Properties In Tuscany

About Tuscany

About Tuscany
Tuscany's Economy
Related Links about Tuscany

Tuscany is a charmed land, equally blessed by the genius of man and nature, and often by the combined efforts of both. Think of the vineyards: rows of baby green vines that manage somehow to march in arrow-straight formation up the gently rolling hillsides, bounded by single files of darker green cypress trees, snaking sandy roads leading to rust-coloured farmhouses and moss-coated castles, symmetrically rounded hilltops surmounted by towns so homogeneous as to seem one single building. Every inch of land has been sculpted, first by the elements and then by generations of inhabitants whose goals were always twofold: make the land produce as much as possible, make the land as beautiful as possible.

Tuscany is as enchanting as ever in that it still holds together as a region, whether it is the tiniest of hamlets off the beaten track or the glorious city of Florence. For living proof, just take a short walk along the sides of the Belvedere in Florence and you will be transported to a different world away the traffic and hustle and bustle of city life, and suddenly find yourself strolling down quiet lanes bounded by tall stone walls, cypress trees and creamy-colored villas.
We are proud to offer you the opportunity to turn this fantasy into reality, by offering property for sale right in the heart of Tuscany .......fantasize about living here!!

Visit Tuscany and discover its many world-famed attractions, but also venture out to discover some of its lesser-known jewels, for example, Italy's most skilled cowboys, or a host of colourful outdoor food markets, Spectacular natural parks, a mystery church, an ancient Etruscan mineral spa, a dozen Last Suppers in Florence...... and a thousand narrow farm roads waiting patiently for you to make the wrong turn and find your own secret treasure, basking happily in the Tuscan sun.

Tuscany is one of the twenty Regions of Italy. The capital is Florence, and it has an area of 22,990 km� and about 3.6 million inhabitants. Tuscany is known for its landscapes and its artistic legacy. Six Tuscan localities have been made UNESCO protected sites: the historical center of Florence (1982), the historical center of Siena (1995), the square of the Cathedral of Pisa (1987), the historical center of San Gimignano (1990), the historical center of Pienza (1996) and the Val d'Orcia (2004). Tuscany is a region of Central Italy, bordering Emilia-Romagna to the north, Liguria to the north-west, Tyrrhenian Sea to the west, Umbria and Marche to the east, Lazio to the south-east. The territory is two thirds hilly and one fourth mountainous. The remainder is constituted of the plains that form the valley of the Arno River.

Tuscany seems to be everyone's favorite vacation spot these days, and all the world knows Florence, Siena, Pisa, even tiny San Gimignano, with its 13 medieval towers.

There is more than enough to keep you occupied and immersed in another world, including the mandatory half day of wandering lost down a delightful little farm road!. Exquisite Arezzo, home of Petrarch, father of the modern Italian language, and Guido d'Arezzo, inventor of the modern musical scale, is one of the great Renaissance gems in this jewel box of a country. Among Arezzo's many masterpieces, two that stand out are the Duomo, with glorious frescoes by Piero della Francesca and a tomb by Giotto, and the 15th-century church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, with a terracotta and marble high altar by Andrea della Robbia. Nearby Cortona, capital of "Chiantishire," as the British call it, and home to Frances Mayes of Under the Tuscan Sun fame, is one of the oldest towns in Tuscany. Much of its Etruscan wall remains, separating the charming little medieval city from the surrounding olive groves and vineyards.

Ten miles off the Tuscan shore lies Elba, the island where Napoleon spent his first exile until escaping in 1815. Visit his two homes, sip espresso in the charming port of Marina di Campo, or ramble among the hillsides covered with that lush, strongly perfumed mix of bushes, shrubs and flowers known as macchia mediterranea and once there hire one of the little fishing boats and sail around Monte Cristo, whence the Count hailed. Back on the mainland, the seaside resort of Viareggio is famed for its raucous Carnevale parade in February, and the resort town of Forte dei Marmi has some of the chicest cafes and designer boutiques in the country.

Just inland is the fascinating home of Giacomo Puccini at Torre del Lago. Visit the home all year round; in the summer stay for a performance of a Puccini opera in the outdoor theatre next to the lake. A few miles away is Lucca, famed for its perfect city walls, the wonderful 13th-century fa�ade of San Michele, and the enchanting elliptical shape of Piazza Anfiteatro. If you go there, notice the palazzo doors as you wander through the town: nowhere in Italy are they more inventive and once there do like the Italians do and join the locals on their afternoon stroll along the ramparts.

"Grim," was how D.H. Lawrence described Volterra, an ancient Etruscan stronghold overlooking the sea. The city's massive fortress is indeed foreboding, but its gleaming alabaster fa�ades make it unique among Tuscan centers, and its churches and palaces are filled with countless masterpieces. You can witness just about every period of Italian history in this town.

Forty miles south of Siena you will find Pienza, often known as the Pearl of the Renaissance. The Italians call it citt� d'autore, "an author's city," because it was recreated in the 15th century for Pope Pius II by one guiding intellect, the architect Rossellino, who carefully designed its streets, palaces, churches and squares.

Few towns give a better idea of what life was like in 15th-century Tuscany. Just down the road is Montepulciano. It enchanted Henry James, although he was perhaps too affected by its legendary wine to notice its splendid medieval churches and Renaissance palazzi. When you are there, be sure to do three things: look up to see the colorful Pulcinella who strikes the hours across from the church of Sant'Agostino; visit the Contucci Wineries, which occupy ancient catacombs beneath the city; take a stroll or short drive one mile out of town to see Antonio da Sangallo the Elder's masterpiece Renaissance church of San Biagio in its magical countryside setting. On the way back to Siena, the 14th-century monastery at Monte Oliveto Maggiore (near Asciano) has frescoes by Luca Signorelli and Sodoma, a pharmacy featuring herbal medicines made by the monks themselves, and a terracotta gateway by the Della Robbias.

The savagery of the ancient inhabitants of Pistoia lives on in the weapon that takes its name from their city (though the word "pistol" originally referred to a type of dagger). But the idea of savagery is unfair; this city is an architectural feast, especially the unforgettable Ospedale del Ceppo, with its ornate terracotta frieze and medallions. Nearby Prato is another center of Tuscan art, starting from the Romanesque cathedral (which hosts the Virgin Mary's girdle) and the massive 13th-century fortress.

Maremma is a part of Tuscany that few foreigners have time to visit, and yet it is not only very authentic but also fascinating. The Etruscan tombs outside Sovana lie within the quiet confines of a magnificent Tuscan forest; as you wander amongst the oak groves, you suddenly come face-to-face with stones that were planted there thousands of years ago by a mysterious civilization we still know next to nothing about. Take along a picnic and enjoy it near the Siren's Tomb, if you dare. Also in the area are the unique thermal waterfalls of Saturnia; the ancient hill town of Pitigliano, famed for its lace and its Jewish origins; and the unspoiled coastline, boasting broad sandy beaches, quiet coves, shady pine forests and more than one wildlife refuge.

Tuscany's Economy

Tuscany is known for its wines (most famous of which are Chianti, Morellino di Scansano, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, and Brunello di Montalcino) and has 120 protected regions (nature reserves). Other agricultural products include Chianina cattle (particularly the famous "Fiorentina" steak) and the production of olive oil, principally in Lucca and the surrounding hills. The Manufacturing industry includes the production of many famous brands such as Piaggio cars, motorcycles, scooters and aeroplanes, the texile industrial district of Prato, the petrochemical plants of Leghorn and the steel factories of Piombino.

Tourism is the economic backbone of the so-called "Cities of Art" (Florence, Lucca, Pisa, Siena, San Gimignano), as well as on the coast and in the isles (Elba). Marble is quarried in Versilia (Massa and Carrara), Garfagnana and in the Alpi Apuane.