Though violence and intercommunal strife tore Tuscany apart in the Middle Ages, today the castles, hamlets and farmhouses of that era are just some of the many reasons it is the arguably the most beloved tourist spot in Italy. Past and present merge beautifully in this scenic region, as Etruscan walls and rolling hills provide the backdrop for some of the world's most astounding art and architecture. Tuscan cities such as Florence, Siena, and Pisa, together with smaller towns like Lucca, Cortona, and Arezzo, contain some of Italy's most famous artistic treasures. And don't miss San Gimignano, the Medieval village that sits in the heart of the countryside, beguiling all who visit with its ancient charm and beauty.
ansedonia: rub shoulders with the rich & famous
Directly across the harbor from Porto Ercole lies Ansedonia, a sleepy town with some of the best beach front in Tuscany. This is where some of the wealthiest families in Italy have their summer retreats.
discovering monte argentario
Off the coast of southern Tuscany a magnificent rock formation juts skyward out of the sea. A beach front haven that is a popular summer destination for Romans and Tuscans.
villa san michele: a vacation from your vacation
Villa San Michele gave Susan, a weary traveler, a vacation from her vacation� sweeping her up to heaven and inspiring her to toss her schedule, and supplying time and rest and prepare to take in the glorious treasures of Florence with freshened eyes.
restaurant discovery
I�ve dined at jam-packed-hard-to-get-reservations-at culinary institutions on previous trips. It�s rare to hear of an undiscovered spot in Florence; and one that�s barely over a year old is even more unique.
tuscan women cook
Last summer, Susan enrolled in Tuscan Women Cook, a week of cooking lessons, trips to nearby towns, wineries, markets, restaurants, and designer outlets. Instead of admiring Tuscany she stepped inside, sharing tastes with the locals, transplants, and tourists who filled it.
under the "hollywood" sun
Under
the Tuscan Sun, the sentimental story of an American fixing up a villa in one of Italy's most beautiful regions, just got a movie fix-up. Hollywood wrapped up the shooting in Cortona of a story which has little in common with the the famous book but bears the same title.
battle of the bridge @ pisa
The tradition of the Game of the Bridge dates back to February 22, 1568. Rival teams from different quarters of Pisa fought for symbolic possession of a bridge over the Arno River. In those times, the games often degenerated into brutal and bloody man to man fighting.
michelangelo: graffiti artist
Restoration efforts are underway in Florence to salvage wall sketches made by Michelangelo where he took refuge from war in 1530.
city girl meets tuscan farm
When Jaqualine heads to Claudio's farmhouse she was ready for the state-of-the art kitchen and beautifully rustic decor. Instead, she arrived to find a very crude, broken-down operating farm! She is soon seduced into the rural life and shares a snippet of it with us.
glimpse a tuscan soul
The mother of a well-known comedian talks about her journey from Lucca to America and the ties that still bind her to her native Italian city in Leaving Lucca
the horseshoe adventure in pinocchio's hometown
Wind through the steep streets of Collodi in search for of horse shoes with built in hooks that catch on the cobblestone streets. Pull up your laces and begin the adventure.
how to flirt: lucchese style
Dine in a cafe' with our guest writer and discover how how Italian men can be subtle.
eating tuscan-style
Learn about the history of Tuscan Cuisine and celebrate Tuscan heritage with an authenticillay meal in a tavola.
your tuscan experience
Tell us about your Tuscan experience or read what others had to say in the
Travel Forum.
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