| Tuscany is one of the most beautiful regions in the | | | | The Poppi Zoo Park is in the Casentino Valley near |
| world. With its stunning rolling hillsides, richly carpeted | | | | the town of Poppi in the province of Arezzo. It is not |
| with beautiful undulating grasslands; the fields of | | | | far from Florence. It's a great day of for the family and |
| glorious sunflowers languishing under the Tuscany sun | | | | gives you the opportunity to get up close and personal |
| amid clear blue skies; the wonderful Apuan Alps with | | | | with some of Europe's animal population. |
| their breathtaking scenery and a superb stretch of | | | | The Grotta Del Vento (The Wind Cave) |
| coastland lying next the Tyrrhenian Sea, Tuscany is an | | | | Situated beneath the Apuan Alps, this geological |
| open invitation to anyone to come and explore this | | | | wonder is part of a series of underground caverns |
| fantastic region of Italy. | | | | and has some marvelous stalactites on view. |
| Some of the best wines in the world come from | | | | The Bargello Museum |
| Tuscany including the famous Chianti. The wonderful | | | | To be found in Florence, this museum has some great |
| climate and the quality soil are absolutely perfect for | | | | Michael Angelo marble sculptures, Bronzes by |
| cultivating red grapes. | | | | Giambologna, and many famous pieces by Donatello, |
| The scenery in the Chiati region is to die for and you | | | | considered by many to be the best sculptor of all time. |
| will find some of the prettiest small towns and villages | | | | The Gothic Cathedral at Siena |
| dotted across the landscape. You can do the | | | | This cathedral is a storehouse of art treasures. It has a |
| renowned Chianti Road drive. It is a beautiful journey | | | | unique marble pavement which just has to be seen, |
| through this dazzlingly beautiful region. It seems like | | | | and the most beautifully crafted interior. |
| every road leads to a vineyard. You will enjoy some | | | | The Leaning Tower of Pisa |
| great wine tasting along the way, stopping off in some | | | | Everybody knows about the Leaning Tower, and no |
| of the most beautiful little villages where you can | | | | trip to Tuscany would be complete without going to |
| sample some Bruchetta, the local toasted bread, | | | | see it for yourself. |
| steeped with the fabulous local olive oil and seasoned | | | | The countryside |
| with garlic and tomato, and of course, a glass of | | | | But you will miss the very best of Tuscany if you don't |
| Chianti, | | | | get out and explore the exquisite countryside. There |
| If you like quality wine and you want to combine it with | | | | are some truly wonderful small towns to visit nestling in |
| stunning views and a slice of historic Italy, visit | | | | the surrounding hills and mountains. But if you are going |
| Montalcino a medieval walled town high in the hills near | | | | to hire a car, and drive yourself, please allow plenty of |
| Sienna. The town is a delight, with its little cobblestone | | | | time. Most of the roads are single track and wind up |
| streets and occasional views of the surrounding rolling | | | | and down, and in and around the hills, but you will be |
| hills glimpsed at the end of tiny alleyways that | | | | treated to some of the most staggering scenery. So, |
| meander across town. The town is home of Brunello | | | | don't rush, simply relax and enjoy, but be sure to put |
| di Montalcino one of the very top quality Italian wnes | | | | the small medieval town of San Gimignano on your list, |
| No trip to Tuscany would of course be complete | | | | it is absolutely gorgeous. |
| without seeing Florence, the cradle of the renaissance. | | | | The countryside boasts an amazing landscape with |
| It's the regular paradise of renaissance Italy, with its | | | | nature parks, natural thermal spas, and some fabulous |
| beautiful museums, splendid palaces, and wonderful | | | | beaches. |
| churches, and a dazzling showcase to some of the | | | | Public transport in Italy is pretty good. The train service |
| architectural genius of Michael Angelo. Some of the | | | | is excellent and quite cheap; it's a great way to travel |
| world's greatest art treasures are housed here, | | | | between the major towns and cities. But if you want |
| including works by the legendary Leonardo Da Vinci. | | | | to get to some of the sights in the hills and mountains, |
| The famous Ponto Vecchio Bridge across the river | | | | you'll either have to drive yourself or you could use the |
| Arno is a sight once seen, never to be forgotten. | | | | local bus services. They're also very good, but just be |
| Here's a snippet of some other places to see and | | | | a little careful about the timing. They don't run so often! |
| things to do: | | | | |