TUSCANY

Tuscany is found to the north-west of central Italy and is one of the most popular, and most beautiful, parts of the country.

It contains the renaissance masterpiece city - Florence - and several other very fine cities and towns such as Lucca, Arezzo, Cortona and Siena. The famous leaning tower is of course found at Pisa, to the west of the region.

But it is not just the fine cities that attract visitors to Tuscany. The countryside is exceptionally beautiful, with rolling countryside (although parts are more mountainous) interspersed with pretty villages and the famous cypress trees of the region.

To the north of the region lies the Garfagnana valley, a lovely fertile valley perfect for hiking and cycling, with the renowned quarries of Carrara a little to the west.

Heading south along the coast towards Pisa and Lucca, the art nouveau town of Viareggio is worthy of a visit, and opera lovers will want to visit Torre del Lago Puccini, the home of the great opera composer.

Inland from here, heading towards Florence, you can visit Vinci, the birthplace of Leonardo da Vinci; some interesting historical buildings at Pistoia and Prato; and the smaller towns of Artimino and San Miniato. The town of Fiesole, a little north of Florence, well merits a detour.

Heading south through central Tuscany towards Siena, the highlights include San Gimignano - a 13th century town with an excess of medieval towers, and the attractive hilltop town of Volterra. The stunning walled town at Monteriggioni should not be missed. The renowned Chianti wine region is found between Florence and Siena.

The region to the east of Siena has numeous highlights, including the active town at Arezzo and the magnificent freso in the Church of San Francesco. The very scenic town of Cortona is also in this region.

Also demanding a visit you will find Sansepolcro and, Montepulciano, and the smaller villages of Pienza and Montalcino. The barren lanscapes of the Crete Senesi region provide an interesting contrast.

Heading back towards the coast of southern Tuscany, you pass the fine abbey ruins at San Galgano and the interesting historic centre of Massa Marittima. The island of Elba, forever linked with Napoleon, is off the coast here.

The Natural park of Maremma and its beautiful scenery of the coast here lead on to the nature reserve of Monte Argentario and, inland, the fine villages at Pitigliano and Sovana.