Visit Florence and Tuscany

Landscapes among the most beautiful in the world

Located in the heart of the Italian boot, with its almost 23,000 km2, Tuscany is one of the largest regions in Italy. Its territory is largely composed of hills, but also includes plains, mountain ranges, extinct volcanoes, a desert of 150 km2, rivers, lakes, and islands (Elba, Giglio, Capraia, Montecristo, and Pianosa), with a total of 663 km of coastline.

Among the 10 provinces that make up the region, in addition to Florence, we must also mention Pisa, Carrara, Lucca, Siena, and Livorno; all very famous cities that, in addition to their celebrated beauty, contribute to making Tuscany a true catalog of the finest arts and most beautiful landscapes in the world.

Getting to know Tuscany

The history of Tuscany begins in the mists of time. The earliest definite traces of human presence date back to the Paleolithic era. Between the 10th and 8th centuries B.C., the Etruscan civilization appeared, reaching its peak around the 6th century B.C., a time when cities like Pisa, Arezzo, Chiusi, or Volterra were founded, which later inspired Roman urban planning. The remarkable level of civilization achieved by the Etruscans is evidenced by the equality of rights between men and women, truly unusual for their time (actually, even for ours!).

In the 3rd century B.C., the Etruscans were defeated by Rome, and the entire region quickly declined economically, culturally, and socially. The Romans founded new cities, including Florentia (modern-day Florence) and Cosa (modern-day Ansedonia: one of the best-preserved, with its walls, forum, acropolis, Capitolium…).

After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the region passed through several centuries from one invader to another. Among these: the Ostrogoths, Byzantines, Lombards (who transformed it into a duchy with its seat in Lucca), or the Franks of Charlemagne, just to name a few. Centuries, in short, not exactly bright, during which each city grew as it could. Thus, in the 11th century, the most powerful and important city in Tuscany was Pisa, which, becoming a Maritime Republic, dominated almost all of the Tyrrhenian Tuscany, Sardinia, and Corsica. Meanwhile, however, Siena also grew, destined to become so beautiful and powerful as to compete with Florence.

A revolutionary example of cultural, social, and economic autonomy

In the 12th century, the period of free municipalities began, and Pistoia became the first municipality in Italy. Yes, it is indeed in Tuscany where the first forms of participatory democracy and guild associations were born, making the region a revolutionary example of cultural, social, and economic autonomy. In this period, among the most important cities, Lucca stands out, becoming very wealthy thanks to textile production and silk trade; while, for cultural, economic, but also military reasons, the municipality of Florence soon established itself…

Visiting Tuscany

And then the Italian language, banking, the Renaissance to Haute Couture. All things born in Tuscany, a truly special region, where, as if that were not enough, agriculture and livestock still play a huge role today, given the quality of the products provided (meat, vegetables, wines, olive oils…). It’s no coincidence that Tuscany was the first GMO-free region in Europe (again, the first!), approving, in 2000, a specific law banning the cultivation and production of genetically modified organisms and their consumption in public canteens.

Supertuscans

In short, Tuscany is a truly special region, where, as if that were not enough, agriculture and livestock still play a huge role today, given the quality of the products provided (meat, vegetables, olive oils…). One above all: wine. Tuscany has always been famous for its wines, among which some very high-quality productions stand out, known in the oenological world with the appellation of Supertuscans.

Not just Chianti

The areas of Florence and Siena are known worldwide for the production of Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino, and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. However, in recent years, wines produced in coastal areas (Livorno and Grosseto, favored by a milder, drier, and sunnier climate) have also gained prominence, including the excellence of Bolgheri, red wines such as Morellino di Scansano, Montecucco, and Monteregio di Massa Marittima, and whites such as Ansonica. Also increasingly valued are the red and white wines of the province of Arezzo. Among the other wines of Tuscany, mention must also be made of Carmignano, one of the oldest, produced in the homonymous municipality in the province of Prato; the famous Vernaccia di San Gimignano, Pitigliano, Montescudaio, and Vin Santo…

OGM-free

On the other hand, it’s no coincidence that Tuscany was the first GMO-free region in Europe (again, the first!), approving, in 2000, a specific law banning the cultivation and production of genetically modified organisms and their consumption in public canteens.

A visit to Tuscany, therefore, entails a great danger: that of wanting to stay forever!