The land

Tuscany surrounds Florence with a variety of unique landscapes and culture. To the north there is the mountainous landscape of the Apuan Alps and to the west there is the spectacular coastline; there are the forests in the Mugello and the Casentino areas and to the south the Tuscan archipelago. Central Tuscany is an agricultural area producing the finest Italian wines and also preserves a huge architectural heritage. Roads, squares and entire towns such as S.Gimignano have remained the same as they were in the sixteenth century. Pienza, in the Siena countryside, is a dream-town of humanism, designed according to an ideal plan by Rossellino requested by Pope Pio II, Enea Silvio Piccolomini. Not to mention the Romanic Abbey of S.Antimo and the baroque Church of S. Stefano dei Cavalieri in Pisa.



PISA
Pisa was once a powerful Maritime Republic that dominated the western Mediterranean with its fleet from XI to XIII century.
The Campo dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles) is the tangible evidence of the town’s former economic and political splendour.
The famous Leaning Tower, which leans heavily to one side due to the lack of deep foundations and the presence of sandy lime ground, is but one of the buildings that rise up on the well-manicured emerald green lawns. The Tower stands next to the Baptistry and the Cathedral but the churches of S.Maria della Spina and S.Paolo a Ripa d’Arno are also admirable gems.

LUCCA
Lucca was colonised by the Romans in 8O A.C. and to date conserves the regular plan of the roads and the oval shape of the Piazza del Mercato (Market Square) which was built on the archaeological remains of the ancient Amphitheatre.
Of remarkable beauty are the church of S.Michele al Foro, the Cathedral, S.Martino and the Tomb of Ilaria del Carretto.

AREZZO
The city preserves the most important series of frescoes by Piero della Francesca in the Church of S.Francesco (The Legend of the Cross) and in the province other works by the master can be admired such as The Resurrection and La Madonna del Parto.

SIENA
Located at the heart of a rich agricultural area Siena is a Medieval town with steep, narrow roads that have remained the same over the centuries. The Cathedral is an example of pure Gothic style, while the Piazza del Campo, which slopes down towards the Palazzo Pubblico and the Palio theatre, is truly picturesque. The Sienese territory also includes other splendid towns such as Pienza, Montalcino (where Brunello wine is produced), Monteriggioni, S.Gimignano, Montepulciano and, further south, Chiusi.

Finally, worthy of mention are the Maremma area, with its huge park called “Uccellina” and long, natural beaches, the islands of the Tuscan archipelago and Chianti, the true “heart” of the wine industry.