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TuscanyWithout a doubt, Tuscany is the most famous region in Italy. Its fabled landscapes, renowned art, and acclaimed landmarks have made it a popular destination for centuries. Hill towns look out over rolling countryside that is covered in ordered vineyards, silvery olive groves, and green woods. Cypress trees line up along country lanes, and fields of sunflowers bring smiles as you pass by their intensely yellow blooms. Tuscany is, in short, a picture-perfect place that has been featured in films and boasted about in books. Tuscany is the land of castles, towers, grand cathedrals, opulent palaces and country villas. The most famous artwork and architecture in the country are found here, and it was the birthplace of the Renaissance. Its illustrious citizens include a veritable whos-who of renowned names: Galileo, Dante, Michelangelo, Da Vinci, Botticelli, Brunelleschi, Puccini, and Medici, to name but a few. No wonder it has been on the tourist map for many years! The region gets its names from its ancient inhabitants, the Etruscans, from whom today's population claim to be proud descendants. You'll find ruins from several centuries before Christ of these mysterious people who left traces of their civilization in their elaborate funerary rites. The Romans conquered, and then city-states warred and rivaled each other for many centuries. The wars between the Guelphs and Ghibellines and the power struggles between wealthy families kept the region in defensive mode with high walls surrounding their towns and look-out castles scattered all about the hills, which make lovely historic backdrops as you tour around today. Here you'll find the famed wine regions of Chianti, Montalcino and Montepulciano, storied vintages that are exported world-wide. Vines have been cultivated here since the Etruscan era. Stop by some wineries for a taste and a tour. The Chianti hills and the postcard-like towns of Castellina, Radda and Greve are worthy stops- the quintessential Tuscan villages that glow in the sun. But Tuscany isn't all hill towns. There is a long stretch of coastline that varies from rocky cliffs to wide sandy beaches, and includes famous islands like Elba and Isola del Giglio. The northern part of the region is rugged and mountainous, with forests and sweeping views. Horseback riding, hiking, and cycling are enjoyable activities in these parts. While Florence is the most famous city and the region's capital, other art cities that can stake a claim for greatness include Arezzo, Siena, and Lucca. Pisa, known for its legendary leaning tower, is here, and Cortona is the home of artist Piero della Francesca. The Maremma, a gentler landscape along the Grosetto coast area, is known for its landscapes that are kept in their natural state. Here, real-live cowboys still roam the range with heritage cattle breeds and sheep. Spring and fall are the best times to visit Tuscany when the climate is mild without being stifling hot or drizzly chilly. While public transport is readily accessible and available to connect the larger towns throughout Tuscany, a rental car is a good idea to be able to explore the gorgeous countryside an the charming hill towns, which are of course what the region is so noted for. The Tuscan cuisine is based on Etruscan heritage, with an emphasis on fresh vegetables, herbs and local meats and seafood. "Peasant" cuisine has become more popular, now recognized for its healthfulness, using bread, legumes, and produce as a base, as well as (of course!) pasta. The wide pappardelle noodles and long strands known as pici are regional favorites, often topped with a meat-based tomato sauce that uses wild boar or rabbit. Porcini mushrooms are also highly prized and widely utilized in the kitchen, as are earthy truffles and slow-cooked beans. Everything is washed down with the local vintages, that include Chianti, Montepulciano Nobile, and Brunello for the reds, but also boast some fine whites to pair with the region's seafood, like Vernaccia and Vermentino. No matter what part of the region you wander to, you're bound to find heart-stopping views, amazing architecture, noteworthy artwork, and a heart-warming feeling at seeing this legendary land. Towns: Agliana, Anghiari, Arezzo, Asciano, Badia a Ruoti, Badia Agnano, Bagni di Lucca, Bagno a Ripoli, Barberino di Mugello, Barberino Val d'Elsa, Bietina, San Giustino Valdarno, Bucine, Buonconvento, Calci, Calenzano, Campo nell'Elba, Camucia di Cortona, Carrara, Casciana Terme, Cascina, Casole d'Elsa, Castel San Gimignano, Castelfiorentino, Castelfranco di Sopra, Castellina in Chianti, Castelnuovo Berardenga, Castiglione Fibocchi, Castiglion Fiorentino, Castiglioncello, Certaldo, Cetona, Chianciano Terme, Chiusi, Cinigiano, Civitella della Chiana, Colle di Val d'Elsa, Cortona, Dicomano, Dudda, Empoli, Fabbrica di Peccioli, Figline Valdarno, Florence, Foiano della Chiana, Follonica, Fonteblanda, Fornacette, Forte dei Marmi, Gaiole in Chianti, Gambassi Terme, Gavoranno, Ghizzano, Grassina, Greve in Chianti, Grosseto, Iesa Palazzo, Impruneta, Isola del Giglio, Lamporecchio, Laterina , Livorno, Loro Ciuffenna, Lucca, Lucignano, Marciano della Chiana, Marina di Grosseto, Empoli, Masotti, Massa, Massa e Cozzile, Moggiona, Molazzana, Monsummano Terme, Montaione, Montalcino, Monte San Savino, Montecatini Terme, Montefollonico, Montelopio, Montepulciano, Monterchi, Monteriggioni, Monteroni d'Arbia, Montespertoli, Montevarchi, Monteverdi Marittimo, Monticchiello di Pienza, Monticiano, Montisi, Nievole, Orbetello, Panzano in Chianti, Pari, Pergine Valdarno, Pian di Sco', Pienza, Pietrasanta, Pievasciata, Pieve Fosciana, Pisa, Pistoia, Pitigliano, Poggibonsi, Policiano, Ponsacco, Pontassieve, Ponte a Elsa, Ponte a Moriano, Pontedera, Poppi, Porciano di Lamporecchio, Porciano di Stia, Porto Ercole, Pozzo della Chiana, Prato, Puntone, Radda in Chianti, Radicofani, Rapolano Terme, Reggello, Rignano sull'Arno, Rigomagno, Rigutino, Riparbella, Ponte a Moriano, Rosignano Solvay, Rufina, San Baronto, San Casciano dei Bagni, San Casciano in Val di Pesa, San Donato in Poggio, San Gimignano, San Giuliano Terme, San Giustino Valdarno, San Miniato, San Quirico d'Orcia, Sansepolcro, Sarteano, Saturnia, Scandicci, Scarlino, Segromigno in Monte, Seravezza, Serre di Rapolano, Sesto Fiorentino, Sieci, Siena, Sinalunga, Sorano, Staggia Senese, Subbiano, Tavarnelle Val di Pesa, Terontola, Terranuova Bracciolini, Tirrenia, Torre del Lago Puccini, Torrita di Siena, Trequanda, Uliveto Terme, Vagliagli, Vecchiano, Venturina, Viareggio, Vicchio, Vinci, Volterra
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