Popular resorts
in Tuscany, Italy
Florence. Birthplace of the Renaissance,
Florence has inherited a cultural legacy of the works of
Michelangelo, Botticelli and Giotto which can be seen in the scores
of museums, galleries and lavish architecture that crowd the narrow
streets of this city. There is so much to see in Florence that it is
hard knowing where to start. Try the Uffizi Gallery, home to the
Medici art collection and containing works by Botticelli, Da Vinci
and Raphael. Michelangelo’s ‘David’ is a star attraction, now housed
in the Galleria dell’Accademia. Towering over the city’s skyline is
the Duomo – climb the Campanile (bell tower) for amazing views of
the city and look round the Baptistry, Florence’s oldest building.
The 14th-century Ponte Vecchio, the only bridge to escape bomb
damage in World War II, is now lined with small shops selling gold
and silver. The city centre is compact and easy to explore on foot,
bicycle or scooter. There is also a good bus service with tickets
and passes available from newsagents, coffee bars and machines which
must be validated when you board. Florence is great for shopping
with designer shops around via dei Tornabuoni and the San Lorenzo
market is excellent for leatherwear.
Pisa. Famous for its leaning bell tower,
Pisa is a lively city and is situated just half an hour from
Florence and is also close to the beautiful Tuscan
countryside. Visit the main tourist attractions in Pisa, including
the Campo dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles), the majestic Cathedral
the Duomo, the Bapsistry, the Camposanto and not forgetting the
Leaning Tower.
The
city has kept its medieval character with its narrow streets filled
with stunning facades.
Vinci. Close to the city of Florence,
Vinci is the birth town of Leonardo da Vinci. This beautiful hilltop
village dates back to the early middle ages and is dominated by a
castle now housing the Leonardo museum which is said to hold one of
the largest and original collections of machines and models of
Leonardo the inventor.
Volterra. This ancient, ridge-top
Etruscan city dominates the countryside. Explore its medieval
streets and palazzo and go shopping for the famous alabaster
stoneware that has been in almost continuous production since the
5th century BC. And don’t miss the famous ‘Ombra della Sera’ or
‘Shadow of the Night’ – a strange elongated Etruscan statue in the
Museo Guarnacci, one of Italy's major archaeological museums.
Arrezo. Museum lovers will be well
catered for in the provincial capital of Arrezo with its impressive
museums and Siena which is something of a medieval masterpiece.
Lake Trasimeno. At Lake Trasimeno you
can explore the attactive town of Cortona which is excellent choice
for a relaxing weekend break or Italy lakes holidays.
Monte Argentiano. The Italians` own
favourite seaside destination - a hilly promontory overlooking the
Mediterranean with its pretty towns, nature reserves and beaches.
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