Tuscany

Tuscany (Toscana) is a must for every itinerary with its country landscapes, historic attractions, delicious traditional dishes and world-renowned wines.



A myriad of wonderful tourist destinations lie in Tuscany - Florence, Siena, Pisa - catering for every visitor's interests whether art, music, food or history.



Northern Tuscany is dominated by its capital, Florence, which is a great base for making day trips to the other treasures the region has to offer. Florence itself is a hub of culture with the famous Uffizi art gallery boasting thousands of works by world-class Italian and international artists. The city is also the home of Michelangelo's David - a 5.17m/17ft sculpture that is truly breathtaking.



But Florence is not the only reason to visit Tuscany. Don't miss Chianti, home of the famous red wine and a lovely, low mountainous region with vast wooded areas, vine covered hills and endless olive groves. A range of bustling local festivals during the harvest season make September and October a great time to visit.



Siena is the closest city to the popular wine regions including Brunello and Vino Nobile, but the walled city itself is definitely worth a visit especially during July and August when it hosts its annual horse races, Palio di Siena, right in the main city square.



From the Etruscans to the Romans to the Renaissance, Tuscany is a center for excellence in art with extraordinary paintings, sculptures, frescoes and architectural masterpieces. The roll call of città di arte, cities of art, is vast: Arezzo, Cortona, San Gimignano and Lucca are all striking.



The city of Lucca itself is a must-see with its ancient Roman fortifications and its history as the birthplace of Boccerini and Puccini. Tourists can also enjoy a tour of the Carrara marble quarries where so many beautiful works have been carved.



The fortified city of San Gimignano was declared in the 1930s as a historic landmark, and rightly so. The tourist stop is extremely popular and probably the most photographed hill-town in Italy with impressive towers from the 11th and 13th centuries proving to be major attractions.



For those who enjoy their history, there is no town quite like the medieval treasure of Cortona. Remnants of its past can be found in the church of San Domenico, which boasts a completely intact 15th century altar piece and works by Fra Angelico and Signorelli.



The coastal region of Tuscany stretches from Pisa to Grosseto and the historic Isola d'Elba found 20km from the main land. The island is historically known for its resource-rich land where the Etruscans dug for ore and silver but is today a hot spot for summer fun in the Mediterranean.



Tuscany is definitely a region where visitors can easily get lost in the sights, sounds, and smells of Italian culture. It is consequently very busy in the summer months of July and August so our advice is to book early so you don't miss out.
Monastery Stays are a chance to experience a true slice of Italian life - warm hospitality as the guest of monks or nuns. This bed and breakfast accommodation will leave you with a lasting holiday memory of Tuscany. Peaceful and welcoming to all, monastery and convent guest houses in Tuscany have long provided hospitality, yet been notoriously difficult to book, Monastery Stays opens the door to travellers from around the world, with assured reservations and support. Book your stay in a monastery or convent in Tuscany.