life. You can finish your tour of the island with a tour of the ruins of the fortress walls built during the reign of the Medici dynasty.