ITALIAN JOURNEYS: Regione della Toscana

Regione della Toscana (Tuscany)

Tuscany is everything that is representative of Etruscan and Medieval Italy! Every hill town and walled city has amazing history. The walls and hilltop locations are reminders of how Italy was before Italy was unified. Each area of Italy had its own government, army and institutions. There were natural enemies which required cities to construct walls and towers. Cities were constructed on hills to make them easier to defend. Today the "rivalries" are about cuisines, wines, traditions, and re-enactments of historic battles. These modern times are about festivities, parades and honors.

There are so many things to see and do that it is difficult to mention all of the cities and towns, and their highlights. I can mention a few of the most popular, but I always recommend spending enough time in Tuscany to "wander" around and find your own favorites. In fact, don't be afraid to get a little lost and off the beaten path. Every turn has its own charm. A week is good but you will want to spend even more time, or return soon.

These are some of my favorites which I have visited many times because there is so much to see and do and eat and drink!

Cortona: Lots of history, Etruscan influences, fantastic views, great trattorie, enoteche, mercati, etc. You can roam the streets and alleyways for hours.

Arezzo: A fully functioning working city, two cities really, modern and commercial outside the walls and lots of history, art, and architecture inside the walls. Arezzo also has great restaurants and shops. It is also the gold center of Italy.

Montepulciano, Pienza and Montalcino: I put these together because they are a perfect threesome for a day/evening trip. First the wines in Montepulciano: Vino Nobile and Rosso Montepulciano, are consistently great wines, and the wines in Montalcino: Brunello and Rosso Montalcino, are excellent wines as well. Pienza, designed as the perfect plan for a city by Pope Pio, whose name it bears, is one main street with side streets and alleys opening up to great vistas of rolling hillsides and valleys. Pienza is known for its cheeses, and meats.

Siena: Second in size only to Florence, it is a remarkable but it is a large spread out city with lots of history, and home to world famous Palio, which is a horse race held in the main piazza twice in the Summer. Every "neighborhood" is represented in the race sporting their traditional colors. It is a remarkable thing to watch particularly forom the vantage point of a hotel on the square.

San Gimignano: Built to defend itself at all times, the city once boasted 20+ towers. There are seven remaining and one can be climbed to the top for spectacular views. Great shops, restaurants, also present here.

There are so many more to see, including, of course, Firenze. Fiesole, San Sepolcro, Anghiari, Luca, Pisa, Viareggio and Follonica, on the coast, Montecatini Terme, Montecatini Alto, and so many more, deserve a visit.
My advice is to get lost and the road will take you to wonderful places and you will meet warm, friendly people proud of their towns, their food and their wines.

Enjoy it all!!