To celebrate the year 2000 Jubilee, there were three Palio of Siena horse races instead of the usual two. The first was on the 2nd July, the second on the 16th August and the unprecedented third was staged on the 9th September.

The Palio first took place in 1555 as an act of defiance by the 17 armies based the town. They came together to ride for the prize of the 'Drappellone' and to also demonstrate their independence from the forces of the Medici.

In the 450 years of the event the 'contrada' with the most victories is 'Oca' or Goose who claim 63. Their colors are green and white with a red trim and their motto, fittingly enough, is 'clangit ad arma' or 'call to arms'.

The territory of Chiusi has been inhabited since the 11th century BC and the early settlers were attracted by the advantageous hill top position looking over the fertile Valdichiana.

The Etruscans didn't want to give up their powerful base and held out until 391 B.C. and the siege by Galli Senoni.

Final submission to Rome came in 351 B.C. In 89 B.C. Clusium as it was called gained an additional strategic position on the Via Cassia.

The resort town of Forte dei Marmi is the jewel of the Versilia Riviera crown along the north Tuscany coast. The Consorzio Turistico Forte dei Marmi affirm 'Always in fashion, always on top of trends' and this is somewhere near the truth.

Volterra, near Pisa, is a ancient city of Etruscan origin, although today its appearence is typically medieval. It is still possible to savour an atmosphere of an old borgo, not unlike Orvieto in Umbria in our opinon, also founded by the Etruscans.

Montefeltro is the geographical territory between Urbino and the Tuscany Romagna border. The zone today actually extends into Romagna as 7 comune decided to leave Le Marche region and enjoy the administrative benefits of Emilia Romagna.

Fashion shopping outlets in Tuscany, but across much of Italy, are the new travel leisure experience. Books have been written about their cultural effect and social implications, but they have been firmly inserted into many tour packages.

To give it its full title, the Parco Nazionale dell'Appennino Tosco Emiliano straddling the Lucca Tuscany and Reggio Emilia border in the Appennines, was set up in 2001.

From Etruscan and Roman times, through the Longobard period to Napoleon and the Second World War, Civitella in Val di Chiana has been an important strategic base for controlling vast zones of the Chiana Valley.

Between Mount Pania Secca and Mount Pania della Croce you can see the profile of a sleeping giant. Everybody knows it as the dead man and you can easily recognize it both from the plain of Lucca and Garfagnana.

I am doing research for a movie on the court and food influence of Caterina dei Medici. I would greatly appreciate the Renaissance menu of Caterina dei Medici as another resource.

'Le Terre del Rinascimento' is the name of the initiative aimed at promoting the comune of Ceretto Guidi, Empoli, Montelupo Fiorentino and Vinci.

The area lies to the north and south of the autostrada running between Florence and Pisa and, while these two centers have their well known charms, we recommend pulling off and discovering the towns and sights either side.