Have you ever dreamt of travelling back in time? Would you like to contemplate the stunning era of unsullied natural beauty, roaring medieval tournaments, and strangely-dressed people in embellished dresses and wigs? Then your next stop is Tuscany — a small Italian piece of Renaissance.
What do we know about this region? Tuscany lies to the west of the Italian peninsula next to Tyrrhenian and Ligurian seas. Its landscape is truly virginal, comprised by greenish hills and mountains such as Mount Pratomagno or Metallifere Mountains as well as fields sowed with olives and grapes. This combination is separated by interior valleys which lead to white sandy shores. The history of Tuscany is tangled into Roman conquests and rivalry between its own cities. Florence, the whitest pearl of Italy, won this fight, the area started to flourish with scientific developments and cultural masterpieces. It became the centre of Renaissance culture which gave birth to such geniuses as Dante Alighieri, Giovanni Boccaccio, and Leonardo da Vinci. Tuscany was in its prime under the rule of the Medici family in 1430s. At this point the economy of the region bloomed and the region became forever known for its culture. Though the consolidation of power under Medici was solid, the Tuscany came in decline by the beginning of the 16th century as the family was crumbling down. The region even gained some French charm when Napoleon Bonaparte tried to set up his authority there, and it has been carrying elements of French reforms and legacies till now.
In the contemporary period, Tuscany remains the cultural and agricultural centre of the Italian peninsula. It is famous for its red wine and olive oil, and it serves as the exporter of numerous fruit and vegetables to other Italian districts and European countries. It is, moreover, prosperous with touristic attention, thanks to its resorts and artisan peculiarities. Its historical and cultural centres include Florence, Pisa, Siena, and many more others. So the logical question stays the following: how to plan one’s vacation in a place like this, so not to miss anything worth one’s heed and as well go off the beaten track? The next tips are for you to guide your through Tuscany never-ending past.
- Walk the narrow shady streets of Florence to soak up the artistic heritage.
Florence is famously known as the white pearl of Italy due to the colours of its buildings with tiled roofs and the grand Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. Even if you never was in Italy, hardly would you confuse the Dome with anything else. The Cathedral is constructed in the Gothic style and ornamented with bricks in herringbone pattern. It is open for tourists and presents a clear perspective at Florence itself and the surrounding lands. Apart from churches and cathedrals, you could hide from the hot sun under the roofs of Uffizi Gallery and the Palazzo Pitti that offer a wide selection of artistic and architectural legacies. The city itself is a museum under the open sky with street artists copying pictures of Da Vince on the roads and monuments filling up every piazza (square) in the city. Michelangelo hill is perfect for unhurried sunset walks and wine sips with a panoramic view of Florence in the shades of Tuscany vegetation.
2. Tuscany is not only famous for its cultural and historical legacy but also its local colour. And there is no better place to discover it rather than in Ghizzano village. The village carries a sense of strong national identity. Each house is planted in colours of surroundings from green and all its shades for evergreen valleys and hills to blue for the crystal clear sky. Local artists turned the village into a unique place where traditional Italian architecture comes close to contemporary times by installing modern art installations around the place. This village, moreover, is widely known on Instagram, thanks to it easily recognised houses and buildings.
3. Moving on your own can be quite exhausting, especially considering strong heat during the Italian summer. If you, nevertheless, are looking forward to explore the true Italian taste and traditions, you can always catch the Nature Train — an unforgettable experience through locations of Siena. The train consists of several carriages made in 1930s and runs across the most attractive and wondrous sights and has its mission in preserving the cultural and historical heritage and promoting it to the younger generations. Vintage wagons take you in comfort through vineyards and sloppy mountains, offering attractions to a whole family. It terminates at different locations, so travellers might seize the chance to venture off the train and take memorable pictures.
4. Tuscany presents an explorer with a dozen of opportunities to discover and immerse oneself into its true lifestyle. Every year more and more festivals, open markets, and fairs are hold in the region. The most famous are Siena’s Palio (takes place in Siena twice a year in June and August) and Cavalcata Dei Magi (takes place in Florence in January) This is the time when local people come out onto the streets to sell their products, share their skills and knowledge, or just tell stories to anyone who is willing to listen to. This is an amazing possibility to try the best of local cuisine and only fresh and natural products as well as blend in with the locals and learn genuine Tuscany not from the pages of some tour guides but through the words of its dwellers.
