 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.
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