It could be said that no other province has had more impact on Italian—and European— culture than Tuscany. With its wine-soaked villages, art-rich cities, swathes of olive groves and truffle fields, and modern-fashion powerhouses (Gucci and Ferragamo, to name a few), Tuscany epitomizes la vera Italia. But this central region’s most relevant role will always be as birthplace to the Renaissance, whose presence has been perpetuated over the ages by the Botticelli masterpieces on the Uffizi’s gold-gilded walls and the earthen-toned towers and palaces commanding the region’s storied towns. Travel to Tuscany to walk in the footsteps of history, and let Travel + Leisure’s Tuscany travel guide show you the way.
Things Not to Miss in Tuscany
• An afternoon exploring the vineyards at the Tenuta dell’Ornellaia estate in the coastal region of Maremma, capped off with a tasting of its prized Merlot Masseto.
• Sinking your teeth into a rare bistecca alla fiorentina from famed butcher-cum-tavern Antica Macelleria Cecchini in Chianti (pair it with a glass of local red).
• Admiring the nearly 700-year-old Masaccio frescoes of Adam and Eve that decorate the 14th-century Brancacci chapel in Florence’s Santa Maria del Carmine church.
• Catching a glance of the ever-iconic Leaning Tower in Pisa.
When to Go to Tuscany
Like many of its European neighbors, Tuscany’s tourist season peaks during the summer months and can lead to an uncomfortable mix of high temperatures and crowds. Even then, the weather can vary from region to region in Tuscany, as its mountains and hills tend to remain cooler than its valleys and coastline. Many travelers choose to visit Tuscany during a shoulder season—April and May or October and November—when the province is less crowded.
DON'T MISS
An afternoon exploring the vineyards at the Tenuta dell’Ornellaia estate in the coastal region of Maremma, capped off with a tasting of its prized Merlot Masseto.
Sinking your teeth into a quiveringly rare bistecca allafiorentina from famed butcher-cum-tavern Antica Macelleria Cecchini in Chianti (pair it with a glass of local red).
Admiring the nearly 700-year-old Masaccio frescoes of Adam and Eve that decorate the 14th-century Brancacci chapel in Florence’s Santa Maria del Carmine church.
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