The biggest cities in Tuscany are Florence (375,000), and Livorno and Prato (about 165,000 each). All other towns surprisingly have fewer than 100,000 people. Most people live in the area between Pisa, Florence and Arezzo. This area is the Arno-valley and its surroundings, the original location of the Etruscans. Further to the west of Florence, the Tuscan idyll becomes weaker. Prato is well known as the 'Italian Manchester' because of its textile factories even though it has a nice city centre. Nevertheless, because industry is mainly concentrated on small pieces of land, some of Tuscany's areas seem untouched from modern civilisation.

Surprisingly, only about 7% of the population is involved in agriculture. Even more surprising is that the main economic agricultural products are not wine and oil, but beef and pork! Don't worry, wine is in third place, oil comes after vegetables, and wheat, flowers and milk products come after that.

There are many towns to visit in Tuscany during your travels and holiday time. We have just chosen some of the highlights below.

Florence
Florence is the Mecca for visitors to Italy due to its huge collection of art, and it is a place not to be missed if you like visiting cities, museums and looking at architecture. UNESCO estimates that almost 10% of the world's art treasure worthy of preservation is located in Florence, the capital of Tuscany. The central point of Florence is the breathtaking cathedral, at which master builders such as Giotto and Brunelleschi worked, which towers over the city. The spirit of the Renaissance still roams this mediaeval town which used to be its cradle. Olive groves and vineyards are prevalent in the wooded area around Florence, with the Chianti being especially popular.

Lucca
This old and well preserved mediaeval city is not to be missed. The best views of the old town can be taken by promenading around the very wide old city walls which go completely around the mediaeval town. The nicest place in town is surely the Piazza dell Anfiteatro. A Roman amphi-theatre was once situated here. This place with its colorful houses exactly reflects the elliptical form of the amphi-theatres because the current buildings stand on the original main Roman walls.

Volterra
Volterra is one of the most interesting places in Tuscany. About 2500 years ago it was a significant Etruscan city. If you are interested in the old culture, you should visit the Etruscan museum. Especially interesting are the 'evening shadow' which gives a totally modern impression and the lid of the urn with its realistic sculpture of an old couple (opening hours daily 9 am to 7 pm, Nov. - 15. Mar. daily 9 am to 2 pm). Even the mediaeval centre of Volterra is worth a visit!

Pisa
The first thing to see in Pisa is the Leaning Tower. The you might ask yourself is the restoration of the leaning tower really going to work?

Shortly after the building started in the 12th century, the tower started to tilt - not a good start! The cause was the base, which has several water veins, which started to sink. The building was stopped and, only after 100 years, an architect continued: he tried to build against the leaning which you can still see today. The tilting got worse as the centuries passed. Today the variation from vertical is about 4 metres. At the end of 1989, experts decided that the tower was in danger of collapse and it was closed for visitors so that complicated restoration work could begin. That work appears to have been successful and the Tower is now open again.


If you would like to view our holiday accommodation in Tuscany then please click on Tuscany Villas and Apartments

To find out more about other regions in Italy, the regional food and wine, people, geography and history as well as specific property offers and other information then use this link to Italy Villas and Apartments