A Day in Tuscany

Lucca – Garfagnana – Castelvecchio Pascoli


Lucca is intriguing because you can still imagine it as one of the old city-states of centuries ago. The original urban design has been preserved and is rich with houses, towers, and medieval churches and aristocratic palaces of the renaissance and the 16th century.

Itinerary: The historic center is completely encircled by a wall upon whose ramparts you can now leisurely stroll. Also not to be missed is the entrance to the city at Saint Peter’s Gate; Piazza Napoleon, with the Palace of the Signoria; the meeting hall of the city council, now an art museum. In the Cathedral you will find the tombs of Ilaria dal Carretto and Jacopo della Quercia. In addition, the Church of San Michele in Foro is a typical example of Pisan – Luccan architecture. And not to be missed is the Market Place where the surrounding houses are built on the remains of a Roman Amphitheater.

From Lucca one can make an excursion along Garfagnana Valley that had among its governors the poet Ludovico Ariosto. The valley has many small towns and an interesting art history, particularly Castelvecchio Pascoli. The poet Giovanni Pascoli whose celebrated collection of poetry, the Songs of Castelvecchio, is named for this town.

Siena

You find the city of Siena located in the heart of an area known as the Siena Hills. It became prosperous in Medieval times through banking and commercials companies, many of which are still in operation today. The historic center flows over various levels – all surmounted by public monuments. Historic Siena, which is completely surrounded by a wall, can be entered through one of the many gates of the city.

The itinerary begins at the Fontebranda Gate near which you’ll find the Church of Saint Domenic associated to the cult of Saint Catherine of Siena, Patron Saint of Italy. The nearby sanctuary is beside her house. In the Piazza del Campo, famous for the Palio, you’ll see the Town Hall, the Tower of Mangia, the Cathedral, and the Chigi Palace, the seat of an important music academy. The streets of Banchi di Sopra e di Sotto are lined with the most important houses of the city and are where you will find the most sought after shops. From Siena one can make excursions to reach other evocative towns such as San Quirico d’Orcia, a typical Medieval city, Buonconvento, facing Montalcino in the heart of the unusual Sienese crete. As well as San Geminiano, Colle Val d’Elsa and Contignano, all jewel-like towns situated in the surrounding hills.

Arezzo

Arezzo is situated on the hills overlooking the plain where the Arno, Casentino and Chiana valleys come together. The center of town, a well preserved urban landscape, is rich with art and medieval history.

The itinerary starts on Piazza della Republica directly in front of the train station. It continues up to the center of the city along Via Guido Monaco, named after Guido d’Arezzo the inventor of modern music’s pentagram system. At Piazza del Popolo you’ll find the Church of Badia formerly the Benedictine church of Cassinesi, the Church of Saint Francis with Piero della Francesca’s fresco cycle, the Legend of the Cross, and Pieve di Santa Maria. From there to Piazza Grande, home of the antique show and it’s loggia by Vasari, then on to Palazzo Pretorio, the Fortress and the Cathedral. Around Arezzo, Monte San Savino is interesting for it’s renaissance art provided by the Signoria of the Ubertini as well as Castle Garzone. Throughout the area you’ll find small towns nestled on the hillsides with old stone houses, all within their own city walls.

Pistoia

You find Pistoia on the plains of Ombrone, high in the Tosco-Emiliano Apennines. Surrounded by a quadrilateral stone wall, the city includes notable buildings, medieval sculpture and interesting churches in the Pisan Romanesque style.

The itinerary begins at Piazza Leonardo da Vinci situated between the train station and the Public Park of the Fortress of Santa Barbara. From there you easily arrive at the Piazza del Duomo, with its tall bell tower, Baptistry, Podesta Palace and Town Hall. From the main square you can reach all quarters of town each one rich with churches, palaces and museums – all meriting a visit.
Florence

Florence is the capital of Tuscany and until the middle of the 17th century was the seat of the dukedom of the Medici family followed by that of the Lorena family. For a brief time it was even the capital of Italy. Because of this special history it is a real and true metropolis with monuments worthy of a capital and a proud and aristocratic citizenry.

The itinerary begins at the Signoria and takes you to Palazzo Pitti the residence of the Grand Dukes, complete with its large Boboli Gardens, both situated on the opposite side of the Arno from the historic center of town. These are reached by crossing the Ponte Vecchio, above which runs a corridor connecting Palazzo Pitti with Palazzo Vecchio, the seat of government, enabling the Lords to travel between the two without descending to the street. The heart of the historic center of the city is via Calzaiuoli which connects the Piazza della Signoria with the Cathedral. Along this itinerary you’ll find the Uffizi Gallery; the Loggia dei Lanzi; the Town Hall; the “boar” market; Orsanmichele with its striking statuary; the Baptistry, and the Cathedral of Santa Maria dei Fiori, famous for Brunelleschi’s Dome and the Bell Tower of Giotto. Other side itineraries include Santa Maria Novella; Santa Croce, with tombs of illustrious Italians and a chapel with frescoes by Giotto; the Monastery of Saint Mark with the works of Fra Angelico; Santa Maria Annunziata with its renaissance orphanage, the Hospital of the Innocents; San Lorenzo with the tombs of the Grand Dukes and the Vinciana Library which houses works by Leonardo Da Vinci. A visit to the city could end with a walk to Piazza Michelangelo, or the Belvedere Fort, from where you can see a beautiful panorama of all Florence and its surrounding hills.

Grosseto – Scansano

Grosseto is the principal city of maritime Tuscany, with an active agricultural market as well as industry connected to that production. Its small historic center is enclosed by a notable 16th century hexagonal wall whose corner ramparts have been transformed into gardens and pedestrian zones connected by walkways. You enter the historic center via the New Gate or the Old Gate and find the Churches of Saint Peter, Saint Francis and the Cathedral and the Medicea Fortress all worthy of a visit. In addition, there is the Town Hall, an archeological museum, and a highly regarded Theatre of Industry. From Grosseto you can travel to one of the most beautiful destinations in the region, the Baths of Saturnia, plus the Etruscan and Roman ruins of Roselle and Sovana. Marina di Grosseto, with picturesque pine woods leads on to Scansano and Roccalbegna, agricultural center with notable medieval remains. And from Monte Amiata you can reach the port of Saint Stephen on the promontory of the Argentario.