Many have lived their travel bucket list through photos on Pinterest and Instagram, and Tuscany always seems to be at the top of that list. If you’re finally getting the chance to live that dream in real life, then you’ll want to know about the best things to do in Tuscany as you begin to plan your adventure.
Getting to Know Tuscany
We live on a tiny green and blue speck in the ever-expanding, never-ending space that is our universe. Though, it is comparatively just a drop in the ocean of the universe. However, for us, it is a vast world that is just waiting to be explored. Our planet has a great history, and even if we wanted, we could not learn everything that has happened on Earth. Still, there is still a lot of recorded history that piques our interests and feeds our curious little minds. Among the significant places with a rich history of art, engineering, architecture, literature, and legendary men is Tuscany.
A Short History of Tuscany
Situated in Central Italy, the Tuscany region is known for its picturesque landscapes, rich cultural history, artistic legacies, and most importantly for the Renaissance. After the Middle Ages, the fervent period of the European Renaissance was born in the capital Florence of the Tuscany region in Italy. Some of the world’s most famous painters, engineers, artists, and universal geniuses are from Tuscany. Some of these names consist of the likes of Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli, Donatello, Giotto, Pisano, Brunelleschi, Ghiberti, and many many more. The region is home to numerous world-renowned museums and art galleries. There are plenty of churches and cathedrals in the area that hold some of the most precious art pieces of the world.
The Best Things to Do in Tuscany
Although, human-made art is not the only attraction of this “nation within a nation”. The geographical region holds some of the most breathtaking, and diverse natural landscapes of the world. From the rocky Apennine mountains, across the olive groves and vineyards of Chianti, to the beaches on the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea. The best things to do in Tuscany span a variety of places.
The Capital of Tuscany, Florence
The capital of my heart, and also of Italy’s Tuscany region; Florence is one of the most iconic cities in the world. The city will welcome you with the sight of the renowned red dome of the Medieval cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. Moreover, you can find Michelangelo’s sculpture of David in the Galleria dell’Accademia, Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus, and da Vinci’s Annunciation in the Uffizi Gallery along with many other masterpieces of art and literature. The city is home to famed architectural icons of the times, such as, Ponte Vecchio, and Palazzo Pitti that exhibits the works of the great Raphael and Titian.
The Iconic Leaning Tower in Pisa
You may know this city by the iconic Leaning Tower of Pisa. However, this commune has much more to offer than just the cylindrical white marbled bell tower. The Piazza dei Miracoli is also home to the Romanesque Cathedral of Pisa, the cloistered Composanto Monumentale Cemetery, and the Baptistry that is renowned for its acoustics. Furthermore, the city has many graceful, noble palaces and medieval churches li