Last year we did a tour around Tuscany, and now I will try to emotionally share the flavor of this special land, not pretending to be a tourist guide but maintaining the surprise for future visitors.

Pisa airport, near the west coast of the peninsula, was the start and end of the trip, performing a circular path clockwise inland. We took several means of transport such as train, car, and bicycle during seven wonderful days enjoying many beautiful towns and landscapes at this important Italian Region whose capital is Firenze (Florence). This time we visited: Lucca, Firenze, San Gimignano, Monteriggioni, Siena, Castellina in Chianti, San Quirico d'Orcia, Bagno Vignoni, Pienza, Montepulciano, Cortona, Arezzo and Pisa. Short distances allow to move fast among towns, so if you can stay longer, you may visit other interesting places like Volterra, Montefioralle, Pitigliano, Giglio Castello, Anghiari, Vinci, Fiesole, Pistoia, Groseto or Empoli. 

Most of these villages are not connected by train, so the best alternative to arrive is a rental car but carefully not to be fined because of the many limitations of movement in the city center. Bicycle choice is a quiet and pleasant way to walk through the narrow streets. A lot of Tuscan inhabitants use bicycle daily on mild slope streets.

Once there, walking the streets we can feel taste of Tuscany: its people, houses, colors, costums and love for nature. Windows tell history, from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance to the present time. While gothic pointed arch around twelfth century shows the magnificence period of towns like Siena, San Gimignano or Monteriggioni, coloring funny and complex shutters made on wood from more recent times, remind us of the strong sunlight of Mediterranean climate.



The walls in Lucca and Monteriggioni, the tall slim towers in San Gimignano, the houses, palaces, government buildings and Piazza dei Campo in Siena and all constructions of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries in Cortona, Arezzo and Firenze, let us feel how people lived and how important this region was in the Middle Ages. Dark period, marked by wars and famine.



However Renaissance is even more important in Tuscany. This artistic period born in Firenze was later extended and taught to the rest of Europe. Santa María dei Fiore (fifteenth century) is considered the first Renaissance building in history, required to visit and take the stairs to the top if you go to Firenze. Pisa Tower also belongs to this style. Artistic and rich period, returning to the classic style of Greece and Rome.


Tuscan cuisine is well known specially for its cheese, wine and meat. You can find natural products recently brought from the market garden at the entrance of shops and restaurants. Tuscan cities are in constant contact with countryside smell and tradition. Besides, if you are an Ice cream lover you will really realized tasty and creamy of Italian ones. Eating pasta is also possible, though Napoles, south of Italy, is the best place for it.