Tuscany (Road Map Italy)

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Afternoon: Florence Cathedral (Il Duomo): Climb to the top for a panoramic view of the city. Ponte Vecchio: Iconic bridge with shops built along it. So, I opted for a Tuscany road trip from one base. I didn’t want to see Tuscany in a rush and to take one of those ‘ drive until you die road trips’ as I call them. Thank you so much for your constant attention for the entire year of planning this trip. Your responsiveness and helpfulness were unlike any other customer service experience I’ve ever encountered. You are truly amazing at your job!

There are so many vineyards around Montalcino. Most charge a small fee per wine tasting and have several you can try. Le sei regioni italiane più visitate. La top 20 europea". www.rainews.it (in Italian) . Retrieved 15 December 2020. One of the traditional foundations of the industrial sector is mining, given the abundance of underground resources. Also of note are textiles and clothing, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, steel and metalworking, glass and ceramics, and printing and publishing. Smaller areas specialising in manufacturing and craft industries are found in the hinterland: the leather and footwear area in the south-west part of the province of Florence, the hot-house plant area in Pistoia, the ceramics and textile industries in the Prato area, scooters, and motorcycles in Pontedera, and the processing of timber for the manufacture of wooden furniture in the Cascina area. The heavy industries (mining, steel, and mechanical engineering) are concentrated along the coastal strip ( Livorno and Pisa areas), where there are also important chemical industries. Also of note are the marble ( Carrara area) and paper industries ( Lucca area). [11] Tourism [ edit ]

The Maremma Tuscany Map with cities, towns, villages and hamlets

Several famous writers and poets are from Tuscany, most notably Florentine author Dante Alighieri. Tuscany's literary scene particularly thrived in the 13th century and the Renaissance. Roughly Montaione is only one hour’s drive from Florence, an hour’s drive from Pisa, and an hour’s drive from Siena. The small town of Montaione happened to be my perfect base in Tuscany for touring Tuscany by car. Days 9-10: San Gimignano and Volterra: Explore San Gimignano which is a medieval town known for its towers and Volterra a hilltop town known for its Etruscan history.

Lucca is known as the city of a hundred churches and is well-known for the beautiful Medieval city walls that can still be seen around the old town. Siena, a medieval hilltop town famous for its historic center, is a destination that deserves a place on your ultimate Tuscany road trip. Siena is known for the Palio horse race that takes place twice every summer in the center of the city, as well as its beautiful marble-striped Duomo, Piazza del Campo, old town streets, and stores to explore.

Renting a Car in Italy is the Best Way to See Tuscany!

Along the way, you may want to go wine tasting for the Brunello wine found near Montalcino, or just stop off and soak up the views of rolling vineyards and Tuscany’s beautiful hilltop towns. Make the most of your time in Pisa and book a local tour guide. Within Pisa, residents are offering unique activities including truffle hunting in San Miniato, pasta-making classes, Pisa food tours and e-bike trips through the rural Tuscan countryside. Cipolla, Carlo M. (1981). Fighting the Plague in Seventeenth Century Italy. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press. Another type of poetry also began in Tuscany. Guittone d'Arezzo made art abandon chivalry and Provençal forms for national motives and Latin forms. He attempted political poetry, and although his work is often obscure, he prepared the way for the Bolognese school. Bologna was the city of science, and philosophical poetry appeared there. Guido Guinizelli was the poet after the new fashion of the art. In his work, the ideas of chivalry are changed and enlarged. Only those whose heart is pure can be blessed with true love, regardless of class. He refuted the traditional credo of courtly love, for which love is a subtle philosophy only a few chosen knights and princesses could grasp. Love is blind to blasons but not to a good heart when it finds one: when it succeeds it is the result of the spiritual, not physical affinity between two souls. Guinizzelli's democratic view can be better understood in the light of the greater equality and freedom enjoyed by the city-states of the center-north and the rise of a middle class eager to legitimise itself in the eyes of the old nobility, still regarded with respect and admiration but dispossessed of its political power. Guinizelli's Canzoni make up the bible of Dolce Stil Novo, and one in particular, "Al cor gentil" ("To a Kind Heart") is considered the manifesto of the new movement which would bloom in Florence under Cavalcanti, Dante and their followers. His poetry has some of the faults of the school of d'Arezzo. Nevertheless, he marks a great development in the history of Italian art, especially because of his close connection with Dante's lyric poetry.

All of the Tuscan countryside is beautiful. That's why it's so popular. Many folks like to rent a country house for a week or so. VRBO lists well over 7000 Tuscan Vacation Rentals . This kind of rental is becoming more and more popular, and is sometimes called self-catering. Don't know what self-catering is and how renting a vacation property works? See: Italy Self Catering, which also includes our recommended places to stay in Tuscany, including a castle near Pienza and apartments and villas in the Garfagnana, Siena, and Pisa. Montepulciano is one of the best towns in Tuscany to stay in. It gets busy during the day but most people will leave once evening comes so you’ll get to explore it without the crowds! Kohn, George C. (2008). Encyclopedia of Plague and Pestilence: From Ancient Times to the Present. Infobase Publishing. p.126. ISBN 978-0-8160-6935-4.

4. Rapolano Terme

Summer is often cited as the best time to visit Tuscany as it’s when the weather is best. However, it’s also when the crowds are at their biggest meaning long lines for the best things to do in Tuscany such as museums and galleries.

Below is more information about each of the stops on this 7 days in Tuscany road trip itinerary. You’ll find links to recommended tours and more information within each section. Pilgrims travelling along the Via Francigena between Rome and France brought wealth and development during the medieval period. [17] The food and shelter required by these travellers fuelled the growth of communities around churches and taverns. [17] The conflict between the Guelphs and Ghibellines, factions supporting the Papacy or the Holy Roman Empire in central and northern Italy during the 12th and 13th centuries, split the Tuscan people. [17] The two factions gave rise to several powerful and rich medieval communes in Tuscany: Arezzo, Florence, Lucca, Pisa, and Siena. [17] Balance between these communes was ensured by the assets they held: Pisa, a port; Siena, banking; and Lucca, banking and silk. [20] But by the time of the Renaissance, Florence had become the cultural capital of Tuscany. [20] Along this route, you will pass through the medieval town of Monteriggioni, a walled town recognized by its watchtowers. You can enter Monteriggioni’s old town through the Porta Franca gate. Once inside and from the vantage point of the town’s castle walls, you can take in breathtaking views of the Chianti region, internationally renowned for its wine. Rural Tuscany is a treasure trove of little gems strung out across Italy's largest region, from the " monumental organ" in the little town of Corsanico to the only (I am told) example of a Romanesque cloister still standing in Tuscany in the picturesque little village of Torri. You'll find more in out Tuscany Category on the blog.

Versilia

Cala Violina: Awonderful cove in Maremma with white fine sand. To get there you walk a trail with incredible views of the coastline.