Italy · City Guide
Tuscany
Tuscany is the Italian region that has most captured the world's imagination, a landscape of rolling hills, cypress trees, medieval hill towns, outstanding wine and one of the greatest concentrations of art and architecture in the world. From the Val d'Orcia and the hilltop towns of Montepulciano and Pienza to the wine cellars of Brunello di Montalcino and the medieval towers of San Gimignano, Tuscany offers an Italian experience of incomparable beauty and depth.
Elect's take
"Tuscany is the Italian region I could happily spend a lifetime exploring. The combination of the Val d'Orcia landscape, the extraordinary wine culture, the medieval hill towns and the quality of the food creates something that I find consistently moving and always rewarding."
The Val d'Orcia is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of extraordinary landscape beauty, a rolling valley of wheat fields, cypress lanes and Renaissance hill towns that has defined the visual image of Tuscany for centuries. The hilltop towns of Montepulciano, Montalcino, Pienza, Cortona and Volterra each have their own distinct character and rewards. The wine culture of Tuscany is exceptional: Brunello di Montalcino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and the Super Tuscans of the Maremma and Bolgheri represent some of the world's most celebrated wines. The white truffles of San Miniato and the bistecca fiorentina are outstanding gastronomic experiences.
Best time to visit
How to get there
What to expect
Val d'Orcia
A UNESCO World Heritage landscape of rolling hills, cypress lanes and medieval hill towns.
Hill Towns
Outstanding medieval towns including Montepulciano, Montalcino, Pienza and Volterra.
Tuscan Wine
Brunello di Montalcino, Vino Nobile and Super Tuscans among Italy's finest wines.
Tuscan Cuisine
Bistecca fiorentina, ribollita, pici and the finest white truffles in Italy at San Miniato.
Renaissance Heritage
An extraordinary concentration of Renaissance art and architecture across the region.
Olive Oil
Some of Italy's finest extra virgin olive oil produced across the Tuscan hills.
