Destination Tuscany, Italy

Tuscany (Toscana) is a region on Italy's west coast, on the Tyrrhenian sea. Tuscany has two very diverse faces - the art cities such as Florence, Siena, Lucca and Pisa on one hand, and the countryside on the other. The small towns, villages, castles, villas and vineyards of Tuscany make a welcome change from the traffic and noise of some of the larger Tuscan cities …

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» Destination Florence, Italy

The best-known site and crowning architectural jewel of Florence is the domed cathedral of the city, Santa Maria del Fiore, known as The Duomo. The magnificent dome was built by Filippo Brunelleschi. The nearby Campanile tower (partly designed by Giotto) and the Baptistery buildings are also highlights …

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• Discover Tuscany at-a-glance A-Z

» Discover Arezzo

Described by Livy as one of the Etruscan capitals, Arezzo is believed to have been one of the twelve most important Etruscan cities -the so-called Dodecapolis. Etruscan remains establish that the acropolis of San Cornelio, a small hill next to that of San Donatus, was fortified in the Etruscan period …

» Brunello di Montalcino

Brunello di Montalcino is a red Italian wine produced in the vineyards surrounding the town of Montalcino located about 70 miles southwest of Florence in the Tuscany wine region. Brunello, roughly translated as 'nice dark one' in the local dialect, is the unofficial name of the clone of Sangiovese grown in the Montalcino region …

» Chianti Wine

Chianti is a red Italian wine produced in Tuscany. It was historically associated with a squat bottle enclosed in a straw basket, called a fiasco ('flask'). Baron Bettino Ricasoli (later Prime Minister in the Kingdom of Italy) created the Chianti recipe of 70% Sangiovese, 15% Canaiolo and 15% Malvasia bianca in the 19th century …

» Discover Cortona

Cortona was founded by the Etruscans, who called it Curtun in their language. The city was also important during Roman times. The Castle of Pierle, near Lake Trasimeno to the south of Cortona, already existed in the 10th century. It was the property of the marquises of Saint Mount Maria Tiberina …

» Discover Lucca

Lucca was founded by the Etruscans and became a Roman colony in 180 BC. The rectangular grid of its historical centre preserves the Roman street plan, and the Piazza San Michele occupies the site of the ancient forum. Traces of the amphitheatre can still be seen in the Piazza dell'Anfiteatro …

» Discover Montepulciano

Montepulciano is a medieval and Renaissance hill town and comune in the Italian province of Siena in southern Tuscany. It sits high on a 605 m limestone ridge. Montepulciano is a major producer of food and drink. Renowned for its pork, cheese, "pici" pasta, lentils, and honey, it is known world-wide for its wine. Connoisseurs consider its Vino Nobile among Italy's best …

» Discover Pietrasanta

Pietrasanta has Roman origins and part of the Roman wall still exists. The medieval town was founded in 1255 upon the preexisting Rocca di Sala fortress of the Lombards by Luca Guiscardo da Pietrasanta, from whom it got its name. Pietrasanta was at its height a part of the Republic of Genoa (1316-1328) …

» Discover Pisa

The power of Pisa as a mighty maritime nation began to grow and reached its apex in the 11th century when it acquired traditional fame as one of the four main historical Maritime Republics of Italy. At that time, the city was a very important commercial centre and controlled a significant merchant fleet and navy …

» Discover Poppi

Poppi is a comune in the Province of Arezzo in the Italian region Tuscany, located about 40 km east of Florence and about 30 km northwest of Arezzo. The Castle, the main building in the Casentino, known from 1191, was owned by the Counts Guidi. It has additions by Arnoldo do Cambio …

» Discover San Gimignano

San Gimignano, like other Tuscan hill towns, was first settled in the time of the Etruscans (c. 900 BC to 400 BC) when it was inhabited by a tribe called the Saina. The Etruscans were an advanced people who changed the face of central Italy through their use of irrigation to reclaim previously unfarmable land and well-defended hill-forts …

» Discover Siena

Siena, like other Tuscan hill towns, was first settled in the time of the Etruscans (c. 900 BC to 400 BC) when it was inhabited by a tribe called the Saina. The Etruscans were an advanced people who changed the face of central Italy through their use of irrigation to reclaim previously unfarmable land and well-defended hill-forts …

» Tuscan Cuisine

Simplicity is central to the Tuscan cuisine. Legumes, bread, cheese, vegetables, mushrooms and fresh fruit are used. Olive oil is made up of Moraiolo, Leccino, and Frantoiano olives. White truffles from San Miniato appear in October and November. Beef of the highest quality comes from the Chiana Valley, specifically a breed known as Chianina used for Florentine steak. Pork is also produced …

» Tuscan Wine

Tuscan Wine is Italian wine from the Tuscany region. Located in central Italy along the Tyrrhenian coast, Tuscany is home to some of the world's most notable wine regions. Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano are primarily made with Sangiovese grape whereas the Vernaccia grape is the basis of the white Vernaccia di San Gimignano. Tuscany is also known for the dessert wine Vin Santo, made from a variety of the region's grapes …

» Val d'Orcia

The Val d'Orcia, or Valdorcia, is a region of Tuscany which extends from the hills south of Siena to Monte Amiata. It is characterised by gentle, carefully cultivated hills occasionally broken by gullies and by picturesque towns and villages such as Pienza, Radicofani and Montalcino. It is a landscape which has become familiar through its depiction in works of art from the Renaissance painting to the modern photograph …

» Vernaccia di San Gimignano

Vernaccia is a white Italian wine, made from the Vernaccia grape, produced in and around the Italian hill town of San Gimignano in Tuscany. Since the Renaissance it has been considered one of Italy's finest white wines. The earliest recorded mention of the wine appear in the archives from 1276 …

» Vin Santo

While Tuscany is not the only Italian region to make the passito dessert wine Vin Santo (meaning holy wine), the Tuscan versions of the wine are well regarded and sought for by wine consumers. The best-known version is from the Chianti Classico and is produced with a blend of Trebbiano and Malvasia Bianca …