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TravelTips24 : Europe : Mediterranean Europe : Italy : Tuscany

Tuscany

Tuscany (Italian: Toscana) [1] is a region on Italy's west coast, on the Tyrrhenian sea. It is one of the most popular places to visit in a country that is itself one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. There are several reasons to visit Tuscany: some of the most important ones are seeing Renaissance art in Florence, eating Tuscan food and tasting the excellent local wines, and after all this enjoying a day at the beach in Viareggio.

Regions

Provinces

Other regions

Cities

Other destinations

The Tuscan islands:

Culture and History

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

Travel to Tuscany & Visa Requirements

By air

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

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

  • Pisa International Airport Galileo Galilei [2], located 1.5km (1 mile) north of Pisa city centre.
  • Florence Airport Amerigo Vespucci [3], Located four kilometers from the center of Florence.

By train

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

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

Night train services are available from Florence to:

and others.

Tours & Getting around Tuscany

By train

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

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

By car

By bike

Buses to Tuscany

Tuscany attractions and sightseeing

  • Cathedrals. Every Tuscan city has a cathedral (duomo), each one prettier than the other. edit
  • David, [4]. Michelangelo's masterpiece is in the Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence. Copies in the same city on Piazza della Signoria and Piazzale Michelangelo. edit
  • Leaning tower. The instantly recognizable landmark is in Pisa on the square of miracles, Piazza dei miracoli. edit
  • Uffizi Gallery, [5]. The best collection of Renaissance art in the world is in Florence. edit

Tuscany city tours

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

See also: Wine tourism#Italy

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

  • 2Be In Siena [6] Phone +39 334 9363253 mail: info@2beinsiena.com Travel Designers, offers customized wine tours and sightseeing tours for Siena and Florence. Transfers, ballooning, horseback riding, Vespa rental, trekking and mountain bike.
  • La Mia Toscana [7] Phone: +39 340 7844938 mail: info@lamiatoscana.info Offers wine & food trips, trekking excursions, relax and golf programmes.
  • Arianna & Friends [8] Phone: +39 348 335 2039 - +39 347 938 1292 mail: info@ariannandfriends.com Tourist incoming project that offers both accommodation, and tourist services such as wine and food tours, cooking classes, cultural tours, arts classes, outdoor activities.
  • Organic Tuscany [9] mail: info@organictuscany.org Offers week-long "farm to table" organic cooking courses in the Tuscan hills. The program includes visits to local organic farms, cooking classes using organic ingredients, wine tastings and tours of Siena and Florence.
  • Mandala Trek [10] Phone: +39 340 224 7436 mail: foren83@hotmail.com Offers walks through the villages of Chianti region, Florence and Siena. The program includes visits of the “Via Francigena”, an historical itinerary leading to Rome from Canterbury.
  • Bike tours in Tuscany [11] Guided hiking, cooking, and biking tours throughout Tuscany and Umbria, with dinners at wonderful local restaurants, and nights in romantic country inns.
  • Around Pisa Airport [12] Give some ideas and suggestions about how spending the time while staying in Tuscany.
  • Sailing in Tuscany [13] Offers selected yachts and catamarans for sailing around tuscany archipelago: Elba, Capraia, Giglio, Giannutri. Week and weekend tours, with or without skipper.
  • La Lucertola [14] Eco-Friendly farmhouses in Nature Reserve (Monti Pisani). Offers a number of activities including: trekking, bird-watching, organic farming, cooking. The premises are solar powered and a natural spring feeds both houses and swimming pool with mineral water.
  • Castello La Torre [16] Mail: info@cookingintuscany.net Our cooking classes specialise in Italian & Tuscan cuisine's conducted at a magnificent castle ‘La Torre’ situated near the River Arno in Florence, Italy.
  • ROSS Hotels Group [17] Mail: info@rosshotels.it A young chain of hotels whose structures are located in Chianti. During the stay guests have the possibility to enjoy several activities, for example: cooking lessons to prepare typical Tuscan dishes, wine tastings, guided tours in the main Tuscan cities and in the most interesting Chianti villages, shopping in the famous designer labels' outlets.
  • Bella Toscana Tuscany portal, [18]. Much useful information with pictures on a wide variety of activities, places to eat and places to sleep in Tuscany. edit
  • Angela Saltafuori, [19]. Private wine tours with a minibus and a driver-guide. In addition to guaranteeing a well-informed commentary, this approach ensures that the vineyards you visit are open when you arrive and means you do not have to "taste" and drive. edit
  • Cuoco a Domicilio, [20]. Private cooking classes in Tuscany. Low cost cooking service and private cooking courses at home on re-quest. edit
  • Cooking Course at Santa Cristina Castle, [21]. Private cooking classes in Tuscany. Low cost cooking service and private cooking courses at home on re-quest. edit
  • Flavours of Umbra and Tuscany, [22]Enjoy 8 days in the regions of Umbria and Tuscany with this off the beaten path tour for individual travelers who are looking for a once in a lifetime vacation in Italy.

This tour can be done using a rental car (gps available) or, for the most exclusive experience using a private driver. Stay only in small boutique hotels and enjoy wine tastings, cooking classes and special dinners.

  • Chianti tour with minivan, [23]
  • Motorcycle Tour of Tuscani, [24]

Tuscany Restaurants: cheap, moderate and expensive

Tuscany nightlife, bars, clubs & pubs

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

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

Tuscany cheap and luxurious hotels, youth hostels & lodging

Renting

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

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

Rental Agencies

  • Ville et Village [25] Mail: [26] Phone: 1-510-559-8080 Large selection of villa and apartment rentals in most parts of Tuscany including Lucca, Florence, Siena, Arrezzo, Cortona, and Montepulciano. From village houses to free-standing villas with pools.
  • Tuscany Accommodations [27] Mail: [28] Phone: +39 3402540563 Tuscany Accommodations will help you arrange the holiday of your dreams. Short & Long Term Period. Lodging in the heart of the Tuscan countryside.

  • To Tuscany - Private Villa Rentals [29] Mail: [30] Phone: +44 (0)207 193 7782 Over 250 hand-picked Tuscan private villas to rent. Check out the site for real time accommodation availability.
  • Just In Toscana - Farmhouse in Maremma Tuscany [31] Mail: [32] Phone: +39 349 4986298 B&B, Castle, Farmhouse, Hotel and Villas in Maremma Tuscany.

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This page was last edited at 20:59, on 12 November 2008 by Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel. Based on work by Carolyn Grote, Timo Laine, Peter Fitzgerald and federica, Wikitravel user(s) Episteme, Pz-engl and Travelbubble, Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel and others.

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