What to see

Tuscany is blessed with a variety of scenery from the rustic mountains of the north to the bare hills dotted with cypresses of the south via the lush hills of the centre (aka Chiantishire), you will be spoiled for choice. You will come across Roman and Etruscan ruins, medieval villages and renaissance palazzos. Florence, the main town, has also some interesting 19th and 20th Century architecture and artefacts on display. Aside from sightseeing and driving on windy roads, many other holiday pursuits have been introduced during the tourist revolution that has swept Tuscany over the last 10 years. Here are a few of them:

• Winery visits
• Mountain biking
• Rambling
• Horse-riding
• Cooking courses
• Golfing
• Tennis

You are bound to find some of these nearby your accommodation!

There are a few ways you can find out about Tuscany:

1. Ask your friends and family for tips. They might have visited Tuscany and have a few good things to recommend.
2. Ask Tuscan Dreams: Erica is a native Tuscan and she might let you know on the secret stream or the long forgotten ruins of a 15th century church…
3. Buy a good guide book: Green Michelin Guide for hardcore sightseeing or the Lonely Planet for general info are two of many.
4. 9 times out of 10, there will be an information booklet at the accommodation with restaurants names, days of markets, local horse riding school, etc.
5. Ask for information to the owner or manager of the property. Don’t be shy!

There are truly so many areas to explore that it is would be foolish of us to try and give you an exhaustive list.

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A Few Must see

FLORENCE:
With a population of about 500.000, Florence is a bustling city combining the richness of its medieval and renaissance heritage with the modern life. Score of churches, museums and historical palazzos exist side by side with luxury- good shops (Gucci, Prada etc), mad moped drivers and funky cocktail bars. Beware of bus load of tourists during the summer though!
Major attractions: The Duomo, The Uffizi Museum, Palazzo Pitti and its Boboli Gardens, Ponte Vecchio.

SIENA:
the little sister of Florence, Siena is more tranquil and quiet but what a sibling to have. Home to the first even bank, Siena has its own historical heritage and atmosphere. It is mainly pedestrianised so just wonder through the streets and let yourself be charmed by its cobbled streets and medieval palazzos. Beware of The Palio, the mad horse race on the main square, attracting absolute hordes of visitors twice during the summer.
Major attractions: the Palio, the Campo (main square), the Duomo, the Pinacoteca Nazionale.

SAN GIMIGNANO:
it is amazing how many people this village of only 7000 habitants can attract, but rightly so. A beautiful and well preserved example of medieval architecture, it boasts 13 medieval towers standing proud and high. Those are a small reminded of the original 75 tower build in the 12th century by great local families.
Inside you will find a number of squares, churches and palazzos all worth braving the crowd.

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Suggested Itineraries

There are many, many other places to go and visit. A good suggestion is to plan a little itinerary. Done at a leisurely pace, maybe over the course of a few days, it should satisfy anyone in the family:

Itinerary 1: Siena & Le Crete Region ****
Route: Siena, Asciano, Trequanda, Pienza, Sant Antimo, Montalcino, Buonconvento, Murlo, M. Oliveto Maggiore

This itinerary will take you through the most breathtaking and often photographed area of Tuscany. You will recognise this “no where else seen” landscape, so often featured in calendars. The countryside is made of pale clay hillside, wheat fields and gentle hills dotted with occasional but monumental farmhouses and crowned by rows of cypresses. Here and there, you will come across sleepy little towns and villages either renowned for their wine, or their Etruscan Museum or simply the nearby Gothic abbey. Not to be missed!

Itinerary 2: Chianti – Wine region***
Florence, Strada in Chianti, Greve in Chianti, Panzano, Castellina in Chianti, Tavernelle, San Casciano in Val di Pesa, Montespertoli.

This is a rather big itinerary comprising the whole of the Chianti. You will find this area very green and hilly. You will be able to glimpse at medieval castles standing proud on top of the hills. The roads are often windy and you might end up feeling a little dizzy. It is a small price to pay to visit this enchanting region so famous for its wine. You will find plenty of wine coop or farms (“Azienda Agricola” or “Fattoria”) selling wine directly to the public by those windy roads. Or simply stop in Castellina or San Casciano in Val di Pesa for a gentle stroll in the village and a quick visit to the local wine shop.

Note: The Italians, and particularly the Tuscans, have done a lot over the last 15 years to market and improve the quality of their wines. So generally, what you can buy in wine shops, at the Fattoria or in the local Supermercato, is of very good standard and good price compared to what you get at home. However, don’t be fooled you might also come across some plonk so do your research and tasting before you buy a whole case to bring home!

Itinerary 3: Monteriggioni, San Gimignano and Volterra ****

North west of Siena, you will find this tiny but precious village of Monteriggioni, a perfectly preserved medieval village. Just magnificent! There are two great restaurants there that are worth a try. A little further west is San Gimignano or San Gim as it is known now. The village might have lost a little of its charm due to the many visitors in bus loads but like many gems of this world, it is the price to pay to be so famous. And finally, a little further west again, you will come across Volterra, which at a first glance might look a little grim but its old medieval centre is definitely worth a look.

Itinerary 4; South of Livorno and Maremma ***

Again this is a long itinerary but we wanted to mention some areas by the coast – and it is quite a fair bit!
South of Livorno: For nice little beaches (no sand) and nice clear blue sea, go to Castiglioncello or Marina di Cecina. Those places are only 1 h 30 minutes from Florence so it is quite easy reach. Worth a visit if you fancy a day on the beach.
Maremma: A less known area of Tuscany, the Maremma is a great place for nature lovers, bird watchers or horse riding enthusiasts. Visit nature reserves of the Monti dell’ Uccellina, Burano or Orbetello or enjoy the resort towns around Punta Ala and Castiglion della Pescaia.

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