Tuscany (Italy)

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Provinces: Firenze, Arezzo, Grosseto, Livorno, Lucca, Massa, Pisa, Prato, Pistoia, Siena

This region stretches over the slope of the Apennines, in front of the Tyrrhenian Sea with a mainly mountainous and hilly landscape. There's a flat area close to the sea, the Maremma. In front of the coast there are the small enchanting islands of the Tuscan archipelago.

Tuscany ( Toscana ) is one of the most beautiful and popular tourist destinations in Italy, and is located in central Italy, along the Mediterranean coast. Tuscany is a gently hilly region, known for its vineyards and olive groves, with large houses or small settlements scattered around the low hills.

Its rich rolling landscape is complemented by towns overflowing with Renaissance art and architecture. The most important river is the Arno, on which Florence and Pisa are situated, although the Tiber also passes briefly through.

Florence is Tuscany's unmissable crown jewel, with its beautiful buildings, colourful history, priceless art and unique atmosphere. But Tuscany is one of the few Italian regions well-known to foreigners as a tourist destination in itself.

For decades a Tuscan villa has been the dream holiday for many travellers. And amongst the vineyards and hills of Tuscany are other lovely historic towns - not as packed with attractions as Florence, but not as packed with tourists either. Siena is a patrician hilltop town with a past to rival that of Florence, famous for the rivalry between its districts (called contrade ) which climaxes in the Palio .

Pisa boasts not just the legendary leaning tower, but also several other attractions, and good transport links to other parts of Italy. Smaller Tuscan destinations which are popular with holidaymakers include Lucca, San Gimignano (a forest of medieval towers on a hill) and the wine-producing Chianti area.

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Population: 58.103.000
Languages: Italian (official); German-, French-, and Slovene-
Currency: euro
Currency code: EUR
Local Times:
Italy - Rome

Italy - Rome

Country Dialling Code: +39
Voltage: 127/220V 50Hz
Electrical plugs:
'Schuko' type with two earth connectors on the sides

'Schuko' type with two earth connectors on the sides

2 circular prongs aligned with earth connector

Italy is often described as an open-air art gallery - every town and village seems to have a beautiful little church to wander round or a historic square where you can sit and enjoy a cappuccino. You will stumble over theatres and other buildings dating back to ancient Greek and Roman times. Visit Roman ruins, gawk at Renaissance art, stay in tiny medieval hill towns, go skiing in the Alps, explore the canals of Venice and gaze at beautiful churches. Naturally you can also indulge in the pleasures of la dolce vita : good food, good wine and improving your wardrobe.

Italy dips down out of Europe and into the Mediterranean like a women's leg firmly planted in a sleek stiletto, so it's hardly surprising that Italians are known for their impeccable style and fashionable dress sense. They're also known for once having an empire that stretched across the globe, and for having the most spectacular churches, frescos, sculptures and Renaissance paintings in all of Europe.

The Italy of today is littered with the relics of more than 3,000 years of history, and an atmosphere that ranges from the Armani-wearing-scooter-driving-espresso-drinking buzz of its cities to the quiet, pastoral existence of its hillside olive farms and seaside fishing villages.

From the depths of the canals in Venice, which floats on a series of islands in an Adriatic lagoon, and the bleached sands of San Remo on the Riviera, to the rocky crags of the Alps, Dolomites and Apennines, Italy has everything from beach holidays to luxury mountain ski resorts.

Italy's cities reveal awe-inspiring architecture from the curved arches of the Ponte Vecchio in Florence to the crumbling magnificence of the Colisseum in Rome. Home of da Vinci, Michelangelo, Carvaggio and Botticelli, its artworks are a visual delight to all visitors.

Nestled into the outskirts of Rome is the independent Vatican City, the seat of the Pope and home to the famous St Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel. The influence of the Holy Catholic Church on the people of Italy is still evident today in a series of holy festivals, carnivals, and parades involving young and old alike in almost every city, town and village.