Taking your Italy Vacation in Tuscany
You may be wondering where you can go for your next
vacation. Maybe you have already been to Hawaii, London, and Paris. Its time to
try an Italy vacation. You may have even been to Rome already and disliked the crowds
and the "touristy" feel. If you prefer the countryside and don't mind
the beautiful scenery you should go to Tuscany for your Italy vacation. You
should also go to Tuscany for your Italian vacation if you are interested in
art and architecture because this region boasts some of the best in those
categories.
Photo: Sunset over a Tuscany Vineyard in Italy.
There are twenty regions in Italy and Tuscany is a region
found in central Italy. It has some of the most beautiful landscapes in the
world and many famous artists have achieved some spectacular pieces of art
using the Tuscan landscape for a backdrop during the Italian renaissance. The
capital of this region is Florence. In fact 350 out of a 1000 of Europe's most
important artists of the 2nd millennium lived in Florence. Seven places in
Tuscany are UNESCO protected sites. That means that they have been placed on a
list maintained by the international World Heritage Program that aims to name,
catalogue and protect sites that are deemed to be of outstanding cultural value
for humanity. There are 851 such sites worldwide and you can see 7 of them on
your Tuscan Italian vacation. These include the historical centers of Florence, , Siena, San Gimignano and Pienza. They also include the Val d'Orcia and the
square of the Cathedral of Pisa which is famous for its leaning tower. The last to be added to the UNESCO World heitage sites in 2013 were the 12 Medici Villas and gardens not far from Florence. These were the renaissance-era summer residences and hunting lodges for the powerful Medici family.
Photo: Tuscany, Siena. View of the village
The historic centers of the cities you may visit on your
Tuscan Italian vacation are protected sites mainly for their magnificent
architecture. The Duomo is a cathedral in Siena that represents great Italian
Romanesque culture. In Florence you must visit Santa Maria del Flore which is
another cathedral with beautiful architecture. The Ponche Vencho Bridge in
Florence is an amazing old bridge held up by stilts but has several shops built
along its edge. San Gimignano is a small town on a hilltop. It is a walled town
and is known for its medieval architecture.
Photo: A sunset view over Tuscany, Florence with a view of the river.
Its fourteen towers may be seen from several miles around.
Through wars and disasters, San Gimignano has been able to keep its beautiful
fourteen towers and you will be able to see these works of art on your Tuscan
Italy vacation. The Val d'Orcia gained its place on the list of protected sites
because it truly exemplifies beautiful landscape. With rolling hills and small
quaint villages, you must make sure you see this area when you are on your trip
to Italy.
Another reason why you may want to visit Tuscany and specifically Florence is that this was the place where Leonardo da Vinci was born and spent his youth working in the studio of a well-known Florentine painter. Most known for the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper it is said that his landscapes and artistic style came from growing up in this region. You will be able to visit the hamlet near the hill town of Vinci where Leonardo da Vinci was born on your Tuscan Italian Vacation.
Ready to see the Romantic & Historical Italy? Contact us today for all your requests to explore this beautiful destination.
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