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San Quirico d'Orcia Hotels
San Quirico is situated atop a hill within the Valdorcia Nature Park, in an area of Tuscany which comprises the towns of Bagno Vignoni, Montalcino, Pienza, and Montepulciano. The origins of this ancient town date back to the Etruscan period. Around about the year 1000, San Quirico established itself as important town on the via Franchigena, the road linking Canterbury with Rome. It was in San Quirico d'Orcia that Fredrick the 1st met with the pontifical authorities after his arrival in Italy...
Bagno Vignoni Hotels
Bagno Vignoni is a small village in the heart of the Valdorcia, a village where time seems to have stood still for centuries. Situated on the Via Franchigena, the historic pilgrim route leading to Rome, Bagno Vignoni centres around a large pool of thermal water. Bordered by a 14th century wall, the pool is continually replenished with warm water (52°) from the village's thermal springs. The health inducing properties of the water have been known since ancient times. Today, the waters are...
Arezzo Hotels
Situated on a varied terrain of lowlands, hill and mountainside, Arezzo has ancient origins. It was founded by the Umbrians, became an important Etruscan center, and subsequently a strategic point for the Romans, finally, after many a bloody battle, it fell under the control of Medieval Florence. The numerous monuments testify to Arezzo's past: the Roman Amphitheatre, the Basilica of St Francis, the House of Petrarch, the Bacci Chapel, the Cathedral of St Donato, the Church of St Maria delle...
Florence Hotels
Florence, one of the most important centers of art and culture in Europe and the World, situated on the River Arno, birth place of Dante, the father of the Italian Language, the painters Donatello, Cimabue, and Botticelli, the philosopher Machiavelli and architect Brunelleschi as well as historical figures such as Lorenzo the Magnificent, Leone X and San Filippo Neri. Florence possesses a vast wealth of art works by painters such as Leonardo da Vinci, Raffaello and Titian, which can be seen...
Grosseto Hotels
At an important crossroad on the route to Rome, Grossetto is the largest town in the Tuscan Maremma region, a bustling hub of agricultural and industrial activity and tourism, which is of national importance. The city walls guard the oldest part of Grossetto, whilst outside one finds the areas of more recent construction. The person who, according to history, contributed the most to the development of the city was without doubt Leopoldo II, in honour of whom a monument was erected in the main...
Lucca Hotels
Approaching the city, the visitor to Lucca will be struck by the incredibly well preserved walls dating back to the 1500s which encircle the town, now transformed into a tree lined walk way. Once an Etruscan settlement, and subsequently a Roman Colony, Lucca preserves the ellipse of the Roman Amphitheatre and traces of Roman walls. The Medieval appearance has hardly changed, with an urban architecture of narrow roads, towers and small squares overlooked by the numerous churches such as the...
Pisa Hotels
Since ancient times Pisa has been a flourishing city; a Maritime colony in the Roman period known for its conquests, to become one of the four Maritime Republics of Italy; powerful during the Middle Ages under the rule of the Medici who invested Pisa with the splendid architecture which survives in all its glory to this very day. The most prevailing image is that of Piazza dei Miracoli where it is possible to admire not only the Baptistery, but also the Cathedral, the Walls of the Monumental...
Pistoia Hotels
Its origins are linked to the Roman Empire, but like all the principal Tuscan towns, Pistoia's real development dates back to Medieval times. Of primary importance for its accumulation of wealth was its strategic position along the trans penine route. Pistoia offers visitors a vast number of monuments to see: the series of three city walls, the Piazza del Duomo, Palazzo Pretorio, Palazzo Comunale, Palazzo Vescovile, the Capitolare Museum, the Forteguerriana Library, the Clemente Rospigliosi...
Val D'Orcia Hotels
Village traditions which have long since disappeared from other areas are perpetuated in this region on the borders of Tuscany. The economy of Val D'Orcia is still based on agriculture, with the inhabitants closely connected to the land and its produce. This is a marvelous landscape of hills, fields, and streams, with rich clay and tufa soils, similar to the Sienese landscape which enchanted painters, writers and travelers alike. The people of the Val D'Orcia area have resisted the pressures...
Versilia Hotels
Viareggio, Lido di Camaiore, Marina di Pietrasante and Forte dei Marmi are the seaside towns of the Versilian Coast. 20 kilometers of fine sand beaches, both private and open to the general public, offer lovers of the sea the perfect place for sailing and water sports. There is, however, more to Versilia than its splendid shores, a region which extends from the coast to the Apuan Alps, across hills, alpine slopes, chestnut woods, olive groves, forest, valleys, past picturesque mills, ancient...
Viareggio Hotels
Known as "the pearl" of the Riviera della Versilia, Viareggio is internationally famous for the town's most important event of the year, the carnival, which has been compared to that of Rio. But Viareggio is much more; a true' entertainment capital', with its discotheques and clubs and the sea which, attracts thousands of bathers and funlovers to its shores each summer. Viareggio is also famous for boat and yacht building. In addition to the craftsmanship linked to the sea, the...
Volterra Hotels
Its isolation has left this exquisitely beautiful medieval town intact. Volterra's three thousand year long history can be seen in the traces left by every era. From the Etruscan period one can admire the Porta dell'Arco, the Necropoli dei Marmini, and the artifacts in the Guarnacci Etruscan Museum. Dating back to Roman times, is the Roman theater of Vallebona. The Medieval period has made the greatest and most lasting impact on the townscape, divided into four quarters: Borgo St. Alessandro,...
Casentino Hotels
The Casentino spans the valley of the Upper Arno River. Much of the area forms the Casentinesi Forest National Nature Reserve, which, with its vast woodland, is one of the most beautiful in Italy. Here you can also find tiny Medieval villages and castles, such as those of Camaldoli and Verna. The tradition of craftsmanship in the Casentino, includes ironmongery, carpentry and pottery as well as weaving and cobbling. It is easy to lose oneself amidst the many Medieval Castles of the Casentino...
San Gimignano Hotels
Built on a hill dominating the Val d'Elsa, San Gimignano preserves the charm and atmosphere of an isolated center, first Etruscan then Medieval. Its appeal derives also from its past as a vibrant center of artistic excellence, exemplified by the many works of art held in the museums and adorning the convents and churches. Among the artists: Pinturicchio, Bozzoli, Fiorentino, Mainardi. San Gimignano gave hospitality to Dante Alighieri Tuscan ambassador of the Guelfa cause. There are many...
Empoli Hotels
With traditions dating back to the 1500s, Empoli offers the tourist a taste of past culture and history mixed with a host of modern leisure pursuits. From a cultural point of view, Empoli has many monuments such as the River Port of the Roman era, Palazzo Ghibellino, the Civic museum of Paleontology, the Modern Art Gallery, the Collegiate Church of St Andrea, the Renato Fucini Public Library. Artistic traditions survive in the centuries' old glass and ceramic craftwork. The Virtual Museum of...
Livorno Hotels
A strategic city since Medieval times due to its maritime position, Livorno was a much used port for international trading. Today, the ship building business is still of major importance as are the long established chemical, metal working and fishing industries. Livorno is a city of great cultural importance, home to writers such as Marrani, the painters Fattori and Modiglioni, and the musician Pietro Mascagni. The Giovanni Fattori Civic Museum houses numerous works by the painter, major...
Massa Carrara Hotels
Small and delightful town surrounded by rocky mountains, Massa Carrara first boomed in the late Medieval period when its architecture was embellished with precious marble. Today, Massa Carrara is still linked to agricultural activity but owes its fame to the Carrara marble exported throughout the world. Its fame increased further in the 1800s with its transformation to a Bathing Resort, with the establishment of Torre Fiat and Colonia Torino at Marina di Massa. To be seen: Palazzo Ducale,...
Prato Hotels
For the visitor to Tuscany a trip to Prato is unmissable. It is a city which preserves the traces of each and every historical period, from the prehistoric age to the Etruscan, from the Middle ages to the Renaissance. The Etruscan Archeological Museum, the Etruscan city of Prato, Palazzo Comunale, Palazzo Pretorio, the Basilica Cathedral of St Stefano, the Conservatory and Monastery of St Niccolò, are just a few of the sights worth visiting. Then there is the Art route, through the...
Siena Hotels
Siena is reknowned, both nationally and internationally, for the Palio horse race contested by the 17 contrada which divide this small city. But Siena is also unique thanks to its maze of narrow streets, its numerous towers and elegant town houses, the immense Piazza del Campo and the Cathedral which dominate the heart of the Medieval city encircled by impressive walls. Those living in Siena enjoy an incredibly high quality of life. It is also the first city in Italy to close its center to...
Cortona Hotels
A small town which continues the traditions of its historical past. Writers of antiquity such as Erodato, Polibio, Dionigi and Alicarnasso wrote of Cortona. It is only town of the Valdichiana area to have survived intact the bombings of the 2nd World War. Its striking historical center rests on the sharply terraced slopes of Monte Egidio. The Etruscan Academy of Cortona testifies to the past presence of archeologists and writers such as Ridolfino, Marcello and Filippo Venuti. Then there are...
Maremma Hotels
A countryside envied world wide, the 'green lungs' of Italy, which have conquered the hearts of nature lovers of every nation. The Tuscan Maremma Nature Reserve has been protected since 1975. It extends over 100 square kms. from the sea to the Pennines. The area is comprised of the Uccelina Mountains, the pine wood of Marina di Alberese, the mouth of the river Ombrone and the marshlands of Trappola, and constitutes a precious mosaic of ecosystems. Mankind, whilst leaving his traces on the...
Montalcino Hotels
A center which could be defined as being immersed in a natural treasure trove made of enchanting landscapes similar to those found in the paintings of the 1300s. The long lines of vines have assigned Montalcino a prestigious position amongst Italian wine producers. The fabulous Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino are exported throughout the world and considered to be amongst the very best Italian wines. Montalcino represents a wealth of history with its unchanged Medieval appearance: the Castle...
Montecatini Terme Hotels
Centuries of history are held within this well known Tuscan tourist destination. Montecatini Terme is situated right in the heart of Tuscany, within easy reach of all of the regions cities, and therefore an excellent base. Montecatini Terme is known for its historic center with ancient castle and the area dedicated to the baths. Indeed it was the spa which gave the town world wide fame, thanks to the curative powers of the waters. The Montecatini Baths are housed in buildings of great...
Montepulciano Hotels
Without doubt Montepulciano has to be one of the most beautiful Medieval towns of Tuscany, resting at 600 meters above sea level protected by still impressively intact walls. Montepulciano is known for its noble Renaissance town houses and for the elegant architecture of its churches. Among the many monuments to be admired: Palazzo Budelli, Palazzo Comunale, the Temple of the Madonna of St Biagio and the Church of St Agostino. All of the buildings are of great artistic significance and are...
Mugello Hotels
Just a few kilometers from Florence, this land is rich in history, with towns of ancient origins which were of great significance during the Medieval period. Illustrious names were born in the Mugello, such as the Medici dynasty and the Lorenesi family, not to mention artists of the caliber of Giotto and Beato Angelico. Many of the area's architectural works and landscapes were represented by the great Florentine artists. The localities of the Mugello are: Barberino di Mugello, Borgo San...
Chiusi Hotels
Those who love history will find in Chiusi a city of great interest with its many traces of the Etruscan period as well as those of Medieval times. Apart from the structure of the city itself, the signs of the past are most evident in the Cathedral, the Palzzo Episcopale, the Cathedral of St Secondiano, the Bell Tower, the Catacombs, the National Etruscan Museum, and the Civic Museum (Cathedral Museum) which houses the marvelous 21 codici miniati benedettini, works dating back to the 15th...
Chianti Hotels
Its natural environment is its fortune: Chianti is a splendid countryside which stretches from Florence to Siena, over great expanses of vineyards resting on the hillside from where the famous red wine is exported throughout the world. The region's game dishes of wild boar, quail and pigeon accompanied by wild mushrooms are as famous as the area's cold meats, Chianina beef and Cinta Senese pork. The countryside is also characterized by its olive groves which produce a highly acclaimed oil....
Chianciano Terme Hotels
Chianciano Terme is sited upon a hill in Valdichiana and Val d'Orcia, on the border with Umbria, amidst unspoilt countryside. This town's fame is linked to the spa center. One of the most striking features of Chianciano Terme is that, within the center, there are a great many green spaces and a host of parks and public gardens. The city is home to a number of elegant boutiques whilst, for those interested in the towns history, it is possible to visit the archeological sites of Etruscan...
Elba Hotels
Set in deep blue waters, in the heart of the Tyrrhenian sea, one finds Elba. With a number of splendid beaches, woodlands and Medieval villages, Elba is part of the National Reserve of Tuscan Islands. There are a host of sites to visit: Villa dei Mulini, one time residence of Napoleon, the Linuella Archaeological Museum, the Museum of the Misericordia, the Elban Mineral Museum 'Alfeo Ricci Collection', the Italo Bolano International Art Center, the Museum of Country Arts, the 'piccolo...
Pienza Hotels
Situated on the Via Cassia, just a few kilometers from Cianciano Terme, one finds Pienza. Like Castiglione d'Orcia, Montalcino, Radicofoni and San Quirico d'Orcia the city is part of the Val d'Orcia. Pienza is known for its historical ties with Enea Silvio Piccolomini, who became Pope Pio II in 1458 and transformed Pienza from a small Medieval village into an elegant Papal residence with architecture typical of the Renaissance period. Even the shortest of visits to Pienza should include a...
Crete Senesi Hotels
Close to Sienna one finds a spectacular and truly unique landscape with a marvelous clay soil. The Crete Senesi is a land scattered with churches, castles and small medieval villages. The main town of the area is Asciano; here visitors can admire the Museum of Sacred Art, the Civic Archaeological Museum in Palazzo Corboli and the Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore. For those interested in traditional crafts, the Crete Senesi is home to numerous workshops where terracotta is transformed in to...
Monteriggioni Hotels
In the province of Sienna, half way between Colle Val d'Elsa and the city of Sienna, one finds a small medieval village known throughout Italy because the walls which encircle the settlement are still perfectly intact. Dante mentions the village in 'the Divine Comedy'. There are 570 meters of wall, 14 towers and two gateways - Porta Franca, which faces towards Sienna and Porta St Giovanni, facing towards Florence. Built on a hill top, Monteriggioni was originally a surveillance point looking...
Forte Dei Marmi Hotels
One of the most popular bathing resorts of the Tyrrhenian sea, Forte di Marmi owes its name to the ancient port used for the transportation of marble. For more than a century Forte dei Marmi has been an exclusive holiday resort, once frequented by the famous, for example: D'Annunzio, Duse and Montale. Because of its peaceful atmosphere and mild climate, it is the preferred destination of those who shun mass tourism. Here one can take part in all kinds of sports; water sports in the sea or...