Cities

A visit to Tuscany is a great way to discover the treasures of Italy and marvel at some of its most remarkable sights. The area offers a wealth of wonderful landscapes, stunning architecture and delicious food. This region preserves the most ravishing UNESCO World Heritage Sites. From the well-known towns of Siena, Florence, and Pisa to the lesser-known but equally impressive San Gimignano and Pienza. Take a look at the list of must-see places in Tuscany and save this for your trip. The Historic Centre of Florence, which comprises a significant portion of the city, was declared a World ...

Florence is a city in Central Italy and the capital city of the Tuscany region with the largest population.Florence was a center of medieval European trade and finance and one of the wealthiest cities of that era. It is considered the birthplace of the Renaissance, and has been called "the Athens of the Middle Ages". A turbulent political history includes periods of rule by the powerful Medici family, and numerous religious and republican revolutions. From 1865 to 1871 the city was also the capital of the recently established Kingdom of Italy.The Historic Center of Florence attracts 13 ...

San Gimignano, once a medieval village, is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the heart of Tuscany.It is famous for its towers and medieval architecture, panoramic views of the Tuscan countryside and a vibrant art scene. Located about 60 kilometers south of Florence, San Gimignano is one of the most famous villages in all of Italy.The town’s historic center has been preserved almost intact since the Middle Ages, with its 13th-century walls and many of its distinctive towers still standing today.San Gimignano is best known for its many towers. While in other cities most or all of their ...

Siena is one of the most popular and visited places in Tuscany, a place extremely rich in history and art and with strong local traditions tied to its 17 districts and to the famous Palio di Siena.The Palio di Siena is a horse race that is held twice each year, on 2 July and 16 August. Ten horses and riders, bareback and dressed in the appropriate colors, represent ten of the districts. The race takes place at Piazza del Campo. The district around it is known as Il Campo, a maze of narrow streets, apartments and shops which are worth visiting and exploring.Piazza del Campo itself is an importa ...

Volterra is a small town and yet it has one of the most interesting history. Its location on top of a hill with breathtaking views over Tuscany landscape makes it a very attractive tourist destination. The beautiful old town, which you can explore by bike or on foot, has been listed as a World Heritage Site since 1997.Apart from the historical sights, Volterra offers something for everyone: the churches, the meeting place at "Bottega del Cuoco", the typical market with its delicious fish and seafood, sports facilities and many more.Volterra also has an important role in Italian history ...

Pisa is a city in Tuscany, central Italy, straddling the Arno just before it empties into the Ligurian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Pisa. Although Pisa is known worldwide for its leaning tower (the bell tower of the city's cathedral), the city contains more than 20 other historic churches, several medieval palaces, and various bridges across the Arno. Much of the city's architecture was financed from its history as one of the Italian maritime republics.The origin of the name, Pisa, is a mystery. While the origin of the city had remained unknown for centuries, the Greeks, and ...

It is only a short distance from Pisa and Florence. However, most people tend to pass by for bigger cities and never take the time to explore this beautiful town. Originally this city was founded by the Etruscans and was then a Roman colony around 180 BC. During the Roman era, Lucca served as an important meeting place for Julius Caesar and Crassus.Lucca is known as one of the Italian's "Arts town" thanks to its intact Renaissance-era city walls and its very well preserved historic center, where, among other buildings and monuments, are located the Piazza dell'Anfiteatro, which has its ...

Certaldo is a town and comune of Tuscany located in the Metropolitan City of Florence. The city is divided into two distinct zones: the lower part (Certaldo Basso), where the majority of the population lives, and the upper part (Certaldo Alto), which houses the old medieval town. The lower part is marked by modern buildings and streets laid out in a grid, while houses in the upper part are clustered around the Via del Castello.Evidence of human presence in Certaldo dates to the Etruscan period, with traces of tombs found in several locations. However, the first historical document mentioning ...

Described by historians as one of the Etruscan capitals, Arezzo is believed to have been one of the twelve most important Etruscan cities. There is some significant Etruscan evidence: parts of walls, an Etruscan necropolis on Poggio del Sole (still named "Hill of the Sun"), and most famously, the two bronze statues which were discovered in the 16th century and taken to Florence. Increasing trade connections with Greece also brought some elite goods to the Etruscan nobles of Arezzo.The city has more than 20 churches, including St. Mary Magdalene Church, which was built in 1326 and still ...

The city of Prato is perfect for adventure-travels. It is a wonderful Roman city that offers its travellers many attractions to visit and its city center is a Unesco heritage.Prato is Tuscany's second largest city and the third largest in Central Italy after Rome and Florence.The territory of Prato was inhabited as early as the Paleolithic and Neolithic ages, as evidenced by archaeological discoveries in the Olmo neighborhood. This area was later inhabited by Etruscans and then by the Romans who founded it in 180 BC with the name of "Praetoria".Visiting the Duomo di Prato is a must for ...

Pistoia, a seductive city with deeply historic roots, is a place that will amaze lovers of art and traditions. In the center you can wander down a path full of churches, cloisters, palaces, museums and monuments that revolve around one of the most fascinating Cathedral Piazzas in Italy. And even in the outskirts of the city, there are strikingly beautiful villages, churches and fortified castles.The whole area is a testimony to how Pistoia was once an important medieval city state whose influence spread far beyond its borders. It is also an excellent starting point for exploring the surroundi ...

Cortona is the main cultural and artistic center after Arezzo. The town is located in southern Tuscany and sits above the valley of the river Chiana. The ancient city lay on a steep hill between two deeper valleys.It is famous for its beautiful Renaissance palaces and houses that are crowded together on top of the hill, which dominates the surrounding countryside. Cortona was one of the 12 cities of the Etruscan League; its origins are uncertain, but it was certainly in existence by the early Iron Age.When you hear the name Cortona, the first thing that comes to mind is probably the Tuscan ...

If you are looking for an affordable Italian holiday, then look no further than the beautiful Italian town of Gubbio.The small town of Gubbio is located in the far northeastern part of the Italian province of Perugia. Placed on the lowest slope of Mt. Ingino, a small mountain of the Apennines, it overlooks the wide plain sloping down to the Tiber River. The city seems to reach out to embrace the valley below in a hug of stone houses and terraces, with the majestic medieval Palazzo dei Consoli towering over them all.Gubbio's ancient origins can be traced back to Roman times. The city was origi ...

Todi is a cozy town in the province of Perugia in central Italy. It is perched on a tall two-crested hill overlooking the east bank of the river Tiber, commanding distant views in every direction.In the 1990s, Richard S. Levine, a professor of Architecture at the University of Kentucky, described Todi as the model sustainable city, because of its scale and its ability to reinvent itself over time. After that, the Italian press reported on Todi as the world's most livable city.Todi combines small town friendliness with an impressive mix of Roman, medieval and Renaissance architecture. Todi's ...

Seated on top of the picturesque Italian hills, the little town of Montalcino is rightfully considered a heavenly destination for wine lovers and medieval architecture fans.The hill town is located on the west side of the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Orcia Valley. Its territory has been inhabited since Etruscan times. The name Montalcino derives from the Latin 'mons ilcinus' (holm-oak mountain) due to the oak trees covering the terrain. People come here for the magnificent views of green Tuscan valleys, olive orchards, vineyards, fields and villages that the hill town offers. The tow ...

Explore a land blessed with wine and an ancient medieval village. Due to the quality of soil and special microclimate, Bolgheri is renowned for the best-tasting wines. Until the 1970-s, Bolgheri territory was almost unknown. The interest in this region was awakened by the wine-magazine Decanter in 1974 when a 6-year-old Sassicaia won over the assortment of Bordeaux wines. Since then Bolgheri has become dotted with vineyards of celebrated wine producers Tenuta San Guido, Tenuta Dell'Ornellaia and Ca'Marcanda of Gaja. Nowadays, the region offers a variety of wine tours and everybody can fi ...