Tuscany

Ah, Toscana! Birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, the region is known for its elaborate art and culture, along with its unspoilt idyll of vineyards, hill towns and olive groves that seem to appear just as they did centuries ago.(It’s a region that’s also known for its amazing selection of unusual places to stay!)

You may be surprised at the plethora of well-known Italian hotspots that reside in Tuscany. Florence is the capital, with its superlative collection of churches, galleries and museums that showcase work by every ancient artistic figure from Giotto to Michelangelo.

Yet you’ll also find Siena and Pisa here, too… the latter with its famous Leaning Tower, and the former boasting a medieval market square – the Piazza del Campo – that radiates with intricate beauty.

The Sienese hill towns are worth visiting, for an authentic taste of rural Tuscany. San Gimignano sports a wondrous parade of frescoes, with a side-order of historic tower houses, that make for a perfect Insta-stay. Though if you prefer your Tuscan break to feel a little more remote, head for Volterra or Pitigliano, instead.

Montepulciano, to the South, is your destination for glorious wines (oh, the wines!), while the minute village of Pienza is a perfectly preserved Renaissance creation that starred as the setting for Zeffirelli’s Romeo and Juliet.

Head to the Maremma region for a snapshot of the Tuscan shoreline, where you can feast on fresh palamita, fish caught within the Tuscan Archipelago National Park. Served with local olive oil, bay leaves, and a glass or two of the region’s famous wine, it’s an indulgent treat for an indulgent stay!