Tuscany

The magical landscape of Tuscany has been described in many books and included in many films. People have always been attracted to this hilltop towns, rows of cypress trees and vineyard-covered hills. Renaissance Florence, enchanted Lucca, the gothic wonder of Siena, the leaning tower of Pisa and Tuscan countryside will blow you away.

Tuscany should be savored slowly: works by Tuscan masters like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, architectural wonders by Brunelleschi, Dante, Boccaccio and Petrarch’s books and not to forget the landscape, the people of Tuscany and some of the world’s finest food and wine. Visit in September for the region's biggest wine fair.

The weather is very unpredictable in autumn and spring and winter is generally cool and wet. Summer days are usually sunny and hot, while the evenings in Chianciano can be chilly due to the town’s 900-foot altitude in the hills. A sweater or light jacket is recommended for the evenings.

Siena

Siena is an old medieval walled city, built on three ridges and dominating the land between the valleys of Arbia and Elsa. From the 12th century into the 16th century, its banking activities and trade in wool and textiles placed it in direct rivalry with Florence.
Today's Siena still retains the air of the Tuscan Middle Ages. Visit the 334-foot slender tower of the town hall (Palazzo Publico), that dominate the central square Piazza del Campo. Surrounding this square, are lovely palaces dating from the twelfth to sixteenth centuries. Among them is Palazzo Piccolomini built by Rossellino in 1460s. Throughout the city you’ll find some splendid examples of Gothic architecture. The most magnificent is Siena’s Duomo. Have a lunch break at a typical trattoria to savor local specialties. No cars are allowed in a city centre, which makes it an ideal place to walk and explore many beautiful palaces and little streets with local shops.

Montepulciano and Chianciano terme

South of Siena the road will take you into the beautiful South Tuscan countryside, lined up with vineyards. You can stop by some of the vineries and taste local wine or continue to Montepulciano, a medieval and renaissance hill town of exceptional beauty, that sits on a high limestone ridge. Inside the walls you’ll find Renaissance-style palazzo and excellent food and wine shops.

The area around Montepulciano is a major producer of food such as pork, cheese, "pici" pasta (a thick, rough, chewy variant of spaghetti), lentils, and honey. Its vineries produce one of the best Italian wine Vino Nobile. Don’t miss to taste some of these specialties. Below the city walls is the stunning church of Madonna di San Biagio.

Next stop is Chianciano, famous since the times of the ancient Etruscans, for its thermal mineral waters and wonderful spa treatments. Walk through the Old Town, and visit the Collegiata Church. Don’t miss the local Etruscan Museum, where you’ll have the opportunity to learn about the Etruscan origins of Chianciano and discover more about this mysterious civilization that preceded the Romans in this area.

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Things to do in Tyscany

Voltera

Tuscany is named after the Etruscan people who lived here centuries before this region was conquered by ancient Rome. Over 2500 years ago, back when Rome was still just a small town, the Etruscan civilization flourished in this part of Italy. With the rise of Rome, The Etruscan civilization was absorbed into the mighty empire. Twenty-five hundred years ago, Voltera was Etruscan’s key trading centre. The town was protected by a four mile long wall and today its mighty Etruscan gate, built of massive tufa stones, still stands. Volterra's 700 year old city hall claims to be the oldest in Tuscany. Unlike other famous towns in Tuscany, Voltera is very real, vibrant and less commercial.

The main reason to visit Voltera is its Museo Ttrusco Guarnacci, that is filled with Etruscan artifacts from centuries before Christ. Etched mirrors, stylized bronze buckles, decorated pot handles and beautifully crafted jewelry, were mostly excavated from tombs. You can see carved funerary urns, containing ashes of the dead. Across the street visit the alabaster workshop to see how its been transformed into a work of art. Alabaster has a long tradition in Voltera. Being translucent, it was sliced thin to provide windows for Italian medieval churches. Now days nearby quarry supply local artists who sell their pieces in fine galleries. Pack up a picnic lunch today. Local shops are filled with Tuscan specialties like the wild boar sausages or ham hocks, some local cheese and a bottle of Tuscan Red. Find a good spot and enjoy the Tuscan sun.

Festival not To Miss

Tuscany - Puccini Festival, from June to August, is held in the composer’s honor in his city of birth Torre del Lago, at an outdoor venue overlooking Lake Massaciuccoli, in Tuscany, Italy. Website:www.puccinifestival.it

Day trips from Siena

Monteriggioni - Colle di Val d’Elsa - San Gimignano

The road that connects Siena with the Val d’Elsa is lined up with cross oak and holm-oak woods, olive groves and vineyards with wonderful views. Visit the village of Monteriggioni with ancient walls, built around 1200. Not far away is the Abbadia Isola, a Benedictine monastery, founded in the year 1000.

Once you have gone past Monteriggioni, you arrive at Colle di Val d’Elsa, the ancient village built on the top of a hill with the view that will take your breath away. The village is divided into Colle Alta, the Medieval part and Colle Bassa, which is famous for its craftsman-made crystal.

Just a short distance away deep in the Chianti is San Gimignano, an old town that dates back to the 9th century. It is surrounded by high walls that protected the luxurious palaces and wonderful churches in the 13th century. The walls used to have 72 towers, now days only 14 remains. See Porta San Giovanni Piazza della Cisterna, the Basilica Collegiata, Duomo with 14th century frescoes, Palazzo del Popolo and the Rocca, who used to be a fortress and now is a public garden that command splendid views over the vineyards. Continue along the Via San Matteo, where you’ll find local Tuscan shops, towards the Church of Sant’Agostino. End the day in one of the town’s vinotecas, with a glass of Chianti.

Best Time to Visit

From May-June and Sept-Oct. In July and Aug is hot and crowded.

Getting Around Tuscany

Probably the best way to explore the whole area and discover hidden gems is by car. The main highways are good but busy, while the back roads offer scenic drives at the slow pace.

You can rent a car in the major cities and airports. Alternatively, major towns like Florence, Pisa, Luca and Siena are well connected through a good rail system.

The main bus operators are SITA Autostradale and LAZZI. Services are frequent and reliable. Local buses can be your only mode of public transport in a lot of the smaller towns but service is often limited to one or two daily.

Visit the local tourist information office for bus information and timetable . In a city buy your ticket from a machine, newsstand or tobacconist and stamp it on board in the validating machine.

Pienza and the Balloon experience

The village of Pienza, a Renaissance jewel, is the first example of town planning executed after the fall of the Ancient Roman Empire. In the 1400s, Pope Pius II of the Piccolomini family decided to remodel his hometown in a Renaissance style. The grand scheme never progressed beyond handful of buildings around Piazza Pio II. City Hall, Palazzo Piccolomini and the Cathedral were designed by Rossellino and built in tree years. The town that was named Corsignano was renamed Pienza, after Pope Pius II. Your visit should include the Palazzo Pilolomini that was the home to Pius's descendants until 1968. From the terrace you'll admire the vistas of the Tuscan countryside. Try some local specialties and discover many shops lining up the streets.

See Tuscany from above and sip a champagne with your breakfast. The company “Balloons in Tuscany” will take you on a lazy float over the olive- and vine-covered hillsides in a hot air balloon. They are located in Montisi, 8 miles north of Pienza on the road to Trequanda. You can book their balloon rides online at www.ballooningintuscany.com

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