Welcome to Tuscany, Italy
Welcome to abouttuscany.com!
Tuscany is one of the most beautiful regions of Italy, known all over the world for its historical, artistic and cultural legacy and for its wonderful landscapes.
This important region is located in the central area of Italy, bordering Emilia-Romagna to the north, Liguria to the north-west, Tyrrhenian Sea to the west, Umbria and Marche to the east, and Lazio to the south-east. Its territory is essentially hill, with the exception of any montainous areas and any plains areas (that form the valley of the Arno river).
It is divided into ten different provinces: Arezzo, Grossetto, Livorno, Lucca, Massa-Carrara, Pisa, Pistoia, Prato, Siena, and of course the capital Florence.
Tuscany is a region with a very long history on its back.
Round about the VIII century B.C. the first testimonies of an enigmatic and extraordinary people appeared: the Etruscans, from whence the name "Toscana" derives. Two centuries later they were defeated by the military power of the Romans, who ruled the region until the break-in of a Germanic people in the 5th century, the Lombards, who conquered first the city of Lucca in 569, this last becoming the most important city of the region and Tuscany took the name of "ducato" first, then the name of "contea" and in the end it was named "marchesato" di Lucca.
Round about the 12th century began the period of the "Free Communes": Florence, Siena, Pisa and Lucca, which contributed to make Tuscany a very important example of cultural, social and economic autonomy.
During the Renaissance period, Florence began to extend its dominance in Tuscany, through the perchase of Pisa in 1405 and of Livorno in 1421. The commune of Siena was more resistant to the Florentine power and was incorporated into Tuscany only in 1555. Rather Lucca remained an indipendent Republic until 1847, when it became part of the Gran Duchy of Tuscany.
In the 16th century Florence was ruled by the important Medici family, who was able to trasform it into a Ducal State in 1569 (giving it the name of "Granducato di Toscana"), where they governed quite successfully until 1737.
After the death of the last Medici heir (Giangastone), the Grand Duchy passed under the control of an Austrian family, the Lorraine, who ruled until 1859, transforming Tuscany in one of the most wealthy regions of Italy.
The following year, a popular plebiscite decreed the re-union of Tuscany with Piedmont, and therefore to the Kingdom of Italy, creating the one Italian State.
From this moment on, the history of this region identifies with the history of the Italian State, though keeping its particular specitifity.
As regards its artistic legacy, Tuscany can boast a so long tradition that goes back to its so antique history, and can offer so many different choises to its visitors according to all kinds of desires.
You can have an interesting tour around Tuscany, starting from its most important cities, as regards art and history: Florence and Siena, towns where you can walk around enjoying all their thousand-year history through their wonderful churches, buildings, squares, and much more.
For peacefulness-lovers, Tuscany offers fascinate and multicolor country areas, with many agritourisms, where you can enjoy the landscape's wonder with long and relaxing nature trails, or simply enjoy the quiet of a place where the time seems to go more slowly...
Between the cities of Florence and Siena, you can find the geographical area worldwide known with the name of "Chianti classico", famous fundamentally thanks to its fruitful grape vines producing a high quality red wine. This land is one of the areas that more contributed to make Italy one of the most loved and appreciated countries in the world.
Another wonderful place, that naturalists cannot miss, is the valley of Mugello (situated in the north of Florence), that offers a very relaxing atmosphere with its natural characteristics and its beautiful villages, and of course, a secular high quality gastronomical tradition, based on genuine ingredients and simple tastes.
Even sea-lovers can be satisfied in this region, that presents about 400 km of coasts, with beautiful natural reserves such as the Golfo di Baratti, or the Maremma area, that joins wonderful landscapes with its limpid sea and many free beaches. Other place which is worth a visit is without doubts the land of Versilia, located in the heart of Tuscany, where you can join the relief of many bathing-establishments, equipped to allow the visitors to spend there all the day, with the fun of the nightlife offering any kind of entertainments (bars, restaurants, clubs, discos). To not miss is also the Arcipelago Toscano, presenting many great islands: the Elba island, the Giglio island, Capraia, Montecristo, Pianosa, Giannutri, evolving along 230 km of Tuscan coasts.
To not forget mountain-lovers, let's say that Tuscany is sorrounded by the Appennini chain and other mountains, so offering many beautiful places to ski with different kinds of rink, always full of tourists during the winter season.
Coming soon to discover the wonders offering by Tuscany!!!!