Regional Information
TUSCANY
At a Glance
Currency: Euro (€)
Population: 3.5 million
Language: Italian, English widely spoken
Local Time: Irish and UK time +1 hour
Voltage: 230V – continental adaptors purchased in Ireland / UK can be used
Airport: The airport is located 6km (3.5 miles) northeast of Bologna
Climate: Tuscany’s climate is generally mild, in particular along the coastline, but it tends to assume a continental character as you go into the inland, because of the Apennine peaks. The coasts enjoy fresh summers and mild winters, whereas the inland valleys are characterised by very hot summers and cold winters.
Overview
Tuscany is a region in central Italy, bordering on Latium to the south, Umbria and Marche to the east, Emilia-Romagna and Liguria to the north and the Tyrrhenian Sea to the west. It is often regarded as among the most beautiful parts of Italy. The name Tuscany comes from the ancient Roman denomination of the region Tuscia and the people Tusci (or Etruscans) who settled here for a long time. Tuscany harbours the classic landscapes of Italy, familiar from Renaissance paintings and TV travel shows alike, with their backdrop of medieval hill-towns, rows of slender cypress trees, vineyards and olive groves, and artfully sited villas and farmhouses. It is a picture that has long held an irresistible attraction for northern Europeans. Tuscany is divided into ten provinces: Florence, Arezzo, Grosseto, Livorno, Lucca, Massa-Carrara, Pisa, Pistoia, Prato and Siena with 287 communes. Tuscany was essentially the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, and its artistic heritage includes architecture, painting and sculpture, collected in dozens of museums, the best-known of which is the Uffizi in Florence. The region is known for its wines (most famous of which are Chianti, Morellino di Scansano and Brunello di Montalcino) and has 120 protected regions (nature reserves). Notable tourist destinations in Tuscany include Florence, Siena, Pisa, Lucca, the Maremma, the Crete Senesi, the Lunigiana and Garfagnana areas, and the island of Elba.
Highlights
Siena - Self-contained and still part-rural behind its medieval walls, Siena's great attraction is its cityscape - a majestic Gothic ensemble that could be enjoyed without venturing into a single museum. The physical and spiritual heart of the city is the great scallop-shaped piazza il Campo, loveliest of all Italian squares and scene of the thrilling Palio bareback horse-race. Siena's Duomo and Palazzo Pubblico are two of the purest examples of Italian Gothic architecture and the best of the city's paintings - collected in the Museo Civico and Pinacoteca Nazionale – are in the same tradition; the finest example of Sienese Gothic is Duccio's Maesta , on show in the outstanding Museo dell'Opera del Duomo. More frescoes fill the halls of Santa Maria della Scala, the city's hospital for over 900 years and now its premier exhibition space.
Florence - The cultural and historical impact of Florence (or Firenze) is overwhelming. Close up, however, the city is one of Italy's most atmospheric and pleasant, retaining a strong resemblance to the small late-medieval centre that contributed so much to the cultural and political development of Europe. Its striking buildings, formidable galleries and treasure-crammed churches attest to the Florentine love of display. Even long after it had set on the political and economic horizon, Florence pheld its elegant appearance: its skyline, all russet rooftops and lofty domes, is indeed picturesque.
Pisa & Lucca - Thanks to its Leaning Tower, Pisa is known by name to just about every visitor to Italy, though it remains an underrated place, seen by most people on a whistle-stop day-trip that takes in little of its majestic architecture, less of its atmospheric medieval quarters, and none of its street life. Genteel Lucca nearby, its walled old town crammed with Romanesque churches, is even less explored. The composer Giacomo Puccini was born here in 1858. Today Lucca is reckoned among the wealthiest and most conservative cities in Tuscany, its prosperity gained largely through silk and high-quality olive oil.
Getting Around
The public transport system in and around cities in Tuscany is excellent. Buses and trains are scheduled frequently. In the cities you do not need to worry about buses, as everything can be reached within 30 minutes on foot. However, streets are mainly cobbled or flagstone, as are the sidewalks, and thus can be rough on soles, feet, and joints after a while. It is therefore recommended to bring sensible walking shoes.
Health/Security
Most Italians take mineral water with their meals; however, tap water is safe everywhere, as are public drinking fountains. Unsafe sources will be marked ACQUA NON POTABILE. If tap water comes out cloudy, it is only the calcium or other minerals inherent in a water supply that often comes untreated from fresh springs. Essentially Italy is a safe country; however, pick-pocketing is common, especially in tourist areas. Generally, tourists should take the common-sense precautions they would while travelling anywhere. Avoid carrying large sums of cash or leaving belongings unattended.
Passport/Visa
Italy is a member of the EU; therefore no visa is required for Irish/UK citizens. A valid passport is required.
Useful Contacts
Irish Embassy: Piazza di Campitelli 3, 00186 Rome
Tel: + 39 06 697 9121 Fax: + 39 06 679 2354
Web: www.embassyofireland.it
British Embassy: Via XX Settembre 80, I-00187 ROMA RM
Tel: + 39 06 4220 0001 / + 39 06 4220 2603
Email: InfoRome@fco.gov.uk
Web: www.ukinitaly.fco.gov.uk
Tourist Office, Florence: Via A. Manzoni, 16, 50121 Firenze
Tel: +39 055 23320, Fax: + 39 0552346286
Email: info@firenzeturismo.it
Web: www.firenzeturismo.it
Local Emergency Services: Ambulance 118 / Fire 115 / Police 112
Calling Florence from Ireland/UK: 00 + 39 + 055 + the number
Calling Ireland from Florence: 00 + 353 + area code + the number
Calling the UK from Florence: 00 + 44 + area code + the number
Local Emergency Services: Ambulance 118 / Fire 115 / Police 112
Useful Websites
www.turismo.toscana.it
www.intoscana.it
www.italiantouristboard.co.uk
www.discovertuscany.com
www.roughguides.com