Tuscany is a region in central Italy. It has an area of 22,990 square kilometres and a population of about 3.6 million inhabitants. Despite the fact that it is surrounded by the Apennines, with imposing, mountainous massifs, the region is mainly hilly and has vast plains. Tuscany is divided into ten provinces: Arezzo, Florence, Grosseto, Livorno, Lucca, Massa-Carrara, Pisa, Pistoia, Prato and Siena. Florence is the capital city of the region. The region is known for its beautiful landscapes and for its rich artistic legacy. It is widely regarded as the true birthplace of the Italian Renaissance and has been home to some of the most influential people in history, such as Botticelli, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Galileo Galilei and Puccini, amongst many more. Owing to this, there are a vast number of museums; most of which are found in Florence but many others are dotted around the region. Tuscany has a unique culinary tradition and is famous for its excellent wines. There is a lot to see and do in Tuscany and perhaps the best way to do it is to start in Florence, moving on to Siena and Pisa; stopping off anywhere that takes your eye en route.  Arezzo, Cortona, San Gimignano and Lucca are some of the smaller towns but are equally as striking in their own way. For sporting enthusiasts, Tuscany can satisfy all your needs. Cycling, horse-riding, sailing, canoeing, and golf are just a selection of sporting activities on offer in the region. Look out for festivals which take place throughout the region at different times of the year. There are excellent transport links throughout Tuscany. The two main airports in Pisa and Florence handle flights to major European cities and are served by low cost airlines.  There is a main train route which passes through Florence on the Bologna-Rome line via Arezzo and international trains arrive at Florence’s main train station Santa Maria Novella. Car hire is also available.

Access
The main train route that passes through Tuscany is through Florence, on the Bologna-Rome line via Arezzo. Florence’s main train station is Santa Maria Novella (SMN). Direct international trains arrive here from Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Basel, Munich and other European cities.
Tuscany has two international airports, the Galileo Galilei International Airport in Pisa and Amerigo Vespucci Airport, also known as Peretola, in Florence. Both airports handle flights to major European cities although Pisa handles the bulk of European scheduled flights.
There are plenty of options for reaching Tuscany by bus but services are less frequent and generally less comfortable than the train.
If you are coming to Tuscany from outside Italy, the main point of entry from France into Italy is the Mont Blanc tunnel from France at Chamonix which connects to the A5 for Turin and Milan.

Activities
Tuscany is home to many museums with masterpieces by the greatest artists of all time, from Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, to Botticelli, Giotto and Donatello. Tuscany offers a piece of history, art or sculpture from all times, styles and periods. Some of the top museums include: The Acadamia Gallery which is home to Michelangelo’s David, the Uffizi gallery which is one of the world’s top art museums and the Bargello museum; famous for its bronze and marble sculptures. There are also many minor centres which are perfectly preserved, historical villages that hold invaluable works of art: Cortona, Fiesole, San Gimignano, Pienza, Montalcino, Montepulciano and Volterra.
Tuscany offers an ideal setting for cycling enthusiasts of all levels and is a great way to enjoy the beauty of the region. The best months for touring Tuscany on bike are from March to June and from September to October. You can choose from a variety of itineraries: See www.Ibiketuscany.com for more information.
Tourists on bikes, but also on horseback; tourists that play golf, go canoeing, dedicate themselves to climbing, or quite simply follow the calendars of sporting events. The tourism-physical activity link is very strong in Tuscany. Here the traveller can get to know the territory in a non-conventional way. Tuscany is an ideal land for cycling and trekking lovers and sailing, canoeing and golf enthusiasts.
Those looking to be pampered at thermal spas need look no further, and the area’s hot springs, wells and streams are often free of charge. The most famous are the Cascate del Mulino di Saturnia, located in Manciano—a precious town in the Maremma area. The waterfalls are fed with thermal waters from the Gorello stream, which connects to the Stellata River. Over time, the falls have created natural “tubs” where visitors can go even in the winter.
Tuscany hosts events and festivals throughout the year, although the majority are concentrated during the summer. These festivals tend to fall around local specialities coming into season.

Food and drink
Tuscan cuisine ranges from the Finocchiona (aromatised pork) to Livorno’s caciucco (fish soup), right up to the Pisan cèe (new-born eel). A menu full of treats such as soppressata, prosciutto ham, ribollita soup, bean and lard soup or spelt soup. Among the pasta dishes is pappardelle pasta with hare ragù, tomato pappa, and black rice. The Florentine steak is sumptuous, the mixed roast is excellent and the desserts cenci, panforte and cantucci must be tried.
Tuscan cuisine can be very simple. Bread, cheese, vegetables, mushrooms and fresh fruit are among the most used ingredients. Olive oil is made from Morailo, Leccino and Frantoiano olives. In October and November, white truffles are produced in San Miniato.
Wine is also a famous and very common produce of Tuscany, with Chianti being the most well known on an international level.

Restaurants
Rossini, Lungarno Corsini 4, Florence Tel: (0039) 0552 399224
La Vena di Vino 30 Via Don Minzoni, Volterra Tel: (0039) 0588 81491