Area: 22,993 square kilometres
Population: 3,523,200
Regional capital: Florence (pop. 383,600)
Main cities:Arezzo, Grosseto, Livorno, Lucca, Massa e Carrara, Pisa, Pistoia, Prato, Siena
Main lakes and rivers: Lake Massaciuccoli, Lake Chiusi, River Arno, River Ombrone, River Serchio, River Cecina
Main mountains: Pisanino ( 1945m), Amiata (1738m), Falterona (1654m), Alpe di San Benedetto (1198m), Colline Metallifere (1060m)
Make up of landscape:mountains: 25%, hills: 67%, plain: 8%
Main industries: agriculture: agriculture: 5%, industry: 35% other (including tourism): 60%
Tuscany Weather: Tuscany has two distinct climate areas, in the centre of the region around the Appenines, where the summers are quite fresh and the winters quite cold, and the coastal region where summers are hot and thanks to the sea, also quite fresh and the winters relatively mild.
Tuscany’s border with Emilia Romagna is marked by the Appenines, quite ‘dolce’ as far as mountains go, the peaks aren’t very high and there are lots of ways through them. The Cisa and the Abetone are two of the most famous passes. The Apuan Alps are in the north west of the region and the famous white Carrara marble comes from there. The lovely former volcano Monte Amiata is found in southern Tuscany and it dominates the surrounding Tuscan and Umbrian landscape, which is characterised by gentle hills covered with vineyards, olive groves and woods. Tuscany’s western central part has the Colline Metallifere named for the metal found there and there are hot springs in the area because of the volcanic nature of the land. The flattest part of Tuscany is along the coast of Versilia in the north and the Maremma in the south. Tuscany is full of rivers and the most famous id the Arno which rises in Monte Falterona and runs through Florence and Pisa. Tuscany also has several islands, the most well-known being Elba.
Three thousand years ago Tuscany was home to the mysterious Etruscans (giving rise to Tuscany’s ancient name of Etruria). Between the 5th and 3rd centuries BC Etruria came under Roman domination and they named it Tuscia. Subsequent barbarian invasions followed: Heruls, Goths, Ostrogots, Lombards until the land was conquered by the Emperor Charlemaigne in the 8th century and then became a fiefdom of the Canossa family until 1115. In the 12th century many Tuscan cities were free ‘comuni’ and were constantly fighting each other. It was only with the domination of Florence under the Medici that the region united and became one of the most important cultural centres in Europe. In 1738 the Grand duchy of Tuscany passed to the House of Lorraine who embarked upon a series of political reforms including the abolition of the death penalty. It came under the rule of Napoleon in 1801, returning to Lorraine in 1815. Tuscany was at the centre of the country’s risorgimento (revival) movement and between 1865 and 1870 was the capital of the newly created Kingdom of Italy.
Florence – Firenze in Italian - is the capital of Tuscany, and a good reference point for navigating your way around the city is its central train station, Santa Maria Novella ('Firenze SMN'). The famous Duomo with Brunelleschi’s dome and Giotto’s campanile are also pretty hard to miss. You can walk from one end of the city centre to the other in about half an hour. Apart from the architecture and stunning art – from the Uffizi Gallery housing Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, the Accademia with Michelangelo’s David to the Pitti Palace with Raphael’s La Velata - Florence is known for its fine food, in particular its olive oil, meat dishes and classic Chianti wine. You are spoiled for choice regarding places to eat as atmospheric trattorie abound. Beware of being charged ‘tourist’ prices, so unless you want to pay through the nose choose something more out of the way. There are many lovely little eateries south of the Arno and near the central market in San Lorenzo.
Siena is a small medieval city with Etruscan origins right in the heart of Tuscany with many wonderful buildings including the magnificent Duomo, It's also the location of the world famous palio di Siena horserace. This is held annually on July 2 and August 16 and bareback riders from ten of the town's 17 contrade (city wards), race three times round the Piazza del Campo. This is the biggest day in the city’s calendar and loyalty to the contrada can even divide families and to say the winner is a hero is an understatement! Landscape Properties' office is located just off the campo in Siena and we are in the contrada of the 'oca' (goose) in case you are interested! Siena is the perfect base for visiting the Chianti part of Tuscany as well as the beautiful Orcia Valley (Val d’Orcia) and the famous ‘crete.’
No guide to Tuscany, however brief, would be complete without mentioning perhaps the most famous landscape in the world. The hills stretching from Florence south to Siena have been much photographed, painted and written about and the iconic vine-covered hills punctuated with cypress trees and golden farmhouses are even more beautiful in reality. The fact that the area is home to a number of notable red wines, including the famous Chianti makes it even more special.
Most people arrive in Tuscany at Pisa airport and then take a train, car or bus straight on to their destination, which is usually not the city itself. This is a pity as it is interesting in its own right. Of course, everyone has heard of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, but not many people know it is set in the ‘Campo dei Miracoli’, so-called because of the magnificent buildings in close proximity, all constructed from the rich white marble from the Apuan Alps nearby. The Tower is next to the Baptistery and the Duomo, although they seldom feature much in photos! The Tower started to lean almost immediately after it was built in the 12th century and over the years many different techniques have been tried to straighten it. Most recent efforts are focussing on strengthening and consolidating the ground and keeping the structure stable.
About 50 miles south east of Florence and a mountain pass away lies the ancient Etruscan city of Arezzo – famous nowadays for its gold-working industry. If you have seen the Robert Benigni’s film Life is Beautiful then you will have seen Arezzo, which featured as the home town of the main characters. The town can dazzle you with its past splendours, like the Piero della Francesca frescoes or its modern festas and fairs, like the world-famous antiques market which is held on the first weekend of every month.
This Tuscan city that is not nearly as well-known as it should be. Lucca is located in north west Tuscany. It’s is the only town in Italy with a complete city wall which you can walk or cycle around in complete safety. Lucca is an absolutely enchanting small city that hosts many international music festivals and world-famous artists yet the city also retains strong connections to its medieval past with pageants, festas and costumed marches throughout the year. There are also some world-class shops and restaurants. You can stay in the city itself or in a villa or farmhouse in the beautiful surrounding Lucca countryside.
Most visitors to Tuscany fly in to Pisa Airport which is approximately 80km west of Florence (about 50 miles). Pisa is sometimes referred to as “Florence airport”, although in fact Florence has its own international airport. Italian airline Meridiana fly into Florence City airport from Gatwick, UK.
British Airways has regular flights to Pisa Airport from London Gatwick. For cheap flights to Pisa, Ryanair flies from Birmingham, Bournemouth (April – October), Dublin, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool and London Stansted airports. Easyjet go to Florence from Bristol Airport.
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