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Toscana (Tuscany)

Tuscany is a fertile region between the northern Apennines and the Mediterranean Sea. Its name was given by the Etruscans, which used to call it Etruria or Tuscia. The region is hallowed by the genius of man and nature; it is where Renaissances was born which in turn had a lasting impact on Italy and Europe. Florence, the region’s expressed this incredible moment in history under the rule of the Medici Family who gave this city an extraordinary artistic and cultural vitality via Brunelleschi, Donatello, Machiavelli, Guicciardini, Leanorado and Michelangelo amongst others. Consequently, tourism developed thanks to Florence’s rich artistic patrimony because in it gathers the works of the most important representatives of Humanism and Renaissance.
Tuscany landscape varies all the way through hilltop villages, vine covered hills and fields. Particular of this landscape is the Maremma area, home of the Italian cowboys (butteri) situated along the Thyrrenean coast amid Mediterranean vegetation and long sandy beaches. From the countryside to the coast the Chianti countryside is renowned as a wine production area, thus it is all to visit and to taste. Towns like Florence, Siena (notorious for the bare back horse race held in Piazza del Campo on July2 and August 13), Pisa (famous for the leaning tower in the square known as the Square of Miracles), Orvieto (a town rich in artistic masterpieces) and San Giminiano (its raised position and its tall towers and original medieval appearance make it particularly remarkable) make Tuscany one of Italy’s world famous regions.
The Tuscan craftsmanship is equally important; textiles (Prato, Firenze, Fucecchio), white marble extracted since Etruscan times (Massa Carrara, Volterra.) and gold (Florence).
Regarding the coast, the Tuscan coastline begins at Bocca di Magra and its beaches are organised into bathing establishments. The Tuscan Riviera has the Apuan Alps within a short distance from the sea, and endless beaches; Forte dei Marmi is a famous seaside resort and where the coastal scenes of the film ‘The English Patient’ were filmed. Surely not to leave out are the splendid panoramas of Lake Bolsena and the volcanic spas most notably Montecatini Terme and Chianciano Terme.
The Tuscan archipelago is one of the biggest marine parks in Europe. The best known of the archipelago is the Island of Elba; regular ferry services to Piombino are available. The Island of Elba is the famous place where Napoleon was briefly exiled before his final defeat at Waterloo.
Finally, Tuscany is the cradle of Italian Language thanks to Dante, Petrarca and Boccaccio hence it is the seat of the University for Foreigners in Siena, a unique experience to learn Italian which welcomes its visitors with the axiom written on the Camollia Door of the city, “Cor Magi tibi Seni pandit” (Siena opens its heart to you, even more than its door).