Tuscany

It’s worth noting right away that parking is a little hard to find in the city center, mainly because cars don’t drive in its historic part – the streets here are so narrow that even small cars simply can’t fit between the tall pink brick palazzos. So tune in for a walking tour, and go where all roads in Siena lead – to the Campo – a spacious square in the center of the city, shaped like an amphitheater.

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As you sit comfortably on the sidewalk at an outdoor café table next to the Campo, you’ll view the square’s clear division into nine fields, reminiscent of the benign rule of the “Council of Nine”. They governed the city from the mid-13th to the early 14th century, a period characterized by stability and prosperity, when the city’s main public monuments were being built.

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Twice a year, on July 2 and August 16, the Sienese resurrect with historical authenticity the medieval festival of Palio, a competition of horsemen in Piazza del Campo. The townspeople take the action seriously and take offense if they hear that it is a spectacle for tourists. On these days, the inhabitants of seventeen city districts fill the square and their representatives on horseback ride around the perimeter of the Campo. The rider who wins the race becomes the hero, and the district he represented sets a huge outdoor feast table. The winning horse also takes part in the festivities.

Near Piazza del Campo is Palazzo Público, with its jagged facade and evolving heraldic banners. Built in the fourteenth century, the palace is a government building. In the left corner rises a slender tower, affectionately nicknamed “Mangia” or “Moth”. You can climb its 500 steps and admire the panorama of the city.

From Piazza del Campo, turn left and follow the winding path up the hill to the Cathedral Square. Here is the magnificent Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, which was built over two centuries (XII-XIV). Its grand, rich facade is bright with bands of green, pink and white marble, so you won’t be too surprised to step inside and see its stunning interior decorated in geometric patterns of white and black marble. The marble floor, inlaid with images-allegories and scenes from the New Testament, is also quite unique.

Chianti

Chianti is a land of castles and Romanesque churches, home to one of Italy’s most famous wines. Geographically, Chianti is bounded by the Arno River valley between Florence and Arezzo, the Arezzo-Siena road and the Florence-Siena highway. But the production of Chianti wine is also practiced in the territory beyond the geographically delineated area. Classic Chianti, or Chianti Classico, which contains the soul and vitality of Tuscany, occupies 70,000 hectares of territory between the provinces of Florence and Siena. The current boundaries correspond to those established in 1716 in a decree issued by the Grand Duke of Tuscany. The area includes 297 settlements and more than 800 farms where grapes, excellent vegetables and fruits are grown.

Since ancient times, the towns of Chianti have been named after the famous family names of the owners: Ricasoli, Firidolfi, Capponi, Cavalcanti… Their ancient villas and castles, which surround the colonnades, have not been forgotten and abandoned. The region has become the best example of intelligent and careful use of architectural heritage in the countryside in all of Italy. Here the harmonious relationship between man and nature is unusually profound, where there is no room for chance: the landscape has been shaped by man in the spirit of tradition, sometimes even borrowing from the landscapes of Leonardo da Vinci. Vineyards occupy a permanent place in these panoramas, with oak, ash and chestnut groves dotted around them. Cypress trees frame the entrance roads to the farms, and fields are covered with heather, irises, lavenders and violets.

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The architecture is eclectic: Romanesque churches and monasteries and Baroque villa facades, Gothic campanile bell towers in castles and stone-built farm buildings.

The pride of Tuscany is Chianti, the “most Italian” of red wines. It is made by combining black sangiovese and canaiolo grapes with white malvasia and trebbiano grapes. However, its true essence is still sangiovese, which means “blood of Jupiter” in Latin. The growing areas of this grape variety are so vast and diverse (it grows in 7 different zones) that each producer creates its own, unique Chianti.

Eastern Tuscany

The center of Eastern Tuscany is Arezzo, located in the Apennines at an altitude of 296 m. It developed around a central historical core, and to see its historical sights and get an idea of the size of the city during the Middle Ages, a day will be enough for you.

A must-see is the 13th-century Church of San Francesco, captivating in its humble charm. Its interior features masterpieces of paintings by the artist Piero della Francesca, one of the most talented and original masters of the early Renaissance. Another church, Santa Maria (12th-13th century), is considered the best example of the Romanesque style in Tuscany.

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The heart of the old town is the Piazza Grande. This trapezoidal square, flanked by palaces and galleries, has fully retained its medieval charm. The city’s main cathedral rises above Arezzo. This magnificent Gothic structure, built in the thirteenth century, is striking in its interior, especially with its magnificent stained glass windows.

Arezzo is also famous for being the birthplace of the great Italian poet and humanist Francesco Petrarch, as well as the painter, architect and writer Giorgio Vasari.

North of Arezzo, in the foothills of the Apennines, there are nature reserves. They are located in an area where the valleys of the Arno and Tiber rivers, stretching parallel for several dozen kilometers, create landscapes magnificent in their majesty. The famous forests of Mugello and Casentino are inexpressibly beautiful in autumn, when the beech, chestnut and oak forests turn golden and scarlet. At this time, the locals pick mushrooms, including truffles, in the forests and sell them in tents set up along the roads.

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The mountainsides are home to several monasteries especially revered among Catholics, the most famous of which is the monastery of Camaldoli, founded in the 11th century. There is a network of hiking trails leading to the ancient monastic cloisters.

Northern Tuscany

The center of Northern Tuscany is the ancient city of Lucca. It is the only one among the city-states of Tuscany that defended its independence during the unification of the lands under the hegemony of Florence and retained its sovereignty until the early 19th century, when Napoleon gave it as a principality to his sister Elisa.

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From the first minutes in Lucca, one loses a sense of time: the city has retained its size and appearance from the Middle Ages, even though its old fortifications were redesigned into wide alleys in the 19th century. Its main architectural landmarks were erected precisely during the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance architecture has a distinctive style defined as luccese.

Western Tuscany

Following west from Lucca, you will find yourself on the seaside where one of Italy’s most famous resort areas, Versilia, is located. This place, also known as the Tuscan Riviera, is a line of coastal towns built in the 19th century and a series of beaches stretching for 20 km along the coast of the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian Seas.

In the summer months the daytime temperature in Versilia is +25…+28 ° C, in the velvet season +21…+24 ° C, there are 270 sunny days a year. Mild climate of Versilia, comfortable rest, possibility to make fascinating trips in its surroundings attract tourists from all corners of the planet.

Along the coastline there are more than 600 hotels, about 400 private bathing areas and municipal beaches. It should be said that a vacation on these luxurious beaches will cost a lot of money: in summer, entry costs from 35 €, which includes the use of two sun beds, umbrella and beach cabins.

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In the resorts of Versilia you can always rent a yacht or boat and go on a boat trip along the coast or to the islands of the Tuscan archipelago. There are spacious parks and comfortable riding arenas at the disposal of horseback riding enthusiasts, and special routes of varying levels of difficulty have been developed for cyclists. Versilia has several soccer fields and figure skating grounds. The youngest tourists have not been forgotten here either – the doors of seven luna-parks with numerous attractions are open for them in Versilia.

The resort of Marina di Carrara, safely protected from the northern winds of the Apuan Alps, in addition to beaches, attracts tourists with the opportunity to surf, diving, water skiing, scooters. You can diversify your vacation by hiking in the mountains, where you will be waiting for the desired coolness. From the vantage point of Campochecina, located at an altitude of 1300 meters, you can enjoy a magnificent panorama overlooking Corsica, the Alps and the Tuscan archipelago.

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The beaches of Forte dei Marmi are among the most expensive and prestigious in all of Tuscany. Prominent representatives of the Italian beau monde have summer residences in this area. The sand here is immaculate, without stones and pebbles, it is regularly sifted and leveled. In season, a visit to some beaches can cost you 80 €, so it is worth knowing that in the park of dunes, north of all the beaches of the city, there is a section of the coast, to spend time on which you can spend time for free.

Pietrasanta, the historic capital of Versilia, is among the most popular beach resorts in Tuscany. There are more than 100 private beaches with all the necessary equipment, stretching for 5 km.

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The modern beach resort of Viareggio used to be the only access to the sea of the Republic of Lucca. Shipbuilding is still the flagship of the local economy, but this does not prevent Viareggio from being one of the top ten most popular Tuscan resorts.

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In the summer of 1822, the waves threw the lifeless body of Shelley, a classic of English poetry, drowned in a shipwreck on the shore of Viareggio. This sad event, however, does not embarrass resort visitors looking for entertainment. At their service here – magnificent beaches, along which stretches a long promenade, boutiques, bars, restaurants, cinemas, art galleries.

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Just 20 km from Viareggio is Pisa, and an excursion here – an indispensable component of a vacation on the coast. Mostly tourists go to this city to see the legendary falling Leaning Tower of Pisa. It is located away from the modern city center in Piazza dei Miracoli (“Square of Wonders”), and is part of the famous cathedral complex, which also includes the Pisa Cathedral, Pisa Baptistery and Campo Santo Cemetery. The cathedral and the baptistery owe their eccentric appearance to the Islamic influence in architecture, as Pisan merchants and scholars who had close trade contacts with Mauritanian Spain and North Africa also brought a new view of art. The marble surface of the buildings is covered with arabesques and other ornaments similar to a brightly colored oriental carpet.

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The city originated at the confluence of two rivers, the Arno and the Serchio, near the seashore. The original medieval layout of Pisa has undergone significant changes, but the streets have retained their aristocratic appearance. A stroll through the city, along the riverfront lined with elegant buildings, is a real pleasure. The city has a large student population, as it is home to one of Europe’s most famous and oldest universities, whose history can be traced back to the 11th century. Among the famous people who studied at the University of Pisa was Galileo Galilei, a native of Pisa. He later taught mathematics here.

After the tour of Pisa, by evening, tourists return to Versilia, where evening and night entertainment awaits them. In the resort area there are 15 discos, 10 theaters and cabarets, 10 cinemas, 2 nightclubs.

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Southern Tuscany

This vast area of the Tyrrhenian part of the region is called the Tuscan Maremma. In the past it was marshland and was a symbol of desolation and hardship due to the spread of malaria. In the XIX century it was reclaimed, and today this fertile land is the epitome of Tuscan hard work and a tourist attraction. The central city of the southern region is medieval Grosseto.

12 km from it, on the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea, is the popular resort area of Marina. Tourists love its spacious, calm beaches, with no tides, sea attractions, campsites and a nearby pine forest. For yachtsmen, there is a marina.

At 50 km from Grosseto is the town of Follonica. Its beaches, stretching along the shore of the bay of the same name, are well known in Italy and abroad. Here is the cleanest water and excellent tourist infrastructure. On one side of the bay is an unusually beautiful cape Punta Ala, on the other – no less charming Piombino, where the town of the same name is located. At 10 km south of Follonica you will find a free beach Cala Violina with fine sand with flecks of quartz. It is small, and in summer there is no place to fall an apple.

The hills of Maremma are home to Tuscany’s most famous spa, Saturnia. This balneotherapeutic center – one of the few in Italy, where bathing in the springs is free. The main spring is located in a picturesque area near an ancient mill. Spa guests owe this luxury to the locals, who regularly fight back against government agencies and private firms that want to take over the healing pools. Although Saturnia certainly has luxurious private spa centers, and there are plenty of underground springs here.

Islands of the Tuscan Archipelago

The Tuscan archipelago consists of seven islands: the Elba, Giglio, Giannutri, Capraia, Pianosa, Montecristo and Gorgona.

The largest of these is Elba, which is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Its territory is 223 km² and the coastline, along which there are more than 130 beaches, stretches for 147 km. Here you can find a beach for every taste: sandy and pebble, with a gentle or steep entrance to the sea. Most of Elba’s sandy beaches are ideal for children, and some of them are pet-friendly.

The island has an incredible number of attractions: historical, architectural, geological, religious, there are several museums, including two Napoleon house-museums. In addition, Elba is famous for the mines where precious semi-precious stones are extracted.

The island is 10 km from the coast, and it is conveniently accessible from Piombino by ferry or hydrofoil. Travel time is about 70 minutes and the cost is between 10 and 20 € round trip.

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From Piombino, you can travel to the other islands of the Tuscan archipelago. Each has its own characteristics, but all are characterized by an almost unspoiled landscape. The island of Giglio will appeal to those who like to swim and sunbathe alone – its shores are rocky and there are few sandy beaches. There are also excellent snorkeling spots. Capraia, where interesting artifacts can be found on the seabed, and Giannutri, a crescent-shaped crescent in the sea waters, are also attractive for divers. There are many grottoes and a couple of sandy beaches.

Pianosa has a beautiful sandy beach, clear sea and schools of fish on the shoals. Here you can admire the ruins of the Roman villa of Agrippa. Until 20 years ago, the island was a prison where the most dangerous Mafiosi of Italy were imprisoned.

Montecristo, which received the status of a nature reserve back in 1971, is the wildest of the islands of the Tuscan archipelago, and access is strictly limited. It is visited only by small groups of tourists and naturalist scientists.

The beautiful Gorgona is not crowded as it is home to one of the penitentiaries. Last year it was visited by tourists for the first time. For now, you can get here by boat from the Tuscan port of Livorno. The ship takes on board no more than 75 people, and leaves at 7:45 am, leaving the island should not be later than 19:30. Be prepared to rest on the wonderful beaches of Cala Martina and Cala Schirocco, as well as move around the island you can only be accompanied by a caretaker.

Tuscan cuisine

Italians are convinced that it was Tuscan dishes that brought fame to French cuisine, which spread at court thanks to Catherine de Medici, who became the wife of King Henry II. They are convinced that béchamel sauce is just a more refined version of the Tuscan salsa colla, and it is from Tuscany that France inherited the passion for onions, omelette (peasant pesce uovo), as well as the habit of adding herbs and cheese to dishes. Tuscan cheeses are indeed delicious, and you can buy them in any peasant’s house from a hospitable host.

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The culinary diversity of Tuscan cuisine corresponds to the cultural difference of its cities. From Pisa to Florence, from Lucca to Siena, from Maremma to Chianti, the recipes of the dishes and the brands of wine change, although one can always find something in common.

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Accommodation

Tuscany offers tourists the opportunity to stay in hotels and apartments of any stardom. Luxury hotels, as a rule, are located in resort areas and large cities. Hotels of 2*, 3*, 4* category can be found everywhere. The cost of accommodation in them varies depending on the season. On average, staying in a comfortable hotel room of the average and slightly above average category will cost 80-100 € per day.

Tourists also stay in one of the many magnificent hotels housed in ancient, carefully restored buildings, be it a villa or a castle. Prices are often high, but a day’s stay in such a place is like a priceless gift, which is worth giving to yourself at least once. A day in the most modest ancient abode will cost you at least 300 € per person. Rent for a week a villa with history, where with all the comforts can accommodate 4 people, you can not less than 6000 € / week.

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But in the countryside there is an opportunity to spend a vacation on a farm, where prices are affordable (from 40 € / day), living conditions are pleasant, and you will eat organic food.

How to get there

All major cities in Tuscany have airports, but unfortunately there are no direct flights from Russia to this region today. Even to the largest Tuscan airport in Pisa will have to fly with a connection in one of the cities of Western Europe. The best option is to fly to Rome or Milan, and there change to a domestic flight or buy a train ticket.

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For example, a trip from Rome to Florence will take 3.5 hours on a regular train and 1.5 hours on a high-speed train. The fare ranges from 19 to 39 € depending on the length of the journey and the class of carriage.

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Low airfare calendar