The lovely, mountainous lands of Tuscany Italy stretch over the slopes of the Apennines and touch the Tyrrhenian Sea. But its undoubted natural beauty is dwarfed by its artistic heritage - it is the cradle of art. Explore all kinds of art and artifacts when you travel to Tuscany- beginning from the Etruscan civilization (Fiesole, Chiusi, Volterra, Populonia), eye opening Roman monuments and ruins. It is also the birthplace of the Renaissance and a "must-stop" in destination Italy.
Florence (Firenze) Home to the famous Medici princes who "handheld and mentored " the greats of the Renaissance period, Florence is the place where you can still walk the ground where geniuses like da Vinci and Michelangelo stood and David still rests. Florence's centerpiece is the original Renaissance wonderland with its shop-lined Ponte Vecchio, towering Basilica di San Lorenzo and the well-endowed Uffizi Gallery. The people here are pleasant and warm, and more interestingly, Florence also flaunts an invigorating nightlife combined with festivals, fairs, where you can even savor the live performances. Here is the essence of your travel to Tuscany. Pisa Enter into a land of leaning towers. When the soft soil was overwhelmed with the thousands of tonnes of marble and bricks and mortar, something had to give way. Pisa abounds with these leaning wonders. Leaning Tower Of Pisa : Marvel at one of the world's wonders in Pisa . Started in 1173, its tilt was corrected by intentionally curving the structure back toward the perpendicular, giving the tower its slight banana shape. Galileo Galilei made it world famous when he questioned the world and the Church by dropping some mismatched wooden balls. The Campo dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles), Piazza del Duomo began the Pisan Romanesque style and is laid out in all sorts of unique geometrical figures.San Gimignano
The "towering "skyline of San Gimignano that dominates the hills of the Upper Elsa Valley is world famous. Revel in the commanding view over the town from the surviving tower of the 14th-century pentagonal Fortress. Get enamored by the beautiful Piazza della Cisterna (1327). Step into the Podesta's palace before perambulating to the Town Hall and the Romanesque/Gothic Church of Saint Augustine - all of which house some scintillating art.
The city is also famous for its Vernaccia wine, and the numerous activities and cultural events, capped by the prestigious international festival in July.Arezzo
Located at the northern end of the Valdichiana, the town can be easily accessed through road or rail. The Chimera, an Etruscan bronze statuette today symbolizes the town and is a fair giveaway of its origins. The Archeological museum overlooking the Roman Amphitheatre takes you through the Etruscan, Italic, Roman and Greek eras. The Church of S. Francesco is adorned with shrines, chapels and frescoes. Traveling to Tuscany gets a different dimension here.Livorno
If you are cruising around, don't forget to drop anchor here. The second most important city has a commercial port and is an ideal stopover for going to the islands. You can luxuriate at the Quercianella and Montenero resorts. The Fattori museum and Villa Mimbelli are also a must see. Relish the luxuries of the seas on your travel to Tuscany.Lucca
It is a magical city that still breathes the air of the Renaissance era. The superlative San Michele and San Martino churches intermesh organically with the noble palaces that were built much later. The magnificent local specialties, the wine taverns, the indigenous trattorias and the delicacies only add to the pleasures of your travel to Tuscany, Italy.