Tuscany

Tuscany (Italian "Toscana") is a region in central Italy, bordering on Latium to the south, Umbria to the east, Emilia-Romagna and Liguria to the north, and the Tyrrhenian Sea to the west. It is often regarded as among the most beautiful parts of Italy.

Table of contents

1 Points of interest 2 History 3 Provinces of Tuscany 4 Other notable cities 5 Island islands 6 Geographical data

Points of interest

Tuscany was perhaps the region in which the Italian Renaissance produced its best results. The unique artistic patrimony of this region includes architecture, painting and sculpture, collected in dozens of famous museums like the Uffizi in Florence.

Tuscany is also known for its wines (most famous of which are Chianti, Morellino di Scansano and Brunello di Montalcino) and has 120 protected regions (nature reserves).

Notable tourist destinations in Tuscany include Florence, Pisa, Lucca, Maremma (in the Grosseto district), Crete Senesi, and (Siena). Tuscany is currently promoting "agritourism" (Agriturismo), in which visitors stay on working farms.

History

See main article: History of Tuscany

Provinces of Tuscany

• Florence (Firenze), capital town of the region
• Siena
• Grosseto, principal town of Maremma
• Pistoia
• Arezzo
• Lucca
• Massa Carrara
• Livorno
• Pisa
• Prato

Other notable cities

• Empoli
• Castiglione della Pescaia
• Collodi
• San Gimignano
• Montalcino
• Orbetello
• Capalbio
• Piombino

Island islands

• Elba
• Montecristo
• Giannutri
• Giglio
• Pianosa

Geographical data

Area: 22,992 km²

Population (2000): 3,536,392

Population density: 163/km²

Number of administrative areas: 278

External Links:

• some quick facts about Tuscany