Tuscany

Regione Toscana

Capital	Florence
President	Claudio Martini (Olive Tree)
Provinces	Arezzo Firenze Grosseto Livorno Lucca Massa-Carrara Pisa Pistoia Prato Siena
Municipalities	287
Area	22,990 km²
- Ranked	5th (7.6 %)
Population (2001)  - Total  - Ranked  - Density	3,497,806 9th (6.1 %) 152/km²
Map highlighting the location of Toscana in Italy

Tom is filling in some information here...

Overview

Tuscany was the region in which the Italian Renaissance produced its first results. The unique artistic patrimony of this region includes architecture, painting and sculpture, collected in dozens of famous museums like the Uffizi in Florence and in situ in even quite small cities.

Tuscany is also known for its wines (most famous of which are Chianti, Morellino di Scansano and Brunello di Montalcino) and has 120 protected regions (nature reserves).

Notable tourist destinations in Tuscany include Florence, Pisa, Lucca, Maremma (in Grosseto province), Crete Senesi, and Siena. Though it is famous for its villas, Tuscany is currently promoting "agritourism" (Agriturismo), in which visitors stay on working farms.

Pisa

Overview

By far the best known sight in Pisa is the famous leaning tower which is but one of many architecturally and artistically important structures in the city's Campo dei Miracoli or Field of Miracles to the north of the old town center. The Campo dei Miracoli is also the site of the beautiful Duomo (the Cathedral), the Baptistry and the Camposanto (the monumental cemetry).

Major Attractions

• Campo dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles) including the leaning tower
• Wandering around Pisa, maybe taking in this Crazy Keith Haring Mural
• Sample the local delecasy baccala alla Pisana (Dried Cod)

Florence

Overview

A centre of medieval European trade and finance, the city is sometimes considered the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance. Florence is famous for its wealth of fine art and architecture.

Siena

Overview

Siena is described in my guide book as the perferct antidote to Florence, a unified modern city at ease with it's medieval aspect, ambience and traditions.

Plan of action

Outward connection

We could get a train on Sunday morning to go to Rome