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.
