The Famous Region of Tuscany

Visitors to the region of Italy known as Tuscany will encounter two distinct worlds - the first is a remarkable collection of cities, including the capital of the region, Florence, and the second world is made up of the many farms and small villages that seem to dot the entire region.

Tuscany has earned quite a reputation for itself, due in part to several books, cookbooks and motion pictures dedicated to this lovely region. When travelers think of Italy in general many of their concepts or ideas originate in the Tuscany region. The famous Tower of Pisa, the many wonders contained in the ancient city of Florence, rows of grapevines, terra cotta roofed Florence villas set in green valleys, all of this and more exists in Tuscany.

Any trip to the region should include a stop in Florence, but this city has a small town equal in Arezzo, which is considered a Renaissance masterpiece and houses works of Giotto as well as dell Robbia in some of its many 15th century buildings. The nearby town of Cortona was made famous in a series of books and is also a perfect and well-maintained example of medieval city architecture and design.

Like other areas of Italy, Tuscany includes several islands in its territories, and the most famous of all Tuscan islands is little Elba. Here Napoleon endured his first exile. His home still stands and is open to the public for tours. Though the Count was fictional, visitors to Elba can visit the real life location of Monte Cristo, which is reachable by boat on one end of the island. The little port town of Marina di Campo offers visitors charming cafes and shopping as well as some great opportunities for enjoying some of the region's world famous cuisine.

Another fascinating city on the mainland of Tuscan Italy is the town of Lucca with its famous city walls and circular or elliptical Piazza Anfiteatro.

A final recommendation is for a trip to the little visited area known as Maremma, where the town of Sovana contains wonderfully preserved Etruscan era tombs, and within the same forest visitors will encounter one of the great mysteries of Italy. Enormous stones placed in the oak groves by an undocumented and unknown civilization thousands of years ago have stumped many archeologists. The area is also home to the Saturnian waterfalls, many private and quiet coves and beaches, shady forests and even a national wildlife refuge.

When you are looking for a great range of holiday villas Tuscany can offer something for everyone. To browse our wide range of Tuscany properties please click on Tuscany Villas and Apartments

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