Discover Beautiful Tuscany in Italy

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Rolling hills, vineyards, stone houses, and quaint hilltop villages; that’s Tuscany.

The fact is, this region of Italy is simply full of these beautiful features, and when you add in the coast and its larger towns and cities too, you can easily see why this is one of the top destinations in the country if not the world.

Tuscany is a beautiful place that has so much to offer, whatever your age. Take the regional capital, Florence, or the equally famous city of Pisa; then there’s Arezzo and Siena with their gorgeous historic architecture.

And, on top of all that, you may not even think of the coast when you picture Tuscany.

Still, the region’s extensive coastline is just as stunning as the interior and full of wonderful little coves with beaches, pretty villages and tree-lined hillsides.

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Tuscany’s Attractions

Many of the millions of tourists who come to Tuscany every year come here to enjoy the countryside whether they hike, bicycle, see it on horseback, or tour around in a car.

The quiet country roads invite you to explore them as you come across vineyards and tiny villages where you can stop and refresh yourself in the local café or bar.

On the other hand, Tuscany offers big cities too; Florence is the capital and has a great historic centre, noted for its Renaissance art, architecture and monuments.

Of course, the smaller city Pisa is famous for its Leaning Tower, and if you enjoy the medieval cityscape of Florence, you’ll love Siena too.

Lucca is another famous town, and then there’s Montepulciano which is renowned for its wines.

The Weather in Tuscany

The whole of Tuscany is well known for its long and relatively hot summers, with temperatures usually averaging a few degrees hotter inland than they do on the coast.

Florence, for example, has an average high of around 31.5C in July and August, whereas in Pisa, it’s a couple of degrees lower.

You can expect warm and pleasant temperatures from May through to October, so there’s a long summer season to enjoy.

In terms of rainfall, summers aren’t without rain though there’s a lot less at this time of year than autumn and spring when the most precipitation falls. November is Florence’s wettest month, while October is Pisa’s.

Where is Tuscany?

Tuscany is a region in Central Italy, set on the country’s west coast and stretching inland to the heart of the country. It covers around 23,000 square kilometres and is home to nearly 4 million people. Most of them live in the region’s larger cities like Florence.

Tuscan Cuisine

Tuscany is famous for its wine. As well as the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, the region produces great tasting Chianti, Morellino di Scansano, and Brunello di Montalcino, among others.

And the cuisine is relatively plain and straightforward, but this isn’t to say it doesn’t taste good!

Many dishes have peasant origins and contain various ingredients, most notably legumes, vegetables, and mushrooms.

Bread plays an essential part in all meals, and you can get some lovely steak and game in Tuscany too. The region is well known for its wild boars, deer, hares, and pheasant.

White truffles are also a local speciality, and if you enjoy desserts, you must try panforte and Cavallucci.