Tuscany
Just off the busy roads you turn into the rural landscape of the fertile Arno valley with it's undulating hills adorned by fine historic villas. The bright and varied landscape is recognisably that which forms the background of Florentine quattrocento paintings. This is an area rich in history and tradition, where the splendid Etruscan and Renaissance civilizations grew up and flourished. Florence was at the heart of the Renaissance, and so also of the cultural development of Tuscan Italy. Fiesole and the area North of Florence has a wealth of Etruscan and Roman sites. Siena is easily reached by the delightfully scenic Via Chiantigiana, as are attractive medieval walled towns like San Gimignano or Monteriggione, with walls ringed by Dante's fourteen 'giants'. Pisa and Lucca are just as accessible and fascinating. You can laze away the days in the sun in complete tranquillity, or wander through the superb and varying landscape. The hills themselves and the traditional stone houses offer a coolness welcome in the summer; but they are almost more beautiful with their rich colouring in autumn, when of course, the cities are also less crowded.
Southeast of Florence and Chianti, ringed by spectacular hills in the distance, lies a fascinating coastal plain looking out to Elba and the other offshore islands. Pinewoods fringe the miles of pure white sandy beaches backed by elegant seaside towns and fascinating hill towns. The Parco della Maremma offers great opportunities for observing bird and wild life. At the shores of the Tirrenian Sea, a causeway leads you to the promontory called Argentario, site of l'Oasi della laguna, one of the few bird refuges in this avid bird-hunting country. Grosseto is a beautifully restored 16th-century walled town that was greatly enhanced by Medici family patronage. Farther inland are the warm sulphurous waters of Saturnia. There are spectacular mountainous drives to Orvieto or Siena, and hill towns like Montalcino, Pienza and Montepulciano - small beautifully preserved Renaissance gems and centres of fine wines. Elba can be visited by ferry from Piombino to the north, and the wild, romantic island of Giglio can be reached by ferry from the active fishing port of Porto Santo Stefano.
