You are here: > >

Cities and Towns

Central Arezzo

Cathedral of Grosseto

Livorno Harbour

Lucca Cathedral

Maremma Countryside

Montalcino

Pisa architecture

Central Siena

Arezzo
Arezzo is an old town built in terraces on a hill with the citadel at the top. It was one of the important centres of the Etruscan civilization and later became an important Roman town famous for producing the reddish-brown glazed fine pottery vases called ‘Aretine vases’. The town is surrounded by fertile land cultivated with vines, fruit trees and cereal crops.
The main square is surrounded by mediaeval houses, the 18th century law courts, 16th century galleries, Santa Maria delle Pieve and Palazzo della Fraternita.
Places to visit include the sunny square of Piazza Grande where most of the antique shops are situated, the vast church of San Francesco with the frescoes by Piero della Francesca, the Duomo and a walk along the Via dei Pileati with its palaces, gothic towers and old buildings. There is also the Museo Statale d’Arte Medievale e Moderna; the Museum of Mediaeval and Modern Art.
For villas and apartments in the Arezzo area click on Arezzo Villas

Carrara
Carrara is world famous for its white fine-grained marble quarried since Roman times from the nearby mountains. A modest sized town of 65,000 people, Carrara lies in a lovely valley on the edge of a rugged limestone range of mountains known as the Apuan Alps.
The quarries can be seen from a distance but it is definitely worth visiting the Museo del Marmo (marble museum) which is not far from the town centre. Here you can learn about marble, how it is quarried, the various types of marble, modern methods of quarrying and a see display of marble statues.
It is also worth visiting the Cave di Marmo (marble quarries) which is an amazing sight up close. You will be able to view the cutting of marble with diamond wires and the logisitics involved in moving the marble.
The Duomo in Carrara was built from the 11th to 14th centuries in a Romanesque-Gothic style and contains a number of interesting statues and is therefore worth visiting. <back to top>

Certaldo
Certaldo is associated with the name Boccaccio which evokes thoughts of pranks and laughter which will bring tears to your eyes! Giovanni Boccaccio created stories with ironic humour to the delight of everyone. Certaldo is a peaceful town with almost perfectly preserved surrounding red walls. The walls converge at the elegant facade of the Vicario. This town is located on the Via Francigena and has consequently seen a flow of travelers over the centuries; pilgrims, crusaders, merchants, tradesmen and now some tourists.

Chianti Region
A circular route from Siena through the Chianti hills is a scenic and sensory experience. The route covers the villages of the Chianti Classico wine region garnished with ancient castles and rambling farmhouses. The vineyards and wooded hills of the Chianti are best explored along its winding back roads or from within its sleepy hamlets. By car, visitors would leave Siena on the SS408 keeping a lookout for signs marked ‘vendita diretta’. The first stop is at Castello di Brolio, a magnificent vineyard owned by the Ricasoli family since 1167. The SS484 will take you south of Brolio and north past the hamlets of San Gusme, Campi and Linari before rejoining the SS408 for a diversion to the Meleto castle. Another worthwhile stop is at Badia a Coltibuono for its restaurant and Romanesque church. The winding road west to Radda in Chianti is especially picturesque. A further 15km from here north to the hamlet of Volapia is a delightful travel back in time as is a visit to Castellina in Chianti. Within the ramparts of this walled village is the Bottega del Vino Galla Nero at Via della Rocca 13, showcasing the region’s delectable wines and olive oils.

Grosseto
This is a modern provincial capital with the historic centre enclosed within huge hexagonal brick ramparts fortified with bastions. This massive construction was built by the Medici in the late 16th century. The old town revolves around the Piazza Dante Alighieri which has the cathedral on one side and the provincial palace on another. The palace is a Gothic – Renaissance combination. Grosseto has a population of around 73,000 and is located only 8 miles / 13 km from the sea. It is worth visiting the Museo Archeologico e d’Arte della Maremma which traces the history of Roselle, Maremma and Grosseto. The 13th century church of San Francesco, with its Gothic façade is also worth a visit. <back to top>

Livorno
Livorno is one of the main ports in the Mediterranean and the largest commercial harbour in Italy. It is a good place for seafood cuisine due to the local fishing trade. The best known dishes are Cacciucco (fish soup) and triglie (red mullet) presented in a Livornese manner.
There are a number of museums worth visiting including Museo Mascagnano (music and instruments of the composer Pietro Mascagni), and Museo Civico G Fattori (displaying paintings by the artist Giovanni Fattori from the 19th century).
The centre of Livorno life is around the streets Via Grande, Via Cairoli and Via Ricasoli. However, this is a quite a modern town with the large harbour, oil refineries and chemical plants and is not really a tourist destinations, whereas the beaches to the north and south are ideal for holidays.
For villas and apartments in the Livorno area click on Livorno Villas

Lucca
A vast number of visitors are drawn to the Tuscany area surrounding Lucca. This attraction is partly due to a combination of the famous noble bathing places between Forte dei Marmi and Viareggio onwards until Marina di Pisa, the fine sandy beaches of the Versilia, and the beauty of the hilly Tuscan hinterland which is quiet and attractive in its own originality.
However Lucca itself is a fascinating provincial mediaeval city surrounded by a wide historic city wall on which people Promenade or cycle during the early evenings. Lucca is a real gem in the crown of Tuscany, with tiny Romanesque churches, cobbled narrow streets, towers and lovely mediaeval buildings.
No visit to Lucca would be complete without a promenade along the 4km wall around the old mediaeval town. This wall was built in the 16th and 17th centuries as a defence against the Tuscan Dukes and it is really a site to behold.
Lucca’s cathedral, Duomo di San Martino, is an architectural masterpiece and should not be missed with any visit.
For apartments in Lucca click on apartments Lucca
For villas and apartments in the Lucca area click on Lucca villas <back to top>

Maremma
This is a very large geographic area reaching from the foothills south of Livorno, down to the Grosseto area and across to Tarquinia and Cerveteri. In essence it is from the western coastal strip inland as far as the metalliferous hills.
The whole area used to be reclaimed land utilized by both the Etruscans and the Romans. Later the area returned to its natural marshy state. The Parco Naturale della Maremma consists of nearly 10,000 acres of forest running parallel to the coastline and is a haven for wildlife. Wild Boar (the symbol of Maremma) roams around this region as do deer and some smaller mammals such as porcupines and badgers.
For villas and apartments in the Maremma area click on Maremma Villas

Montalcino
Montalcino is a hillside town with origins back to the 13th century and the fortress (Rocca) built in 1361. Siena ruled over Montalcino for several centuries until Charles V captured the town and fortress in 1555.
Certainly the Rocca (fortress) is worth visiting and it is incredibly well preserved. The high walls and five polygon shaped towers protect the remains of the basilica inside.
Of course Montalcino is well known, certainly in Italy, for its superb red wine called Brunello. This is a very high quality and expensive wine grown form a restricted area of vineyards.
For villas and apartments in the Montalcino area click on Villas Montalcino

Montecatini Terme
Montecatini Terme is an old town built around its famous thermal baths where the therapeutic quality of the spring water has been known for centuries. The spring water is used to treat metabolic disorders, liver, stomach and intestinal complaints as well as rheumatism. Various therapies are used from the most common form of drinking the water straight from the spring right through to mud baths.

The town itself is great for an enjoyable break in a small town with all the required facilities as well as lovely relaxing surrounding countryside. The total population is only just over twenty thousand and the location is between Florence and Lucca on the autostrada Firenze-Mare. The modern art gallery 'Museo dell’Accademia d’Arte' is worth a visit. <back to top>

Montepulciano
Montepulciano is Tuscany's highest hilltop town, built along a narrow limestone ridge at 605m (1,950ft) above sea level. Sheltered within the town's fortified walls are charming streets packed with Renaissance-style Palazzi and churches. Its most celebrated achievement is its Vino Nobile wines. Also of interest is the Madonna di San Biagio, a delightful pilgrimage church on the outskirts of the town. For splendid views, take a stroll to the Palazzo Communale and climb the tower, which is open between 9am and 2pm Monday to Saturday.

Monteriggioni
At dusk with the last rays of the setting sun, and at night, the walls and towers of Monterriggioni are a lovely site with the town appearing to float on abed of silver olive trees. The castle appear enchanted and, passing through the gate, you enter into a piazza surrounded by ancient dwellings. The charm is enhanced by the quiet church, rustic taverna and village well. Monterriggioni is serene which contrasts with many other fortresses that can appear cold and threatening.

Pisa
The leaning tower of Pisa attracts one hundred thousand visitors annually. Yet Pisa, once one of the most powerful harbour cities of Italy, has many other attractions: the impressive cathedral, the walled cemetery Camposanto, and a lively city centre along the river Arno, with little markets and many shops. Pisa is also an important university city.
There are a range of sites on Piazza dei Miracoli which include the cities Cathedral, Baptistery (Italy’s largest) and Camposanto. The Cathedral dates from 1063 although most of the interior was rebuilt after a fire in 1595.
Other sites worth a visit are Museo dell’Opera del Duomo and Museo Nazionale di san Matteo.
For villas and apartments in the Pisa area click on Villas Pisa

Pescia
Pescia is historically the main town of the Nievole valley and consequently was the centre of a dispute between Pisa, Lucca and Florence for many years.

The town was founded in the 12th century and today has a population of just under 20,000 people. In keeping with its horticultural tradition the town hosts a huge biennial exhibition of cut flowers and ornamental plants.

Various sites worth visiting are Porto Fiorentina, the 18th century gate to the town, the Duomo from AD 897, the San Francesco church which has a huge interior, and the Palazzo dei Vicari from the 12th century and which is now the town hall. <back to top>

San Gimignano
One of the best towns to visit in Tuscany is the mediaeval town of San Gimignano which is famous for its Noble towers and lies on a hill (334m above sea level) dominating the Elsa Valley. It was once the seat of a small Etruscan village of the Hellenistic period (200-300 BC) but then began its life as a town in the 10th century taking its name from the Holy Bishop of Modena, St. Gimignano, who is said to have saved the village from the barbarian hordes. The town increased in wealth and developed greatly during the Middle Ages thanks to the "Via Francigena" the trading and pilgrim's route that crossed it. Such prosperity lead to the flourishing of works of art which can still be seen adorning the churches and monasteries. In 1199 it became a free municipality and fought against the Bishops of Volterra and the surrounding municipalities. Due to internal power struggles it eventually divided into two factions one headed by the Ardinghelli family (Guelphs) and the other by the Salvucci family (Ghibellines). On the 8th May 1300 Dante Alighieri came to San Gimignano as the Ambassador of the Guelph League in Tuscany. In 1348 San Gimignano's population was drastically reduced by the Black Death Plague throwing the city into a serious crisis which eventually led to its submission to Florence in 1353. In the following centuries San Gimignano overcame its decline and isolation when its beauty and cultural importance together with its agricultural heritage were rediscovered. The construction of the towers dates back to the 11th and 13th centuries. The architecture of the city was influenced by Pisa, Siena and Florence. There are 14th century paintings of the Sienese School to be seen and 15th century paintings of the Florentine School.
Whilst in San Gimignano it is worth visiting the Museo d'Arte Sacra, Museo Civico/Torre Grossa, Piazza della Cisterna, Rocca and Sant’ Agostino
For villas and apartments in the San Gimignano area click on apartments San Gimignano

San Miniato
San Miniato is a strategic hill-top site half-way between Pisa and Florence. Originally a Roman settlement under Augustus it later became a Lombard town. A leter emperor Frederick II gave San Miniato its distinctive landmark fortress from the top of which you have fabulous views over the serene countryside.
Today the new town is a busy agricultural place called San Miniato Basso. However, the real treasure is a walk around the old town – San Miniato Alto – and to the high ground by the tower, or for more energetic people, a climb of the tower itself.
Other places worth a visit are the Piazza della Republica and the red-brick Duomo. A good time to visit is between May and October when the town boasts a rich calendar of events including concerts, an antiques market and exhibitions. <back to top>

Siena
Charming Siena is one of the prettiest, if not the prettiest, city of Italy and it is often the preferred city of many visitors. This well-preserved medieval town extends across 3 hills, its austere buildings and angular lanes seem to transfer the visitor into another time.
Siena was originally Etruscan and then colonised by the Romans. It is a truly majestic place with Italy’s finest piazza, the Campo, at its centre. The Campo is the stage for the famous ‘Palio’ horse race where historic noble families from different city districts pitch their horses and jockeys against each other. The race is on barebacked horses twice annually (2nd July and 16th August).
The impressive cathedral of Siena, whose facades are striped with light and dark marble, towers over the city and fascinates with its magnificently decorated interior. It is definitely worth visiting the adjacent Museo dell’Opera del Duomo which houses the best of all Siena’s paintings.
From the city hall tower, the Torre del Mancia, a lovely view opens up over the old town and the surrounding Campagna Senese. This landscape, marked by soft hills. with farmsteads dotted across the hills and surrounded by the impressive, ever-present cypress trees, is the Tuscany out of the picture books. Most films made in Tuscany are made in this area.
For villas and apartments in the Siena area click on Siena villas

Versilia
The Versilia is an area lying between the north west coast of Tuscany and the mountains which form a natural barrier against the north wind; consequently the climate is mild.
There are some lovely resorts with beautiful sandy beaches along the coast, making it a great area for holidays in Tuscany. It is also an ideal area for families with children. The backdrop is formed by the Apuan Alps which have now been designated as a country park; a great area for outdoor activities and walking holidays surrounded by nature.
Some of the best places to go include Viareggio (the main seaside resort in the Versilia), Lido di Camaiore (a more modern and family resort than Viareggio), Forte dei Marmi (a particularly elegant resort), Marina di Pietrasanta, Marina di Massa and Marina di Carrara.
For villas and apartments in the Versilia click on Villas Versilia <back to top>

Volterra
To many people Volterra is unforgettable due to the very many steps up into the town which is perched on a hill with wide views across the dry brown hilly landscape.
Austere forbidding walls surround the town which is centred around the Piazza dei Priori. Places worth a visit in this vicinity are the Sala del Consiglio (home to Orcagna’s ‘Annunciation’), Torre del Porcellino, and Museomd’Arte Sacra.
Volterra is well known for its Roman remains and it is a fascinating historic town contrasting others like San Gimignano and Lucca.

Site by Freestyle