A Rich Cultural Heritage

- A Tuscan Treasure Chest
- Sites & Sounds of Tuscany

- Local Festivals
- Simply Delicious

Halfway up Italy on the left-hand side, the region of Tuscany embodies much of what we think of as classic Italy: bustling cities with outstanding art and monuments; historic walled towns with narrow winding streets; rolling countryside of vineyards, olive groves and dark slender cypress trees; tiny, sleepy villages perched on top of symmetrical hills and sandy tracks leading to pastel painted villas with terracotta tiled roofs, many of which are holiday homes.

Tuscany attracts hordes of tourists, in fact the whole region has been dubbed 'Chiantishire' in honour of its annual British invasion, but there are still relatively unknown mountains, islands and beaches just waiting to be explored.

Florence is Tuscany's unmissable crown jewel, with its beautiful buildings, colourful history, priceless art and unique atmosphere. But Tuscany is one of the few Italian regions well-known to foreigners as a tourist destination in itself. For decades a Tuscan villa has been the dream holiday for many travellers. And amongst the vineyards and hills of Tuscany are other lovely historic towns - not as packed with attractions as Florence, but not as packed with tourists either.

Siena is a patrician hilltop town with a past to rival that of Florence, famous for the rivalry between its districts (called contrade) which climaxes in the Palio.

Pisa boasts not just the legendary leaning tower, but also several other attractions, and good transport links to other parts of Italy. Smaller Tuscan destinations which are popular with holidaymakers include Lucca, San Gimignano (a forest of medieval towers on a hill) and the wine-producing Chianti area.

The coastline is mostly visited by holidaying Italians, with Forte dei Marmi, the Monte Argentario promontory and the Isle of Elba among its most popular seaside destinations. The region's thermal springs at Chianciano and Bagni di Lucca are also popular.