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The Basilica of Santa Croce, built beginning in 1294, is the largest Franciscan church in the world. In the Gothic style, it houses numerous tombs of notable figures such as Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, Rossini, Foscolo, and Vittorio Alfieri, as well as a cenotaph in honor of Dante. The church preserves remarkable frescoes by Giotto and […]
San Miniato is a town of character perched on a hill, located in the Arno Valley, at the bottom of the Val d’Elsa, between Florence and Pisa, on the Via Francigena.It is known for the white truffle typical of its lands. In the Middle Ages, the village was called San Miniato al Tedesco, Otto I […]
Montecchio Vesponi is a small village in the province of Arezzo. Its castle dominates a hill overlooking the Val di Chiana. Its appearance is severe, with its tower of 30 meters high. The walls have eight turrets, for a length of 263 meters, with a dungeon. On the walls, we find traces of peasant houses […]
Presentation 30 kilometres from Florence, the Castle of Sammezzano is an unexpected place, created by an original marquis, Ferdinando Panciatichi Ximenes d’Aragona, from a noble Florentine family that modeled the building in the nineteenth century. It has become an amazing oriental style castle evoking India, China and Arabia, with colorful interiors, esoteric symbols, and Arab […]
A few kilometres from Montepulciano, Chianciano Terme is a modern spa town with numerous thermal facilities and spas, close to the old medieval village of Chianciano crowned by a promontory. It is not very touristy, and very pleasant to discover. Chianciano The Chianciano village was Etruscan and Roman. In the old town, there are beautiful […]
The lower part of the Val d’Elsa is in the province of Florence, the upper part being in that of Siena. The landscape is marked by beautiful hills, often with cereal crops. Its most interesting towns are Certaldo, Empoli which is the largest town, and San Miniato further downstream in the province of Pisa. Certaldo, […]
Sovana is a small, charming and pleasant village with only 500 inhabitants, but it has a long history. The houses are distributed along a long street from the remains of the fortress to the cathedral through Piazza del Pretorio. Restored in the twentieth century, it has become one of the most beautiful villages of Tuscany, […]
Sarteano is a village located between the Val d’Orcia and the Val di Chiana, few visited by tourists. Its castle is the main attraction, with the archaeological museum also very interesting that documents the Etruscan tombs of the surroundings. Its territory has been occupied since the Neolithic, as evidenced by the discoveries in the Bear […]
Castiglion Fiorentino is a small town in Tuscany of Etruscan origin, where live nearly 13,000 souls, located on a hill between Cortona and Arezzo. It preserves a medieval center, the pretty central square Piazza del Municipio with its balcony, the ancient walls, and on the acropolis of the Cassero dating back to the Etruscan medieval […]
What things to discover in the beautiful medieval city of Volterra? First its very suggestive streets, hoping that there are not too many people and fans of Twilight (usually concentrated in the center), then the acropolis, beautiful panoramas, the enclosure, secondary churches, and a remarkable Etruscan museum. See also at the end of page Read […]
Siena deserves plenty of days to measure its charm. However, it is not a very large city and two days can be enough to bring back beautiful memories. Piazza del Campo is the highlight of the show, an incomparable shell-shaped square surrounded by its medieval palaces, including the Palazzo Pubblico and the tall and beautiful […]
Presentation of the most beautiful places in Pistoia, squares and monuments, with the Also read the overview of Piazza del Duomo in Pistoia The Piazza del Duomo is the main square of the city, in the heart of Pistoia, its religious and civil center. It is one of the most beautiful squares in Tuscany. Its […]
You can spend half a day at Pisa if you only visit the Square of Miracles, but it would be a shame not to discover the rest of the city. The historic centre along the borgo or the Piazza dei Cavalieri, the banks of the Arno, and its beautiful churches are just some of the […]
The historic centre of Pienza is quite small and flat, as part of a beautiful walk through its narrow streets, also following its large promenade that offers a splendid view over the hills dominated by the village. Corso Rossellini in Pienza You enter Pienza in the west through the Porta di Prato (or Porta al […]
Here is a presentation of the most beautiful sites in Montepulciano, most located in the medieval historic center, in order of preference. This page completes the See also at the end of page Historic centre The historic centre of Montepulciano is medieval and Renaissance, with suggestive alleys and stairs that wind between beautiful stone buildings […]
Lucca is a pleasant and welcoming city, whose beautiful historic center, clean and orderly, is protected by a vast 16th century enclosure. Among its must-see places, the Piazza dell’Anfiteatro recalls the Roman past of the city having kept the physiognomy of the ancient building. Other beautiful squares are in front of the remarkable churches including […]
The promontory of the Argentario attracts tourists for its various qualities such as the marine environment, the mild climate, the beautiful coasts, the village of Porto Ercole, or its pleasant hinterland appreciated for hiking or mountain biking whose summit reaches 635 meters. Once an island, it is now a peninsula in front of the Orbetello […]
Built on a hill between 500 and 600 metres above sea level, Cortona preserves a unique medieval centre rich in alleys, cobbled streets, ancient palaces and churches, with beautiful panoramas over the surrounding area. It has kept its medieval walls, including Etruscan and Roman portions. The heart of the city is the Piazza della Repubblica […]
Here are some ideas, sorted by relative preference, for a visit of Arezzo, which can be seen over a whole day, or better yet over a weekend. The historic centre preserves beautiful monuments, churches, palaces and museums. See also at the end of page And read the presentation page of Piazza Grande in Arezzo The […]
Easily find accommodation on Elba Island among nearly 500 structures, including apartments and houses, guest rooms and B&Bs, agritourism, etc
The island of Elba, in the Tuscan Archipelago, offers a wide variety of beaches, ranging from long stretches of fine sand to small coves with pebbles or black sand. Some beaches are easily accessible from the main villages, while others require access by footpaths or boat. The waters are generally clear, with seabeds suitable for […]
The interactive map of the island of Elba highlights the main towns and villages, the most popular beaches, as well as remarkable natural and cultural sites, mountains and others.
Portoferraio, the capital of Elba Island, is a small town with multiple charms, combining historical heritage, port activity, and natural beauty. A former Medici fortress, the town is dominated by several imposing bastion complexes such as Forte Falcone and Forte Stella. It also houses the Napoleonic residences, reflecting its historical role. Its pebble beaches, bathed […]
Around Portoferraio, there is a mix of rocky coves, small sandy or pebble beaches, and hills covered with Mediterranean vegetation. The northern coast, towards Enfola and Sansone, includes some of the island’s most beautiful beaches. It is characterized by cliffs and secluded beaches, accessible by trails, ideal for enjoying the clear sea. To the south, […]
Marciana, perched on the slopes of Monte Capanne, is one of the oldest villages on the island of Elba. Its stone houses, medieval streets, and Pisan fortress reflect its strategic role. Surrounding it are the thermal village of Poggio, the seaside resort of Marciana Marina, and the trail leading to the Sanctuary of the Madonna […]
