What’s Special About Tuscany?
“Tuscany,” Goethe observed, “looks like Italy should.” Fortunately for today’s visitors, not too much has changed in the centuries since the German writer and statesman traveled in Toscana. Although its cities have many visitors, the region quickly gives way to a wondrous countryside.
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High on many clients’ wish lists are the Italian towns of Pisa and Florence. Here are some of the many highlights in Tuscany your clients may enjoy:
Pisa and Florence
The Campo dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles) is north of Pisa. It is a World Heritage Site and contains the city’s most famous sights: the Torre Pendente (Leaning Tower), the Duomo, and the Baptistry. The Baptistry has an interesting audio effect: sing, and your long notes turn into chords.
The area around Pisa is an economic hub, and Livorno is the port. Cruise ships dock at commercial piers a short distance from town. Small ships and yachts dock even closer. Cruise ship shore excursions typically visit Pisa in the morning on their way for a day trip to Florence.
Florence (Firenze), Tuscany’s capital, is one of the world’s most important architectural and art centers. The birthplace of the Renaissance, the majority of its buildings were constructed in the 15th century and paid for by powerful families, such as the Medici, a hugely wealthy banking family. Visitors head for the Piazza della Signoria flanked by the Palazzzo Vecchio (Florence’s town hall).
Special Experiences
Travelers come to Italy, and especially to Tuscany, for many reasons. Many come in search of fine art experiences; others to explore the beautiful countryside. Gourmets and wine lovers descend to enjoy the wonderful food and drink. Walkers enjoy the mountain paths; cyclists the rolling hills, summer visitors the sea and islands. Special experiences are particularly attractive for repeat visitors.
- Cooking Classes Up and down the peninsula, schools teach travelers how to cook the Italian way. The experience of hands-on work enriched by housing in a villa and guided tours of the countryside is a sure winner.
- Bicycle Touring Cyclists can explore Tuscany’s back roads on a bicycle tour. Participants pedal their way on itineraries that feature cycling through the beautiful countryside, stopping overnight in four-star hotels, shopping for regional specialties (such as ceramics and leather goods), enjoying the region’s cuisine and exploring the art-filled city centers.
- Truffle Hunting Truffle hunting is an ancient tradition in Tuscany. The tube mushrooms grow singly or in clusters, each kind with a unique perfume. Truffles are difficult to find because they grow under the earth among the roots of trees. They are found mainly by dogs and to a lesser extent by pigs.
- Wine Tasting Southeastern Tuscany is the source of some of Italy’s finest red wines: Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino, and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. The Chianti Classico Wine Region is between Florence and Siena. Only Chianti from here may boast the black rooster seal on the bottle. The Barone Ricasoli Winery and Brolio Castle is a good place to start a tour. The winery is Italy’s oldest and the largest in the Chianti Classico area. The formula for Chianti Classico was invented there. Visitors can taste wine, tour the small castle museum and have lunch at a good osteria.
- Spas Italy has been known for its hot springs with therapeutic thermal waters since Etruscan days. The largest and best-known spa in Tuscany, Montecatini Terme, is located between Lucca and Florence. Verdi, Rossini, and Puccini spent time composing there. The town’s Liberty-style architecture is an adaptation of Art Nouveau. A funicular (hillside railway) that was built in 1897 takes visitors to see the old town of Montecatini Alto, a fortified medieval town with great views of the countryside. Terme Tettuccio is a legendary thermal resort in Montecatini Terme. The spa is noted for its lavish architecture.
- Shopping The fashion and textile industries are important to the Florentine economy. The Via de’Tornabuoni, the top shopping street, has some of the world’s most luxurious clothing and jewelry houses, such as Cartier, Ferragamo, Gucci, Versace, and Bulgari, to name a few. Florence’s covered Straw Market is centuries old.
Clearly, the Tuscan region has much to offer. Want to learn more about Italy? Head over to the Premium Access Lounge TODAY and start exploring!
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