FLORENCE AND TUSCANY HOTELS
SO MUCH HAS BEEN WRITTEN in praise of Tuscany that first-time visitors could be forgiven for wondering if the reality can possibly live up to the hype. But quiz them on their return, and they’ll almost certainly tell you the real Tuscany was even better.
Tailor-made for a cultural odyssey, Tuscany can’t be beaten for its wealth of art treasures and history. It’s also bursting with vineyards, ancient stone farmhouses and those classic rolling hills topped by graceful villas. This really is Italy with all its bells and whistles.
Rather like a rich plum pudding, Florence dazzles with its glittering Renaissance jewels. The Duomo is unmissable, soaring above the terracotta rooftops just as it did back in medieval times. Then there is Michelangelo’s David, towering as high as a double-decker bus (and recently spring cleaned), in the Galleria dell’Accademia.
Palazzo Pitti houses magnificent works by Tintoretto, Botticelli and Raphael, while Palazzo Strozzi is the setting for some of Florence’s top exhibitions. And the crème de la crème is the Uffizi, where you could spend literally days gazing at works by Michelangelo, Botticelli, Titian and Italy’s other grand masters.
If this feast of art and history threatens a little cultural overload, you can always enjoy some retail therapy along Via Tornabuoni, jostling with designer stores. Spanning the River Arno since the 13th century, the famous Ponte Vecchio is another little shopping hotspot – though boutiques selling gold and gems have long since replaced the butchers and tanners of olden days.
A forest of towers pierces the skyline of San Gimignano, where you can take in the the frescoed Duomo and have a wander through the town’s narrow streets. Crowning a hilltop with far-reaching views, Montepulciano is another must-see, with its high-sided 15th century streets and wonderful churches. Also worth a stop is Monteriggioni, a storybook castle-hamlet whose medieval walls are topped by 14 towers.
Siena is another cultural must, dominated by Tuscany’s tallest tower and another dazzling Duomo, not to mention the vast Il Campo. This glorious square is the home of Torre del Mangia, and you can climb all 503 steps for an unmissable view of the city’s rose-coloured rooftops.
Montalcino is also a must in any grand Tuscan tour (it’s also the place to imbibe full-bodied local Brunello wines) together with medieval Cortona (setting for the classic Under the Tuscan Sun), while Lucca, closer to the coast, is a wonderful place to finish up. The city walls are now a tree-lined esplanade, while the town itself is a picture of lovely squares and churches. You can always do a sidetrip to check out Pisa and its famous leaning tower.
Of course some would say that you don’t need to gorge on this feast of cultural treasures to enjoy a trip to Tuscany. Sitting on the terrace of one of the region’s fabulous hotels with a chilled glass of Soave, looking out over that timeless vista of rolling hills, vineyards, cypress trees and honey-coloured stone, is pretty well guaranteed to hit the spot.
