Skip menu

This content was automatically translated. View the original text.

powered by google

Find out more
Lucca

Tuscany

Lucca

Lucca, Tuscany
Unmissable sites Events City Region Map

Explore Lucca and its treasures: from walls to towers, along with fine dining

One of Tuscany regional seats, Lucca is a city with a long history, but also a bustling cultural centre full of major events. Famous for its perfectly preserved 16th century city walls, it is characterised by many precious monuments that reveal its past as the most important city of the Italian Middle Ages.

  • In evidenza
Cultural cities
Lucca and the embrace of its mighty walls

Lucca and the embrace of its mighty walls

In its historic centre, important mediaeval churches, the imposing Renaissance walls that encircle it, and which are a kind of long elevated garden, the 18th-century patrician palaces and the large 19th-century squares, avenues and alleyways full of beautiful shops and places where the pace of life is always relaxed, coexist in total harmony.
4 minutes
Nature
Visiting the Chianti Valley

Visiting the Chianti Valley

Chianti, the area of rolling hills stretching between Florence and Siena, Arezzo and the hills of Pisa, has long been considered the “heart of Tuscany”. Its splendid landscape is dotted with dense vineyards, chestnut forests, oaks and maples, attractive medieval villages, romantic castles and charming colonial farmhouses. It is also the birthplace of one of the world’s most famous red wines: Chianti.
4 minutes
Spirituality
The Via Francigena in Tuscany: where time seems to have stopped

The Via Francigena in Tuscany: where time seems to have stopped

The Via Francigena in Tuscany takes travellers through a number of villages, towns and cities rich in art and history, often almost unchanged over time and set in extraordinary landscapes: 5 places you shouldn't miss along the way.
2 minutes
Food and wine
Photo by: Flavia Cori

Tuscan street food

As soon as you find a street vendor selling street food, you’re in luck! The traditional food of this region is sure to tickle your taste buds, as the Tuscans themselves, the first fans of these delicacies sold on every street corner, can vouch for. Here are some that you absolutely must try.
3 minutes
Art and culture
Cities of art, beautiful landscapes and good food: Tuscany is every tourist's dream destination

Cities of art, beautiful landscapes and good food: Tuscany is every tourist's dream destination

Tuscany, the pearl of central Italy on the beautiful Tyrrhenian coast, is a trove of unique historical treasures: from cities of art to picturesque villages, breathtaking panoramas, pastoral countryside and magnificent islands. Rich and surprising, Tuscany can enchant like few other places can.
5 minutes
Tours and experiences
Tuscany by car surrounded by nature, art and unique flavors

Tuscany by car surrounded by nature, art and unique flavors

For centuries, Tuscany has charmed any "outsiders" with its timeless beauty, which in full display in the images, films, photo galleries and social profiles across the world, is known to travelers everywhere. Landscapes that are a parade of hills, valleys, and highlands all the way to the sea, ever changing with the changing of the seasons, passing from the triumph of summer and the immense expanses of sunflower fields everywhere, to the warm shades of autumn, when the leaves bring in their romantic, melancholic tones. Our tour in the discovery of the wonders of Tuscany can only start from Florence: a couple of days in the city of Dante are a must, there are so many things to do and see. After having filled the spirit with the beauty of Florence, you are ready to discover the Tuscany of villages, vineyards, countryside, and the many DOC and IGP products that you will meet along the way.
7 minutes
City

A Tuscan jewel surrounded by imposing walls

Built on a plain on the left bank of the Serchio river, it is one of the most renowned Italian art cities: Lucca is a popular destination thanks to its historic centre rich in monuments, palaces and churches, the important cultural events it hosts each year, and its delightful gastronomic tradition.

Learn more
1600X1600_piazza_san_martino_lucca
Florence Massa-Carrara Lucca Pistoia Prato Pisa Arezzo Livorno Siena Grosseto
1145040590
Florence

For over a millennium, Florence has been a global icon of beauty. Even its lesser-known neighbourhoods are a delight. The cradle of the Renaissance and the world capital of art in the 15th century, it boasts one of the oldest historic centres and some of the most famous museums in the world, as well as one of the most iconic and distinctive landscapes as far as the eye can see. Everything in Florence is spectacular: from the shops to the streets that lead to the hills overlooking the most touristy areas, from the most authentic and popular neighbourhoods, just outside the historic centre, to the monuments that exhibit its soul.

Discover
Massa-Carrara
Massa-Carrara

Tuscan villages, among quarries and the Apennines The province of Massa-Carrara is waiting to be discovered. Nestled between the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, the Apuan Alps and the Ligurian Sea, it offers nature, history, art, and fine food and wine. Don’t miss Carrara, the world capital of marble. You can enter the living heart of the mountain and touch the raw material worked by masters like Michelangelo and Canova. Continuing along the Apuan Riviera, you can enjoy the unique spectacle of the sea just a stone’s throw from the mountains. We recommend visiting the centre of Marina di Massa, bursting with Art Nouveau villas. North of the province lies Lunigiana, an ancient land, rich in history and traditions. The hilly landscape is dotted with castles and picturesque villages. A typical product of the area is Lardo di Colonnata PGI, a cured lard you can taste while strolling through the centre of towns like Pontremoli. Ufficio Informazioni e Accoglienza Turistica Via Porta Fabbrica, 1 – 54100 – Massa (MS) tel. +39 0585 490561

Discover
Discover
Pistoia
Pistoia

A land for all tastes The province of Pistoia is diversity and beauty. From the plains to the famous spas, to the mountains with its renowned ski slopes of Abetone and Val di Luce. A landscape that is always different and always rich, between historical and medieval villages and places of interest. The beating heart of Tuscany, the area is also known for the cultivation of plants and flowers popular throughout the world, thanks to the long nursery tradition carried on from generation to generation. Another feather in the cap of this area are the most renowned handmade chocolate companies in Italy and beyond. Of ancient foundation, Pistoia is a city that knows how to amaze lovers of history, art and traditions. Dubbed the “enchanted stone city”, it offers routes dotted with churches, cloisters, palaces, museums and monuments leading to the Piazza del Duomo. An obligatory stop at the Cathedral of San Zeno and, for a truly evocative experience, Pistoia Sotterranea. The thermal baths of Montecatini and Monsummano are popular destinations for medical tourism and boast waters with beneficial effects. Sports lovers will be spoilt for choice among skiing facilities, hiking trails and adrenaline attractions such as the Suspension Bridge of San Marcello Pistoiese, about 227 metres and at a height of 36 metres over a riverbed. What’s certain is that, sitting at a table in these parts, among oil, cold cuts, cheese and wine, you will never leave the table with an empty stomach.

Discover
Prato
Prato

Prato is a lively city, which has been able to integrate elements of its ancient origins from the Etruscans, through to the Middle Ages into its contemporary age. It is a melting pot of cultures, in recent years it has increased its population by opening up to different ethnic groups that coexist in full integration. Famous throughout the world for its textile production, active since medieval times, Prato plays a very important role in the world of fashion. Its center is rich in history, you can visit the Emperor's Castle, built by order of Frederick II of Swabia, the only example of Frederick architecture in central-northern Italy. Piazza Duomo houses the Cathedral of Santo Stefano where the Donatello and Michelozzo Pulpit stands out at the right end of the facade. Inside there are splendid frescoes by Filippo Lippi. Other works by these extraordinary artists are kept in the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo. Wandering through the center you can visit Palazzo Datini and Palazzo Pretorio, the Basilica of Santa Maria delle Carceri by Giuliano da Sangallo, the churches of San Francesco, San Domenico, Sant'Agostino and the Spirito Santo. Samples dating back from the 5th century to the present day are preserved in the Textile Museum. The building that houses it, is a monument of industrial archeology, the only 19th century production complex still existing within the medieval walls . The surrounding area is populated by historic villages erected on settlements from the Roman era. It is an area of ​​ancient culture and traditions, a varied world to discover.

Discover
Pisa
Pisa

The rich city of “Miracles” with the leaning tower, Pisa retains the charm of its ancient Maritime Republic past. Pisa is a wonderful tourist destination in the centre of Tuscany, an open-air museum but also a lively city, full of events and teeming with young people attending the university Normale di Pisa. With its rich cuisine and many historical monuments, it is a city to be rediscovered using all the senses.

Discover
Arezzo
Arezzo

Ancient cradle of treasures and great artists Arezzo stands on a hilltop in southeastern Tuscany, overlooking four valleys: Valtiberina, Casentino, Valdarno and Valdichiana. The city dates back to the time of the founding of Alexandria in Egypt, as evidenced by the discovery of stone tools and the so-called “Man of the Elm” from the Palaeolithic period. Under the Romans, thanks to its position along Via Cassia, it became a centre of strategic importance, a hub of flourishing economic activity, the remains of which we can still admire today. When walking around Arezzo, we recommend visiting the Gothic-style Cathedral, with its stunning stained-glass windows by Marcillat and the restored fresco of Mary Magdalene by Piero della Francesca. Also worth visiting are the splendid Pieve di S. Maria Romanesque parish church, Piazza Grande with the Logge Vasari, the Palazzo della Fraternita dei Laici with its façade by Bernardo Rossellino, the picturesque medieval tower-houses, and the church of S. Domenico with the Crucifix painted by Cimabue. Not forgetting the Palazzo del Comune, Casa Petrarca and Palazzo Pretorio. Many famous people were born in Arezzo, including architect and art historian Giorgio Vasari, poet Francesco Petrarca, music theorist Guido Monaco, and in nearby Caprese, Michelangelo Buonarroti. The centre of Arezzo was badly damaged during World War II, but this made it the perfect set for key scenes in Roberto Benigni’s Oscar-winning film Life Is Beautiful. As you walk through, you can glimpse sets and experience atmospheres straight out of the big screen. If you arrive by car, you can park in one of the car parks outside the walls, which are connected to the historic centre by pedestrian walkways and escalators.

Discover
Livorno
Livorno

Livorno is one of the most vibrant maritime cities in Tuscany. Originally a village on the edge of the ancient and now deserted Pisan port, the town later came under Visconti and Genoese domination before being acquired by Florence in the 15th century. Livorno underwent major developments when Cosimo I de' Medici decided to make it the main port of the Grand Duchy. The renovation project was entrusted to none other than Buontalenti, to whom we owe the configuration of the historic centre as a fortified city and the construction of the New Fortress, which was built a short distance from the Old Fortress of the Pisan era. Unfortunately, Livorno experienced heavy bombing during World War II, which resulted in very little of the central core being spared. Post-war reconstruction significantly changed the appearance of the old city despite efforts to preserve the aesthetic value of the 18th-century district of Venezia Nuova, which today can be considered the "true" historic centre. The district's name comes from its canals, which connect it to the port and make it resemble a small Venice. The city experienced great artistic and cultural activity between the 19th and 20th centuries, being the birthplace of the likes of Pietro Mascagni, Giovanni Fattori, Amedeo Modigliani and Leonetto Cappiello, to name but a few. Livorno is now a popular tourist destination, mainly due to the many beaches of the Costa degli Etruschi that meander southwards from the city. There are also many city attractions, including the Mascagni Terrace, the seventeenth-century cathedral of St Francis and the baroque church of St Catherine.

Discover
Siena
Siena

Between medieval tradition and natural spas A charming town in the heart of Tuscany, Siena preserves its medieval historical centre intact. In Piazza del Campo, one breathes an atmosphere of times gone by. This is where the Palazzo Pubblico and the Torre del Mangia face, and every year, between 2 July and 16 August, the traditional Palio, an equestrian competition between the city's neighbourhoods, held every year, between 2 July and 16 August. Don't miss the Cathedral dedicated to the Assumption, with its black and white polychrome façade and its floor full of esoteric symbols. Inside you can admire statues by Michelangelo and frescoes by Pinturicchio. The sinuous hills surrounding Siena contain countless natural and architectural treasures, all waiting to be discovered. Starting with San Gimignano, known for its towers soaring into the sky. For a break in traditional food and wine, stop in San Quirico d'Orcia, Montalcino and Montepulciano. Take a moment to relax in the waters of Rapolano Terme, Bagno Vignoni and Bagni di San Filippo. Their natural thermal baths are the ideal destination for those in search of relaxation. Did you know that the legendary sword in the stone really exists and is located right near Siena? You will find it at the Abbey of San Galgano, a basilica without its roof but which preserves its outer walls intact.

Discover
Grosseto
Grosseto

The green heart of the Maremma Grosseto is one of the few Tuscan cities with its medieval defensive walls intact. From above, the Medici Walls form an irregular hexagon, with six arrow-shaped corner bastions, running along a 3-kilometre-long perimeter. Don’t miss the Passeggiata Verde (Green Walk), in the shade of the vegetation planted along and on the Walls. Beyond the beautiful historic centre of the capital, the Province of Grosseto is full of surprises. Firstly, it is home to one of Italy’s most beautiful natural parks: the Maremma Regional Park, a habitat for countless species of birds and mammals, bathed by the waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea to the east. There are also plenty of places of cultural interest, including the Vie Cave Etrusche: Etruscan-built roadways that wind their way through the rock, which you can visit in the area that covers the municipalities of Sorano, Sovana and Pitigliano. The local cuisine upholds Tuscan tradition, with cured meats, full-bodied red wines and egg pasta. A speciality, typical of the lower Maremma, worth trying is bottarga di Orbetello, produced only in the lagoon area and obtained exclusively by drying the ovarian sacs of the mullet.

Discover

Save your favorite places

Create an account or log in to save your wishlist

Do you already have an account?

Ops! An error occurred while sharing your content. Please accept profiling cookies to share the page.