|
Located on the eastern shores of the Tyrrhenian Sea, Tuscany is synonymous with amazing food, great wine and lush rolling landscapes—a combination that proves intoxicating for all who visit. Surely an extension of its environment, Tuscany gave birth to the Renaissance and many of those whose work inspired it. Florence, Pisa, Prato and Siena are among the region's largest cities, and collectively house some of its most prized art and historic relics.
Florence
In the romantic region of Tuscany lies the jewel city of the Renaissance, Florence. Surrounded by the Appenine mountain chain it lies in a fertile valley surrounded by the charming Tuscan vineyards and olive groves. The art galleries and museums of Florence are renowned throughout the world and holiday makers flock to admire the superb David of Michaelangelo, the Venus of Botticelli or the stunning Duomo with its marble facade.The city is not only culture however, it is also home to elegant boutique, tiny craft shops and tempting ice cream parlors with gelato served in every flavor under the sun.
Hotels Florence - Last Minute Hotels Florence
Pisa
Pisa offers numerous historical and cultural sights of interest, including:
- The leaning Tower of Pisa: Probably the most famous landmark of the city, it is well known for it's architecturally flaws which cause it to lean.
- Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri: This church was designed by Giorgio Vasari and houses a bust by Donatello and paintings by Vasari, Jacopo Ligozzi, Alessandro Fei and Jacopo Chimenti da Empoli.
- Campo dei Miracoli: The Field of Miracles houses the leaning tower, the Duomo, the Baptistry and the Camposanto (the monumental cemetery).
The Presidential Park of St. Rossore - A visit to the magnificent residence or an immersion into the nature of a surprisingly beautiful fauna environment awaits you. There is also a horseback riding ground inside the park. Hotels Pisa - Last Minute Hotels Pisa
Recommended Hotels Tuscany
Grand Hotel Cavour, Florence
Grand Hotel Cavour has a rooftop terrace with views over Florence Cathedral. It offers a grand entrance hall with free Wi-Fi, marble floors and statues, and elegant rooms with air conditioning.
The Uffizi Gallery and the Ponte Vecchio are both less than one kilometre from the Grand Hotel Cavour. The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is just a few steps away.
The hotel's Angels Restaurant serves classic Italian cuisine and regional specialities, made using local ingredients. Cocktails are available at the bar, open until midnight.
The Eva mini spa includes a fitness centre and a Turkish bath.
Book now or look for more information & guest reviews!
B&B La Residenza Dell'Orafo, Florence, Florence
This modern bed a breakfast is just a few minutes' walk from Florence's main Santa Maria Novella Railway Station. It offers free Wi-Fi access and soundproofed rooms.
La Residenza Dell'Orafo's rooms are also air-conditioned and come tea/coffee maker and hydromassage shower. Most rooms have a separate seating area.
Every morning, you will be given a voucher for breakfast at a nearby patisserie. Staff at the B&B La Residenza Dell'Orafo will provide you with a city map and information on museums, restaurants, shopping and events.
In Florence's historic centre, the B&B is just a 10-minute walk to the Cathedral and a 5-minute walk to Palazzo dei Congressi conference centre. Nearby public buses can connect you to every area of the city.
Book now or look for more information & guest reviews!
More Recommended Hotels Tuscany
Tuscany - Tours, Sightseeing & Things to Do
|
|
Tuscany News
Chianti Region Wine Tasting Half-Day Trip from Florence (Video) Combine wine-tasting and a country drive through magnificent Tuscan landscapes on an afternoon excursion to Chianti.
This popular Tuscan region is universally acclaimed for its classic wines and natural beauty.
You'll discover a magical world of woods alternating with vines and olive trees, Romanesque churches, medieval farmhouses, Renaissance ...
Taste of Italy Food Tour to Chianti and Umbria from Rome Head out of Rome and off the beaten track to experience a different side of Italy in Tuscany and Umbria. You'll visit the lovely towns of Cortona and Montepulciano, and sample wine, cheeses, salami, olive oil and other local specialties.
Book now or look for more information & guest reviews!
Deal Alert - Siena Day Trip From Florence - 45% off! Siena and San Gimignano Day Trip from Florence
Discover Siena and San Gimignano, two of Tuscany's most popular attractions, on a day trip from Florence. With your museum fees and transport taken care of, you can sit back and enjoy your visit to these tucked-away Tuscan hill towns.
Your day trip takes you through the picturesque countryside of ...
More Italy News
|
Siena - The most important building in Siena, which faces onto the Piazza del Campo, is the Palazzo Pubblico, Municipal Seat. On its left side, the Torre del Mangia, symbol of the municipal authority, was abutted around 1340. The Palazzo Pubblico hosts the Civic Museum, which boasts precious frescoes and paintings on wood by famous artists from 1300 to 1500.
The Basilica of S.Domenico, started in 1226, is an imposing and severe construction in Gothic-Cistercense style. It is dominated by an elegant bell tower. The Egyptian cross, single-nave interior is rich with paintings about the life of Saint Caterina. Hotels Siena - Last Minute Hotels Siena
Lucca - Lucca is the native town of famous composer Giacomo Puccini and other celebrated musicians. It still retains the charm of a small and ancient Italian city state; over the centuries it has managed to hold on to its independence and freedom by adopting a cautious policy. Having miraculously escaped the devastation of war, today it boasts an extraordinary Tuscan art heritage.
The imposing tree-lined Renaissance walls which encompass the town, the maze of medieval streets flanked by towers and smart boutiques, the enchanting Romanesque churches and bright inviting squares captivate the visitor who stands in awe of such unexpected beauty.
The historical centre, now a pedestrian precinct, plunges the visitor back in time and provides the perfect setting to savour the old world atmosphere. Hotels Lucca
San Gimignano - San Gimignano - this charming, walled, medieval hill-top town is famous for its medieval architecture, especially its towers. No fewer than 13 towers from the Middle Ages survive today, creating an impressive skyline which can be seen for miles around.
San Gimignano rises on a hill (334 metres high) dominating the Elsa Valley with its towers. Once the seat of a small Etruscan village of the Hellenistic period (200-300 BC) it began its life as a town in the 10th century taking its name from the Holy Bishop of Modena, St. Gimignano, who is said to have saved the village from the barbarian hordes.
The town increased in wealth and developed greatly during the Middle Ages thanks to the Via Francigena; the trading and pilgrim's route that crossed it. Such prosperity led to the flourishing of works of art to adorn the churches and monasteries.
In 1199 it became a free municipality and fought against the Bishops of Volterra and the surrounding municipalities. Due to internal power struggles, it eventually divided into 2 factions, one headed by the Ardinghelli family (Guelphs) and the other by the Salvucci family (Ghibellines). On 8 May 1300, Dante Alighieri came to San Gimignano as the Ambassador of the Guelph League in Tuscany.
In 1348 San Gimignano's population was drastically reduced by the Black Death Plague throwing the city into a serious crisis which eventually led to its submission to Florence in 1353. In the following centuries San Gimignano overcame its decline and isolation when its beauty and cultural importance together with its agricultural heritage were rediscovered. The construction of the towers dates back to the 11th and 13th centuries. The architecture of the city was influenced by Pisa, Siena and Florence. There are 14th century paintings of the Sienese School to be seen and 15th century paintings of the Florentine School. Hotels San Gimignano
Viareggio - Viareggio, situated between the sea, pine-forests and the Apuane Alps, with the famous white marble quarries of Carrara, Michelangelo's favourite. Here you can live the magic of its famous carnival, Carnival of Italy and Europe, with its parades of coloured paper maché allegorical floats. You can also enjoy the splendour of parades directly from your balcony or from the beautiful terrace of the hotel.
In the pretty suburb village of Torre del Lago, you can visit Puccini's House, where the great maestro composed his beautiful music.
Viareggio is the perfect position to go sightseeing in Florence, Lucca, Pisa (with its recently restored leaning tower), Apuan Alps and marble quarries of Carrara, Puccini (containing his tomb and mementoshome) and lake of Massaciuccoli in Torre del Lago. By boat from Viareggio (with its famous Carnival) are easily reachable: Cinque Terre, Portovenere, Portofino and islands of Elba and Capraia. Hotels Viareggio
Montecatini Terme
Montecatini Terme is a city of 21.000 inhabitants able to accommodate every year at least 2.000.000 tourists many of whom register with the renown health spas. The city has 230 hotels capable of housing these numbers. Special accommodations are available for meetings, special events, symposiums and conventions. A golf course (18 holes, par 72) is located only 9 Km from Montecatini T.
Montecatini is easily reachable and with strategical position for those who intend to visit the rest of Tuscany, and its beautiful art-cities. During your stay you can enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the SPA resort. Montecatini has many well preserved buildings of the Liberty Period. a City Sightseeing suggests to follow a route starting from Piazza del Popolo discovering all secret beauties of Montecatini. In Viale Verdi would be possible to visit the Town Hall ended in the year 1920 by Raffaello Brizzi and Luigi Righetti. Inside we find decorations of Galileo Chini and Luigi Arcangeli.
Montecatini is a worldwide renown hot springs resort with nine watering facilities and also a delightful little town located in the middle of the Valdinievole at the eastern end of the Lucca’s plain, and characterized by many Art-Nouveau Style palaces and historical cafés.
Montecatini is at a few kilometres from the most important art cities of Tuscany: Florence (40 km), Pisa (48 km), Lucca (25 km), Vinci (15 km). Hotels Montecatini Terme - Last Minute Hotels Montecatini Terme
Tirrenia
This attractive beach resort is ideally situated for anyone wanting to discover the delights of rural Tuscany, as well as the great Italian cities of Pisa, Lucca, Siena, Florence, San Gimignano Volterra, Carrara and the Islands of Elba and Giglio.
Being near Pisa International Airport and Pisa-Centro and Livorno motorway toll-booths, Tirrenia is particularly reachable.
At a short distance: 2 golf courses and the Olympic training Center, CONI. Hotels Tirrenia
Montepulciano
Montepulciano, at the southern end of the province of Siena on the border between Tuscany and Umbria, is within close reach of the most famous sites. These can be easily reached following itineraries through unforgettable landscapes: north-west towards Montepulciano, Pienza, Bagno Vignoni and the Val d’Orcia. South towards Chiusi and, carrying on, towards Città della Pieve, Orvieto and Civita di Bagno Regio, the spectacular “dying city”. To the east is Monte Cetona, at the foot of which are located the three charming medieval villages of Sarteano, San Casciano dei Bagni and Cetona. Finally, to the west, are the lakes of Chiusi and Trasimeno, natural oases of rare beauty. A little further away, but never more than one hour’s drive, are Montalcino, Cortona, Siena and Perugia.
Poggio alla Sala Resort & Spa is in the historical centre of a territory now famous in the world for its history, culture, landscape and food. Hotels Montepulciano
Maremma
A secluded paradise of peace and tranquility, the Maremma in Southern Tuscany is a hidden piece of heaven in one of Europe’s most famous holiday destinations. Although located in a region which often has more tourists than locals, the Maremma remains largely untouched and unpolluted. Cut off from the better known tourist locations, it is one of the very few territories left in Italy which still reflects the real ‘dolce vita’ uncontaminated by the tourist explosion and still true to its ancient peasant roots.
Hotels Maremma
|