Tuscany
About Tuscany
Tuscany contains an endless list of famous sights – from the awe inspiring Ponte Vecchio, the Duomo and neighbouring Campanile, and the famous Uffizi Gallery of Florence, the globally recognised leaning tower in Pisa to the medieval hilltop towns, the beaches of the Maremma National Park and the exclusive peninsula of Monte Argentario – not to mention the tasty food and wine the region is famous for.
The famous renaissance cities are all well known (Florence, Siena, Pisa and San Gimignano) even to first time visitors to Italy and in peak season, despite offering hidden gems, can be stifling and very busy. Outside of school holidays, there is so much more than the pretty countryside including ruins, Etruscan museums, necropolis, vineyards, festivals and galleries in totally unexpected places. A favourite is in the charming historic hill town of Anghiari where the Southbank Sinfonia is invited to be the resident orchestra each July and is warmly supported by the local community and visiting friends. Outside the major towns and cities, the country roads are almost always empty and visitors feel instantly at home with the friendly locals. The relaxed Tuscan way of life offers a diet rich in fresh seasonal produce, grilled game and organically reared meats that is hard to ignore. A visit to the Fattoria Lischeto near Volterra results in wonderful Peccorino cheese that goes perfectly with the salami from the Le Macchie farm close to Pisa – the ultimate in Tuscan delights.
Tuscany has become one of the most prosperous regions in Italy and many families have reinvested in the large countryside villas with many being turned into boutique hotels – Ilios Travel has a wide range of accommodation available – whatever the budget. The region has also become a heartland for fashion with many catwalk designs beginning life on the design tables of companies near Prato, Florence, Arezzo and Empoli meaning a growth in outlet stores for the famous companies including Prada, Gucci and Ferragamo.
Tuscany Top Tips
Visit Florence outside the main summer months – don’t miss the Duomo, Uffizi and Boboli gardens. At the end of the day watch the sun go down from Piazza Michaelangelo
Wine tasting – take time to visit one (or more!) of the famous vineyards including Montepulciano, Vin Santo or Vernaccia for a tasting session
Shopping – Italy is known the world over for fashion, and although Milan may be its true spiritual home, Tuscany is where many items are made. Empoli, Prato and Lucca are the best areas to consider
Dining out – the world’s most popular cuisine is Italian – fresh flavours combined with locally sourced ingredients and traditional methods mean that every meal is an exploration of culture. Tuscany in particular loves wild game. Wild boar features heavily in season and the famous Fiorentina steak is ordered by the “etto” (gram-weight) and served on wooden chopping boards with rucola and parmesan
Relaxation – so many people visit Tuscany to “do the tourist thing” and forget that this is a holiday and that the magic is worked by the tranquillity, the fresh clean air, the captivating views and the art of simple Tuscan living. The best way to enjoy Tuscany is to spend some time to simply be!