Tuscany

Tuscany is a region of central Italy, inhabited in the past by the Etruscans. Administratively divided into a metropolitan city, Florence, and into nine provinces, those of Arezzo, Grosseto, Livorno, Lucca, Massa and Carrara, Pisa, Pistoia, Prato, Siena, it presents a territory for the most part hilly.

The highest mountains belong to the Apennine chain and are Monte Prado, Monte Giovo and Monte Rondinaio. The 397 kilometers of continental coasts are mainly low and sandy, bathed in the north by the Ligurian Sea and in the south by the Tyrrhenian Sea.

The major islands, all pertaining to the Tuscan archipelago, namely Elba and the islands of Giglio, Capraia, Montecristo and Pianosa, form approximately 230 kilometers of coastline. With the small islands of Giannutri and Gorgona, they are all included in the Tuscan Archipelago National Park. The other two national parks, that of the Casentinesi Forests, Monte Falterona and Campigna and that of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, do not fall entirely within Tuscany. Other protected natural areas are the three regional parks, the two provincial parks, the dozens of state and provincial nature reserves, as well as about fifty of Local Interest. Do not miss the Orbetello Nature Reserve, a spectacular brackish coastal lagoon with many small sandy islands.

The ancient beech woods of the Casentinesi Forests National Park are UNESCO heritage, such as the historic centers of Florence, Siena, San Gimignano and Pienza, Piazza Duomo (also called dei Miracoli) in Pisa, the Val d'Orcia and the Medici Villas and Gardens. In Tuscany there are also museums of the caliber of the Uffizi Gallery, or the Accademia Gallery, where Michelangelo's David is kept. In addition to Montecatini Terme, which has been included in the World Heritage Site of the Great Spa Cities of Europe, the thermal springs include those of Saturnia, Montepulciano, Monsummano and Bagno Vignoni.

In addition to those of the islands, many beaches are found in Versilia, in the province of Lucca, between Forte dei Marmi and Viareggio, passing through Marina di Pietrasanta and Lido di Camaiore. Also very beautiful, in the Grosseto area, the Maremma, with Follonica, Castiglione della Pescaia, Marina di Grosseto, Principina di Grosseto, Monte Argentario, the Marina di Pisa, together with Tirrenia and Calambrone and, in the Livorno area, Antignano, Quercianella, Castiglioncello, Vada of Rosignano Marittimo, Cecina, Marina di Bibbona, Castagneto Carducci, San Vincenzo, Riotorto-Piombino, Marciana Marina-La Fenicia.

Among the Tuscan agri-food excellences are chestnuts, marrons and related flours, cheeses such as Pecorino Toscano, spelled from Garfagnana, bean from Sorana, honey from Lunigiana, extra virgin olive oils, pork and beef, truffles and wines such as Chianti Classico, Carmignano, Brunello di Montalcino, Vernaccia di San Gimignano, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.

As for folklore and historical re-enactments, in addition to the famous Palio di Siena and the Carnival of Viareggio, the Giostra del Saracino in Arezzo, the Historical Regatta of San Ranieri in Pisa, the Palio Marinaro dell'Argentario, the Historical Florentine Football.

There are several railway lines that cross Tuscany. The airports are those of Pisa-San Giusto (Galileo Galilei), of Florence-Peretola (Amerigo Vespucci), of Marina di Campo on the Island of Elba. The main port, as well as one of the most important in Italy and the Mediterranean, is that of Livorno.