Travelling Tuscany - a short guide to the most charming region in Italy

By: Markus Mross

As one of the most popular holiday destinations in Europe, Tuscany attracts more and
more visitors each year. Like other popular tourist regions, Tuscany, too, offers a wide
range of attractions, many sights and different landscapes. This diversity makes Tuscany
a holiday area for every taste and an ideal destination for the most different kinds of
holidays to opt for such as individual holidays, group vacations, family trips and couple
vacations.

First of all, it is the mild climate throughout the year and the beautiful and picturesque
landscape of Tuscany which fascinates many travellers. The rich flora and fauna includes
pine trees, cork trees, lavender, thyme, rosemary, vineyards and olive groves. The color-
ful flower fields and the country roads lined with cypress trees are a delight for the eye
and give this region a nostalgic and romantic atmosphere and impart a very special Me-
diterranean charm no visitor can escape. Further tourist hot spots in Tuscany are the nu-
merous beautiful bathing beaches and the various day trip destinations. Due to its proxi-
mity to Liguria, vacationers can choose between many interesting and worthwhile places
of excursions.

But it is also the culinary delights of Tuscany, its eventful history and its rich culture
which constitute further attractions of this region in Italy. The many interesting cities
such as Florence, Pisa, Siena and San Gimignano and their sights and art treasures are
an obligatory destination not only for the culturally interested traveller but for everyone.
Especially those visitors who want to immerse themselves deeper into European art his-
tory and Italian Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque architecture should plan an excur-
sion to one of these cities.

A place which shouldn't be missed during a holiday in Tuscany is the city of Lucca. Lo-
cated in the valley of the Serchio River and northeast of Pisa, it is a good starting point
for visiting many beautiful destinations. Worthwhile sights of Lucca are the Duomo of
San Martino, the Piazza Napoleone, the Piazza San Michele, the Anfiteatro, the church
of San Michele in Foro and the Chiesa di San Frediano. Other local attractions include
the various museums of the city such as the Museo Nazionale Guinigi and the Museo e
Pinacoteca Nazionale.