Inside Tuscany

A Guide to Florence & Tuscany

The region of Tuscany is divided into the provinces of Florence, Siena, Arezzo, Grosseto, Livorno, Pisa, Pistoia, Lucca, Prato and Massa Carrara.

Get to know the provinces better or start with our Little Florence Guide. Bite sized anecdotes, routes, recipes, where to eat, where to stay, what not to miss & the best of the city on the web.

PROVINCE OF FLORENCE

The Mugello
Discover the ancient hamlets and paths by bicycle. This is the homeland of the Medici

Land of the Renaissance
More specifically the towns of Ceretto Guide, Empoli, Montelupo Fiorentino and Vinci

The house of Lenardo da Vinci
Mr Da Vinci was not actually born in Vinci but the Museo Leonardiano is certainly there.

Where the stolen Mona Lisa was discovered
Room Number 20 in Hotel Lo Gioconda in central Florence is where Leonardo Da Vinci's masterpiece was recovered.

Holiday ideas in Tuscany for kids
Lots and lots of suggestions to keep the little ones happy in every province of the region. 

The Chianti Valley
The Chianti valley links Florence to Siena and a visit should start in Impruneta.

Val d'Elsa
The Renaissance heartlands, at least for crafts and strongmen.

Montespertoli
Montespertoli is set in the classic Florence countryside of the Fiorentine Chianti, also part of the Strada del Vino.

Bagnoli a Ripoli
Ripoli refers to the barrages which held back the annual flooding of the River Arno in the zone.

Historical waving group
The Castiglion Fiorentino Historical Group show us how its done

Villa Bellosguardo and Enrico Caruso
The famous Neapolitan tenor actually set up home in Tuscany. Now a multimedia homage to the great man

Outlet Holiday Shopping
Fashion shopping outlets in Tuscany, but across much of Italy, are the new travel leisure experience.

PROVINCE OF SIENA

Palio of Siena
Have you got a favourite team. Perhaps its the Porcupine. If so, visit their museum.

Holiday ideas in Tuscany for children
Lots and lots of suggestions to keep the little ones happy in every province of the region.

Etruscan Chiusi
From the 11th century B.C to the demise of the Etruscans and the eventual rise of Siena.

San Casciano dei Bagni
Known since Roman and Etruscan times, combine Pisa with a visit to Casciana Terme

Monticchiello & Teatro Povero
Some say Monticchiello dates from Roman times when it was Gens Cloelia. This became Mons Cioelii then Monticchiello.

San Gimignano and the tuscan past
Why not start at the Museum of Torture in San Gimignano. Gruesome but very interesting.

PROVINCE OF AREZZO

Montevarchi
a crossroads for trade in the region

Visit Arezzo
and an ideal base for discovering this most medieval corner of the region

Italian tobacco industry
We know all the answers and can tell you what is happening on the ground in Tuscany.

Land of Piero della Francesca
Piero della Francesca was one of the few, great Renaissance artists who stayed at home.

Cortona
There's more to Cortona than 'Under the Tuscan Sun'. Read the book? Seen the film? Now click here

Legend of the True Cross
One of the most important Renaissance works and credited to Piero della Francesca

Upper Tiber valley
This valley cuts through north east Tuscany to Emilia Romagna

Upper Tiber valley towns
Anghiari, Sansepolcro, Monterchi, La Verna, Pieve Santo Stefano, Caprese Michelangelo

More Upper Tiber valley towns
Chestnut woods, roaming badgers, bird spotting and religious and nature itineraries.

Agrietour
Can we help you plan your holiday in deepest Tuscany? Find out more about agriturismi here.

Civitella in Val di Chiana
One of the fine small towns of the Chiana valley

PROVINCE OF GROSSETO

The Etruscan coast
Includes Sovana, Saturnia, Scansano, Populonia, San Gimignano, Florence and Chiusi

Maremma
The Tuscan coastal marshes which used to extend all the way to Campania

Monte Amiata wildlife
Locations which have local character and history for discovering the nature and beauty of the zone.

Who were the Etruscans
Short history of the ever less mysterious Etruscans

Argentario
How beautiful can the Tuscany coast get. The very rich in Italy retire here.

Butteri, cowboys of the Maremma
Once roaming the marshlands to Lazio, the butteri are now clinging to their ancient way of life

Manciano
Manciano is located near Saturnia, a town of hot springs and thick sauces

PROVINCE OF LUCCA

The Garfagnana
The territory of the Garfagnana is the inland northern slopes of the Apuan Alps in the province of Lucca in Tuscany.

The Apuan Alps
Between Mount Pania Secca and Mount Pania della Croce you can see the profile of a sleeping giant.

Pietrasanta
Pietrasanta is the capital of Italy's artistic marble tradition, still kept alive by local workshops and atelier and by many bronze foundries.

Galileo Chini
Galileo Chini is the famous Italian artist credited with introducing the art nouveau or Liberty style into Italy.

PROVINCE OF LIVORNO

PROVINCE OF PISTOIA

Province of PISA

PROVINCE OF MASSA CARRARA