Index

“1. Let’s start”

“2. Getting Around Tuscany”

“3. Reserve what you deserve”

“4. It’s not all about Renaissance!”

“5. Tuscany means country life”

“6. No bread, no party”

“7. Experience wine”

“8. Eat your way!”

“9. Coffee has its rules”

“10. Florence means high fashion”

“11. Smart Travel Tips”

1. Let’s start

“Where exactly is Tuscany?” Italy is made up of 20 regions, Tuscany is one of them and it’s located approximately in the central part of the country. The Italian word for Tuscany is Toscana [pronounced tos’ka’na]. Tuscany consists of 10 administrative divisions (called provinces): Florence, Arezzo, Grosseto, Livorno, Lucca, Massa Carrara, Pisa, Pistoia, Prato and Siena. The regional capital is Florence. So, if someone asks, “is Tuscany in Florence?” now you know why it sounds awkward. We explain it further in this post about basic tips.

“How far is Tuscany from Florence?”: Well, as you now know, Florence is actually in Tuscany. If you meant “How far out is the Tuscan countryside from Florence” the answer is that you will see the countryside as soon as you step outside Florence.

“Where’s the typical Tuscan countryside?” The so-called “typical Tuscan countryside”, famous worldwide for its green gentle hills, corresponds less or more to the Val d’Orcia area (Siena province), but Tuscany offers a great variety of unique landscapes and you can find the “typical Tuscan countryside” in other areas, too.

“Well, what there’s beyond the Tuscan countryside?”: Tuscany has almost everything (no zebras and kangaroos though)! Besides the well-known countryside, the historical cities and towns, there are beautiful wooded mountains (where you can ski in the winter, or enjoy trekking/hiking / horse riding and cycling all-year-round), a beautiful coastline and an amazing archipelago!

“What’s the best time of the year to visit Tuscany?” Thanks to the great variety of landscapes, Tuscany is beautiful in any season and every month has its charm, but to plan your trip read more about the weather in Tuscany month by month to choose the one that best fits your trip.

“Are the Cinque Terre in Tuscany?”Along with other common misconceptions about Tuscany, the answer is “sorry, this is not Tuscany” . The Cinque Terre is a rugged portion of coast in the Liguria region of Italy. There are frequent trains from the main cities of Tuscany (such as Florence, Pisa, Massa) to reach this area.

2. Getting Around Tuscany

Are you planning to visit Tuscany and you have no idea of what to do once at the airport? Do you want to discover a hidden hamlet you’ve always dreamed about visiting? Here is a post that will help you find the basic info about public transportation to get around Tuscany without a car.

Airplane: There are two main airports, one is in Pisa and the other one is located in Florence. The largest one is the Galileo Galilei International Airport in Pisa, which is famous for its low-cost flights and also for being one of the closest airports to a city center in Europe: the Leaning Tower is only 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) from the airport! The other major airport is Florence Peretola (“Aeroporto di Firenze-Peretola” in Italian), formerly known as Amerigo Vespucci airport. This too has the advantage of being just a few kilometers from the city center.

Bus:In Tuscany, there are buses to almost all destinations, connecting even the smallest villages, but many lines run only during the day and very few run on the weekends. Each province has its local company for urban and suburban transportation: there are about 10 bus companies in Tuscany. Usually the terminals are close to the main train stations. For tickets and information on prices and schedules, check each company’s website. Unfortunately, most of these websites are in Italian: look for the “orari” (timetables) and then choose the destination you want to get to.

Train: One of the best ways to enjoy day trips is to travel by train! Almost every train station has a ticket office where you can purchase local, national or international tickets. For better communication it may be useful to write a note with the information about the ticket you want to buy: the departure station, the arrival station, the day and hour you want to leave, the number of people traveling together. Regional trains and long distance trains work differently, for example, on trains that don’t require reservations (called Regionale, Regionale Veloce or Intercity), validation is absolutely essential before boarding and tickets will be sold even though there are no more seats available: a ticket grants the right to travel on the train, not the right to have a seat. Read few suggestions to book your tickets online and travel by train in Tuscany (and Italy). Catch the fast train if you travel from Pisa/Livorno to Florence: check out all the info and the timetables here. It takes only 49 minutes from Pisa to Florence!

Car: “Do I need a car?” - It depends on where you want to go and on what type of traveller you are. If you want to explore the countryside or the mountains, if you are looking for unique destinations, hilltop towns and gentle rolling hills, you’ll probably need to rent a car. Anarchy on the roads does not rule in Italy and driving over here is probably much easier and safer than what you’d expect. Just remember to drive on the right-hand side of the road and to rent a small car: it’s cheaper, easier to park and drive on Tuscan roads.

Eco: a great way to experience Tuscany, and also an eco-friendly way, is to go off the beaten path on foot, by bike or on horseback. Tuscany boasts great pilgrims’ routes, the most important are the Via Francigena and the Via Clodia. When travelling along these Tuscan trails, even for short distances, you’ll find yourself surrounded by artistic, cultural and religious heritages of extraordinary charm and incomparable value.

Pack light: no matter what means of transportation you’re going to use to get around Tuscany, keep in mind that many old buildings and apartments don’t have elevators, and not every train stations have escalators or elevators for all the passengers (although the public buildings are fully accessible to persons with physical disabilities). If you travel with a light pack, you’ll arrive at your destination much happier and… drier.

3. Reserve what you deserve

Reservations are not required to visit most of the museums in Tuscany and tickets can be purchased directly at the ticket offices at the time of the visit. But when it comes to some museums, reserving is highly recommended. This is the case for the Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia Gallery (David’s home!) in Florence or the Leaning Tower in Pisa. Here is some quick and practical advice on how to book these crowded beauties.

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Uffizi Accademia, Florence

Leaning Tower, Pisa

4. It’s not all about Renaissance!

No wonder that visitors come from every corner of the world to Tuscany to know and see the amazing beauties of the Renaissance, with Florence known as the “cradle of the Renaissance”! And surely, once here, the amount of Renaissance treasures around you will verge on overwhelming.

But it’s not like we’ve stopped there!

Tuscany has a lot to offer when it comes to modern and contemporary art: museums, large-scale outdoor installations, sculpture parks, photography exhibitions, street art. To be informed and updated..

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Conteporary Art

5. Tuscany means country life

Tuscany boasts more than 4,500 agriturismi, almost a third of the total number available in Italy. An agriturismo is a farm-holiday house that offers rooms or apartments for tourists. This doesn’t mean that you’ll have to rough it. Farm-holiday houses are often newly restored and have large rooms, swimming pools, spas and true luxury furnishings and services. They usually serve food prepared from farm products, welcome pets and organize fun, original activities for adults and children.

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Farm-holiday houses: agriturismi in Tuscany

6. No bread, no party

Tuscan bread is one of the most important traditional bakery products in the region. Its hard crust is reddish-brown, the dough is soft and the flavor is strictly bland because there’s no salt in it! It’s precisely the lack of salt that gives this bread the perfect consistency for hot and cold traditional soups such as pappa al pomodoro, ribollita, panzanella and acquacotta. It is also perfect with cold cuts or Tuscan cheeses.

These should all be on your must-taste list!

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5-star soups with stale bread

7. Experience wine

Are you a wine lover? In addition to the well-known labels, the region offers unique landscapes, interesting wine routes, stunning modern wineries created by famous world-renowned architects and exciting activities to find out more about the Tuscan wine culture and essence.

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6 ways to experience wine in Tuscany.

8. Eat your way!

If you come to Tuscany you will be amazed by the wide choice of places to eat, but remember that there is a specific place for each single craving. The first place that opens (early, if not very early) in the morning is the bar or caffè: the quintessential location for a good cup of coffee (or maybe a cappuccino!). Pasticceria (pastry shop) is the realm of freshly baked cakes, cookies and sweets. The best “authentic” takeaway lunch you can find is at forno (bakery): stop by for bread, schiacciata, pizza and or your customized panino. If you are a street-food lover you can indulge in a porchetta or beef sandwich at several kiosks around the cities (when in Florence, for example, look for lampredotto and tripe). If you’d like to eat one or more courses in a comfortable place choose between pizzeria, restaurant, trattoria, locanda or osteria. In the countryside you’ll find working farms welcoming visitors (Agriturismi). Here you’ll be eating the kind of food that the farmers have been cooking for years.

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Food places in Tuscany

9. Coffee has its rules

As almost) all the Italians, Tuscans can’t live without coffee. Our favourite one is without doubt the espresso: 5 ml of water that flows through 7 g of freshly grinded coffee. Cappuccino is a breakfast drink, so if you order it after noon, people will frown at you. Caffè macchiato is an espresso with a “stain” of milk, while Latte macchiato is a big cup of milk with a “stain” of coffee.

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This coffee guide will help you for sure.

10. Florence means high fashion

Tuscany is a beloved destination for fashion lovers. We can safely say that Italian high fashion was born in Florence. The city boasts designers such as Gucci, Enrico Coveri, Roberto Cavalli, Salvatore Ferragamo, Patrizia Pepe, Emilio Pucci and many others. Their Florence-based fashion houses develop products that are famous and purchased all over the world. Going shopping in the center or at the nearby outlets is one of the favorite activities for tourists and Florentines. In addition, twice a year, Florence welcomes sellers and buyers from all around the world: it’s the Pitti fashion events.

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Fashion in Florence

11. Smart Travel Tips

Smart Budget Travel: Some travelers and Tuscany lovers feel that Italy is an expensive destination. If your dream is to taste the “bella vita” make it a priority! If you plan in advance, save money regularly and strategize smartly following our travel tips, it’s really easy to plan an affordable vacation under the Tuscan sun.

Must-have Travel Apps: The Travel intoscana app has all you need to know about what’s on offer in the region at your fingertips! Created by Fondazione Sistema Toscana for Regione Toscana, it is the most complete app about the region and contains more than 16,000 entries divided into five themes: “What to see”, “What to do”, “Where to sleep”, “Special offer” and “Promo”. For anyone who is planning a trip to the Cradle of the Renaissance, the city can be an overwhelming experience, especially if your travel plan includes other wonderful Italian destinations or a journey through the Tuscan countryside. Luckily, there are many mobile apps available to put you in an empire state of mind. From public transportation to city guides, take a look at the following apps.

Useful numbers in Tuscany: Here is a list of useful numbers that you might need during your stay. In Italy there isn’t just one general number for emergencies, there are different numbers depending on which kind of need people might have.

More tips: If you’re coming to Tuscany but you don’t know where to find the answers to your questions, if you want to get information from experts or to speak with locals, but you don’t know how to get in touch with them, join our community based customer care service, Talk to Tuscany.

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