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Tuscany - Toscana - lies in central Italy measuring 22,992 square kilometers of which 1330 make up Tuscan archipelago, it has a population of over 3.5 million. The region contains all types of scenery providing the tourist with an infinite choice of wandering: a region of gentle hills, mountains, sandy beaches and rugged Mediterranean coastlines.

Tuscany is the greenest area in Italy and with its national parks and regional nature reserves it is a perfect environment for many varieties of flora and fauna, it has 120 protected regions.

Tuscany was essentially the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, and its artistic heritage includes architecture, painting and sculpture, collected in dozens of museums, situated in big cities and in small towns.

Tuscany is known for its wines; most famous are Chianti, Morellino di Scansano and Brunello di Montalcino.

Significant tourist destinations in Tuscany include Florence, Siena, Pisa, the Crete Senesi, the Maremma, Garfagnana and the Lunigiana areas, and the island of Elba.

The Hills - Tuscan hills make up two thirds of the area and have certainly one of the great spectacles of nature. Each location offers a completely different panorama; the rows of cypress trees in Versilia change to rows of vines and olive trees in Valdarno and Chianti only to become impassable foliage in the southern part of the region.

The Coast - The coastline covers 300 kilometers. Starting off in the north there are sandy beaches and facilities for both tourists and industry which to the south of Livorno, become promontories and crags; the park in the Maremma has steep cliffs which descend sharply into the sea - an area well preserved and of considerable interest to tourists - ending with the Orbetello Lagoon and the Argentario peninsula. Further inland along the coast are the marshlands, a paradise for birdwatchers and a protected area where many rare species of bird come to nest of visit during the migration season.

The Sea - is the very heart of the Tuscan coast. It lives in the history, in its landscape. It offers a wonderful view from the hills and the villages. The ancient watch towers, which defended the coast by the pirates' attacks, are still imposing. It is the sea where the Etruscans carried on their trade, the sea which still hides in its depths the treasures of the peoples who traveled across it from ancient times.

Tuscan Archipelago - All together the various islands form a national park. There are seven major islands of which Elba is the biggest. Many of them are not well known and, as they were used as penal colonies for many years, have remained fairly untouched. These islands are characterized by the major differences in their shapes creating variations in the landscape which ranges from Capraia, of volcanic origin with its unique Mediterranean underbrush, dry and rocky Elba where it is possible to discover deserted beaches, the flat coast of Pianosa and lastly Giglio, also of volcanic origin.

The Mountains - A special characteristic of the mountains part of Tuscany are the marble quarries, known the world over for the dazzling whiteness of the marble they produce, used by the most famous sculptors in history. Seen from the coast the white marble streaks etched into the countryside creating a unique landscape. The Apuane Alps offer a typical alpine setting with limestone rocks and dolomites.

Flora and Fauna - Tuscany is an ideal habitat for a large variety of fauna. The Tuscan archipelago hosts a colony of monk seals, one of the rarest colonies of these animals in the Mediterranean. The Casentino area is home to the Apennine wolf and many types of boar and deer. The flora is also different in each area and gives the scenery its own particular characteristics: cypress trees imported from Asia Minor as ornamentation by the Romans is typical especially in Versilia; the Mediterranean underbrush on the islands; the Apennines are covered in large expanses of forest. Men have also played a role by decorating the hillsides with his vineyards and olive groves.

Climate - The climate in Tuscany is mostly gentle even though this can vary from area to area. The sea and the coast are enjoyed by tourists during the summer season whereas the mountains are fresh in the summer and very cold in the winter. The cities are usually very hot during the summer; the temperatures in Florence and the other towns can be stifling but this does not detract from the many wonders they offer.

History of Tuscany

Numerous archeological finds within its borders attest to there having been inhabitants in Tuscany during prehistoric times, but the presence of an advanced civilization in the region goes back to the X Century BC with the Etruscans who occupied Tuscany. Arezzo, Cortona, Fiesole and Volterra were a few of the cities founded during Etruscans, each one independent from the other and built on elevated sites to protect against attack from enemies. The Etruscans developed agriculture, reclaimed the marsh lands and put in an irrigation system. They also developed commerce and as a result created the first network of roads, connecting the ports to the inland centers. Vestiges of the Etruscans period can be seen in many cities and towns; local museums have excellent collection of Etruscans remains.

During the III Century BC the Roman conquest transformed the cities with new requirements; streets were paved to permit links with the areas in the valleys where the new cities such as Pisa, Lucca and Pistoia became the crossroads to new routes. The region was united with Umbria and given the name Tuscia.

The year 1000 marked the rebirth of the region; improvement of agriculture with land cultivation changing the physical aspect of the area. The cities also developed internally and commerce and handicrafts flourished while rampant feudalism took hold in the countryside. During this period religious architecture rise and the Romanesque style reached its height.

In the XIII Century there was a demographic increase in the cities moving the centre of political influence from the countryside to the cities. The first government buildings were erected, and the first painting was produced. The rivalries between cities for control over the region also began.

Florence was divided into factions: Guelfi - supported by the Pope, and Ghibellini - supported by the German Emperor, Frederick II. The battles between Guelfi and Ghibellini cities resulting in the alternation of power between the two continued until 1282 when a Priory of Arts was installed in Florence. This was a government made of people who represented artisan's organizations. In the arts, this period saw the origin of the Gothic style which spread throughout Tuscany with the creation of religious works of the highest level with sculptures, frescos, literature and paintings by great artists such as Cimabue, Giotto and Dante Alighieri who brought change to the history of art.

The Plague of 1348 mainly affected the cities decimating the population and changing their productive and commercial structure as the manpower necessary for many tasks was no longer available.

Florence remained an important city, annexing new territories and taking on a regional dimension. In 1434 was the beginning of the Medici period. The Medici family, of which Lorenzo the Magnificent was the most significant member from a cultural and artistic point of view, made Florence politically important and was also major sponsors of the arts commissioning some of the most magnificent Renaissance works of art. Medici's were protectors of a large number of artists with many great names of the period who went on produce works which has influence throughout Europe. The first Renaissance prepared the ground for the growth of artists such as Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci.

In 1808, Tuscany became part of the French Empire under Napoleon and was consigned to Napoleon's sister. After the Vienna Congress, Tuscany returned to the Lorraine family and the last ruling member, Leopoldo II, who was stimulated with industrialization and the development of the mines in the Tuscany region.

In 1859, Florence voted to be annexed to the Kingdom of Sardinia which became the Kingdom of Italy on unification in 1860. From 1865-1871, Florence was the capital of the kingdom and modernization of the city continued.

During the 19th Century, Florence became important tourists center and the number of visitors has grown steadily to reach today's level of 35 million per year. The economic boom after the World Wars resulted in Tuscany becoming a major commercial centre.

Tuscany is the place of beautiful art cities, reach of history, scattered in the whole territory and connected by a unique landscape. Tuscany is the ideal place to travel; a holiday in Tuscany makes your mind free, gives you refreshment and enriches your life.