Tuscany Vacation

Tuscany is a region in Central Italy. The region is characterized by hills and mountains. It is frequented by tourists for its beautiful and serene settings and its landscapes appear in many paintings. Six Tuscan locations have been deemed UNESCO protected sites. They include the historic centers of Florence, Siena, San Gimignano, and Pienza, the square of the Cathedral of Pisa and the Val d'Orcia.

1. Leaning Tower of Pisa: Located in northern Tuscany, Pisa is most well-known for the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Due to an insufficient foundation, the tower began to lean when its third floor was constructed around 1178.ref name="About.com"About.com: Pisa</ref>
2. Piazza della Signoria in Florence: This is the most famous piazza in Florence because it is located in the heart of the city's historic center and has been its political center since the Middle Ages. The city's town hall, Palazzo Vecchio, is located in the square.ref name="About.com"About.com: Florence</ref>
3. Il Duomo - Cattedrale de Santa Maria del Fiore: This cathedral is the city's most popular sight. Construction began on the cathedral, which can hold 20,000 people, in 1296.ref name="About.com"About.com: Florence</ref>
4. Galleria degli Uffiz in Florence: This gallery holds the world's most important collection of Renaissance art, but is always crowded. Buy tickets ahead of time to avoid lines. See works by Michelangelo, Giotto, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Perugino, and Raphael.ref name="About.com"About.com: Florence</ref>
5. Santa Croce in Florence: This is the largest Franciscan church in Italy and is the final resting place of Michelangelo and Dante.ref name="About.com"About.com: Florence</ref>
6. San Gimignano: This class medieval, walled town has 14 towers remaining of the original 72. The towers were built by wealthy families to display their prominence. The center of town has been declared a world heritage site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
7. Cortona: This is one of the oldest hill towns in the region and was featured in Francis Mayes' book, Under the Tuscan Sun. Wander the medieval streets described in the book and take in the view of the Tuscan countryside.ref name="About.com"About.com: Cortona</ref>

If planning a trip, please see Tuscany Hotels, Tuscany Restaurants and Tuscany Tours.

• How to Book a Cheap Flight
• How To Book a Cheap Hotel Room
• How to Speak Italian
• Packing Tips

• • The Mahalo Guide To Florence Tours
• Italy Tours: Tuscany Tours
• Italian Travel: Seven Days Around Tuscany
• Viator: Tuscany Tours

• • The Mahalo Guide To Tuscany Hotels
  • The Mahalo Guide To Florence Hotels
• Official Tourism Site: Tuscany Hotels
• Concierge.com: Tuscany Hotels
• Frommer's: Florence, Pisa, Siena and Lucca Hotels
• Fodor's: Tuscany Hotels
• Travel + Leisure: Tuscany Hotels
• TripAdvisor: Tuscany Hotels

• • The Mahalo Guide To Tuscany Restaurants
  • The Mahalo Guide To Florence Restaurants
• Official Tourism Site: Tuscany Dining
• Conciege.com: Tuscany Restaurants
• Frommer's: Florence, Pisa, Siena and Lucca Restaurants
• Fodor's: Tuscany Restaurants
• Travel + Leisure: Tuscany Restaurants

• Gadling: Tuscany Travel Blogs

• Gridskipper: Tuscany

• TripAdvisor: Tuscany Forums

• TravelBlog: Tuscany Travel Blogs

• RealTravel: Tuscany Travel Blogs

• Thorn Tree Forum: Tuscany

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