Tuscany

Florence_Ponte_Vecchio

Leisure and cultural destination for many travellers every year, intending to enter an authentic time machine, in order to turn back time, admiring at some of the most important scenarios, well preserved monuments, built from Etruscan until Renaissance and Baroque age, planned and built by the most important artists of ancient times, such as Michelangelo Buonarroti, Leonardo da Vinci and so on, the region of Tuscany used to be, and still is, one of the most-sought cultural, architectural and wine-gastronomic meeting points of the whole world. The continuous stream of visitors throughout the year pushed the region to improve their infrastructure. As a matter of fact, to travel by public means has become more and more efficient, and, staying in a Tuscan city, travellers are suggested to hire bicycles instead of cars or scooters. Absorbing all kind of artistic influence during its long history, Tuscany hosts an impressive collection of sculptures, statues, monuments, churches and other art goods, offering an ancient charming impact, as many cities and villages have preserved their original aspect during their Etruscan, Roman, Middle Age, Renaissance and Baroque periods. As a matter of fact, six Tuscan localities have been UNESCO protected sites, such as the historical centre of Florence, the historical centre of Siena, the Piazza dei Miracoli of Pisa, the historical centre of San Gimignano, Pienza and the Val d’Oca Valley. Considered as the birth place of Renaissance, Tuscany was the fatherland of several important artists who started the Renaissance movement in the 15^th century, such as Michelangelo Buonarroti, Leonardo da Vinci, Raffaello, Donatello and Brunelleschi, still hosting some masterpieces of these artists, preserved in the popular Tuscan cities, such as Florence, Pisa, Siena and Lucca. Collected in dozens of museums in towns and cities across the region, perhaps the bes-known and highest expression of Tuscan Renaissance are the Uffizi, the Accademia and the Bargello in Florence. Roughly triangular in shape, Tuscany’s environment is characterized by hills, mountains, valleys, and nevertheless breathtaking seascapes, with beautiful coastlines and the world-famous Islands such as the Tuscan Archipelago including Elba, Giglio Island and so on. The variety of environments in Tuscany is attracting many segments of travellers: leisure tourism along the coasts and on the islands, Viareggio and Versilia; cultural and exploring tourism in several famous cities and in the land’s interior such as Florence, Siena, Pisa, Lucca; and, since the 60’s, the thermal tourism, due to the great thermal centres and Spas located in Montecatini Terme, Saturnia and so on. A common correlation to Tuscany is its world-famous wine production, exporting their wines nowadays all over the world, fortifying the popularity of Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino and, in the last decades, of the much-sought Super Tuscans. The gradual modernization of the appellation system as DOCG, DOC and IGT, has now drawn the attention of many wine tasters back to the traditional wines of the area made with regional grapes. Nowadays, the trend seems to be to go back in history to rediscover the indigenous grapes and natural wine making methods. Because of this great treasure, Tuscany offers several wine cellars all over the region, where the visitor can organize his personal wine experience, exploring the hidden corners of this breathtaking land.   We also invite you to visit the famous olive oil cellars, in order to experience an authentic and unique gastronomic journey, accompanied by the the famous extra virgin olive oil arts with IGP and DOP denominations, produced in Montalbano, Chianti, Colli Fiorentini, Lucca Terre di Siena and Tuscia.