Central Tuscany as defined by both the Chianti and Val D’Orcia regions and is considered the jewel in the crown. These are the idyllic landscapes often seen on postcards. Rolling hills, vineyards, silvery olive groves, and patches of forests. The Chianti region, stretching from Florence to Siena, is a land where wine and olive oil have been produced for centuries to outstanding standard. Perfect for wine tasting, it has some of the most scenic of Medieval hilltop towns, including Radda in Chianti and the lovely Montefioralle. The Val d’Orcia south of Siena is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Expect an idyllic, picture perfect countryside. The rolling hills with their cypress trees are a treat for the eyes. The area is dotted with ancient churches and small towns like Pienza and Montalcino. Both Chianti and Val d’Orcia are perfect destinations for a driving tour. Val d’Elsa lies to the west of the Chianti and includes the very historic Medieval towns of San Gimignano, Monteriggioni, Certaldo and Colle Val d’Elsa. Nearby Etruscan Volterra, is another must-see town in the area. Tuscany has a long coast (230 kilometres) with a lot of variety. You can choose a very civilised ‘bagno‘ in Versilia in the north, especially at the the glitzy resorts of Viareggio and Forte dei Marmi, but the further south you go, the clearer the water becomes. Castiglioncello is a pretty resort in a rocky coastal area, while the Etruscan coast boasts long sandy beaches. Arguably the best beaches in Tuscany are to be found in southern Tuscany, in the Maremma, which includes the “Costa d’Argento” around Mount Argentario. This area, famous for its natural beauty, is less built up, and here you find natural reserves like the Diaccia Botrona near Castiglione della Pescaia and the Uccellina Nature Park. Finally, no investigation of Tuscany would be complete without mention of the great, historical cities of Siena, Lucca and Pisa, once former city states that competed for influence and power with Florence during the Renaissance. Each of these ‘art’ cities is an architectural tour de force with unforgettable sights like the Leaning Tower at Pisa, the medieval cityscape of Lucca with its imposing city walls within which a maze of winding streets and alleys would have confounded any invaders, and last but not least, Siena, which rightfully deserves its title as Italy’s loveliest medieval city, with its distinctive central piazza known as Il Campo, known worldwide for the famous Palio run here, a horse race run around the piazza two times every summer. Monteriggioni San Gimignano Sunset on the coast with Elba in the distance, Maremma One of the best known in Italy, the Carnival in Viareggio has its origins at the end of the 19th century. Today, it draws thousands of visitors who come to see both the spectacular floats and parade as well as participate in the festivities. The "Carnevale di Viareggio" actually takes place over an entire month with 5 days of processions each year. These are held on 4 Sundays and one on Fat Tuesday. The parades take place between the end of January and beginning of March, in the fours weeks that precede Lent. Carnival in Viareggio Piazza dell' Anfiteatro, Lucca 50
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NjE5ODQ=