Sightseeing in Tuscany - what to see. Complete travel guide

Travelers associate Tuscany with beautiful parks, Roman thermae and cozy Italian towns, each of which stores a lot of secrets and ancient legends.

It would take at least a week to explore all the galleries and museums of Florence, the capital of Tuscany. The city has carefully preserved beautiful historic buildings; many of them are open exhibition centers. There is also one of the most scenic parks in the world, Boboli Gardens. The must-see destination is the Tower of Pisa. In Siena you can not only enjoy unique architectural monuments of the Middle Ages, but also visit the famous Palio horse race. In the vicinity of Siena there are several attractive towns and villages.

The town of San Gimignano is often called the ‘city of towers;’ not far from it there is a place of indescribable beauty, Orcia Valley. Vano Vignoni is famous due to ancient Roman thermae; you can see the thermal pool even in the downtown instead of the traditional square or park. You could find nice hotels in rural areas; they appeal to those who love to relax outdoors and those devoting a lot of time to hiking. Bicycle is the most popular mode of transport among tourists traveling around cities of Tuscany. While walking you can explore all the interesting places and enjoy the scenery of the place.

Visits to vineyards in Tuscany are very popular; there are several major centers of wine production. There are restaurants and wineries close to vineyards, where you can taste the best wines and buy a couple of bottles as souvenirs. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Viareggio situated on the coast is the center of entertainment. Fans of nightlife, noisy parties, luxury restaurants and hotels would enjoy time there. Shoppers also won’t be bored, as they could find a variety of shopping malls and trendy boutiques in the city. In Cortona you can distract from the hustle and bustle of the city and immerse yourself in a harmonious atmosphere of the Middle Ages. Beautiful palaces, cathedrals and castles are main attractions of this charming Italian city. Tuscany is a haven for curious tourists eager for new experiences and discoveries.

Tuscany is famous for luxurious beach resorts. The elite resort of Versilia really attracts the most demanding tourists. It is famous for its high-level service. At the coast of the resort, there is one of the most upscale hotels in the region. Its main competitor is the resort of Forte dei Marmi that will impress you with lots of luxurious hotels and entertainments. Despite the fact that these beach resorts are some of the richest in the region, a lot of travelers always visit it in the middle of the tourist season.

Picturesque beaches located in the surroundings of Livorno and the enchanting beaches of Monte Argentario are more popular with thrifty tourists. The true local attraction is the beach of Rosignano. This is the only beach with white sand in Europe that resembles the Caribbean beaches. Not far from the coast, there is the big soda factory, which activity has influenced the color of sand. It is important to note that this factory does not cause any environmental damage on local beaches.

At the resorts of Tuscany Riviera, there are upscale water sports centers. It is interesting to vacation here for those who have long dreamed about mastering the diving skills. More experienced sportsmen will be certainly impressed by the resort of Elba. There are excellent diving sites for experienced divers. Many experienced divers prefer diving near the islands of Giannutri and Giglio. The latter is famous for the Costa Concordia ship wrecking several years ago here. It has not been lifted above yet. Now, the ship is very popular with divers.

Tuscany is a favorite place of gourmets too. National restaurants and colorful markets will really impress all the tourists. In Tuscan restaurants, the visitors can taste several types of juicy beefsteak cooked only over an open fire. You can also taste many popular national dishes in local markets. Seafood and different inexpensive legumes are offered in small cafes. An important attribute of the national cuisine is pizza. Also, incredibly delicious bread is baked and popular wines are produced here.