Tuscany -
Tuscany’s famous for the artistic splendours of Florence, Siena,
Pisa and other towns and for the impressive hill towns. In south Tuscany
there are some pleasant beaches on the Monte Argentario and Elba island.
Florence is the region capital and is also the
home of Machiavelli, Michelangelo and the Medici and is famous for
the Renaissance art. The most famous sights of Florence are the Piazza
del Duomo with the cathedral, the campanile with its 414 steps, the
baptistery, the Casa di Dante, Piazza della Repubblica, the Mercato
Nuovo, the Piazza della Signoria, the Palazzo degli Uffizi with its
Gallery, the Ponte Santa Trinità, the Basilica di Santa Maria
Novella. The Oltrarno takes in all of Florence south of the river.
The Ponte Vecchio has been draped in the glittering wares of jewellery
merchants since the time of Ferdinando I de` Medici. Other important
sights are the Forte di Belvedere, the Piazzale Michelangelo, the
Basilica di Santo Spirito, the Certosa del Galluzzo. Prato
is the Tuscany’s second largest town after Florence and it’s
an important centre for wool production; textiles and leather working
are Prato’s main industries. The most important sights are the
Cattedrale di Santo Stefano, the Chiesa di Santa Maria delle Carceri,
the Museo di Pittura Murale and the Castello dell’imperatore.
Pistoia’s an important centre for the manufacture of trains.
Important sights are the Palazzo dei Vescovi and the Cattedrale di
San Zeno. Lucca’s a very nice town and
it’s also a base for exploring the Apuane Alps. Important sights
are the Renaissance city walls, the Torre delle Ore, the Cathedral,
the Via Fillungo, the Piazza Anfiteatro, the Piazza San Francesco,
the Fontana Lustrale.
The Apuane Alps offer great walking possibilities, with spectacular
views, and mountain huts.
The province of Massa and Carrara stretches toward Tuscany’s
northwestern limit. The purity of Carrara’s white marble is
unrivalled. Marina di Massa and Marina di Carrara are popular with
holidaying Italians.
The world famous Leaning Tower (Torre Pendente) is one of the most
importants sights of Pisa. The Campo dei Miracoli with the cathedral,
the baptistery and the Leaning Tower is one of the most famous squares
if the world. Elba
Island is famous for the blue waters, the beaches, walking and cycling
trails, scuba diving, windsurfing and the food. Portoferraio
was Napoleon’s home while he was emperor of this island. Other
places are Marina di Campo, Porto Azzurro and Marciana Marina. The Chianti, a land of rolling hills, olive groves
and vineyards is split between the provinces of Florence and Siena.
This area produces some of the country’s best marketed wines.
Siena is one of Italy’s most beautiful cities. The medieval
centre bristles with majestic Gothic buildings. In the twice-yearly
festival, Il Palio di Siena ten of Siena’s 17 contrade compete
for the coveted palio. On festival days, Il campo becomes a racetrack
and representatives of each contrada parade in historical costume.
Siena’s lots of important sights like the medieval walls, the
Piazza del Campo, the Palazzo Comunale, the cathedral, the baptistery,
the Pinacoteca Nazionale, the Chiesa di San Domenico. San
Gimignano’s towers wre symbols of the power and wealth
of the city’s medieval families.
The medieval ramparts give Volterra a forbidding air, while the gentle
Tuscan countryside rolling out for miles around provides the perfect
contrast. Montalcino is famous for its wine,
the Brunello. Also Montepulciano is famous for its wine.
The southern Tuscany is also known as the Maremma and it extends along
the Tuscan coast from north of Grossetto to the southern boarder with
Lazio, embracing the Parco Regionale della Maremma and Monte Argentario.
Arezzo is the most important town of eastern Tuscany with some beautiful
sights like the Chiesa di San Francesco, Piazza Grande and the Cathedral.
