Very few places in the world can boast an artistic legacy with contents so deeply rooted in the territory and popular culture as Tuscany. We invite you to discover this elect land of art and civilisation which today continues to be a sought-after place of residence and source of inspiration for numerous Italian and foreign artists.

IMPORTANT CITIES

• FLORENCE keeps an exceptional artistic heritage which is a marvelous evidence of its aged culture. The "historic centre of Florence" continues to attract millions of tourists each year and was declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 1982.
• AREZZO A charming hilly town in the east of Tuscany, Arezzo boasts ancient origins.
• SIENA is the town that every single stone has remained unchanged over the centuries, the atmosphere is unique because of the ancient past which is still alive in the celebrations for "Palio" taking place every year with renewed enthusiasm.
• LIVORNO was defined as an "ideal town" at the Renaissance time. Nowadays it reveals its history through its neighborhoods, crossed by canals and surrounded by fortified town-walls, through the tangle of its streets, which embroider the town's Venice district, and through the Medici Port characteristically overlooked by towers and fortresses leading to the town centre.
• PISA famous all over the world for its Leaning Tower which dominates and exalts the magnificence of Piazza del Duomo, is a real jewel- case with its roman and gothic churches, its squares and palaces that give splendor to the old streets and to the quarters winding along the Arno.
• PISTOIA is a tourist mixture of history, art, folk traditions, monuments, nature and gastronomic specialties. Among the famous towns in Tuscany, Pistoia shows original characteristics and it is really worth sightseeing it.
• LUCCA is among the "State Towns" of Tuscany, is the only town which could maintain its independence till 1847. It is the true evidence of the loving care of the nobles from Lucca who protected the freedom of the "Civitas" with its intact Walls as a platform (XVI-XVII Cent.), having a perimeter of Km. 4250 with 10 bastions, and the terraces partly preserved. To Lucca belongs also e famous territory located in the northern coast known as Versilia.

WINE TRAILS
Tuscany is home to some of the world's most notable wine regions. Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano are primarily made with Sangiovese grape whereas the Vernaccia grape is the basis of the white Vernaccia di San Gimignano. Tuscany is also known for the dessert wine Vin Santo, made from a variety of the region's grapes. Tuscany has twenty-nine Denominazioni di origine controllata (DOC) and seven Denominazioni di Origine Controllata e Garantita| (DOCG).

NATURAL PARKS OF VAL DI CORNIA
Archeological and natural parks tell a thousand year old story begun with the Etruscan people. A real open air museum and original environment of this area.

Concerts, bar and events are waiting for you in Florence. Versilia, the northern coast of Tuscany offers an exciting nightlife. Viareggio, Camaiore, Pietrasanta, Forte dei Marmi are perfect to enjoy!
Free guided tours to the art sites, boutiques and ateliers in Florence from November 4 to June 16 /2009.

Well-balanced, simple, rooted in the soil and yet refined are the words to describe the cuisine of Tuscany. Here legumes, bread. cheese, vegetables and fresh fruit dominate the menu. Ribollita, reheated vegetable soup, Panzanella, bread salad, Pappa al pomodoro, tomato soup with croutons, are all dishes typical of remote, agricultural Toscany. Overly sophisticated dishes are scarcely to be found, and even in the best restaurant the obligatory soup cousre is served in rustic earthenware bowls.