TUSCAN PLEASURES
My husband and I are leaving for Florence on August 3. We’ll be in Italy for nine nights and I’m looking for some tips and itinerary ideas for the Tuscan region. I would appreciate any information you may have to share. — Ashleen Bredeveldt
Florence is an excellent base from which to explore Tuscany — but it is, of course, an absorbing destination in its own right. So, plan your excursions carefully. In Florence itself, you must make sure to visit the grand sights — the Ponte Vecchio, the Basilica of Santa Croce and Michelangelo’s David, the centrepiece of the Galleria dell’Accademia.
I highly recommend you set aside the best part of a day to visit the Uffizi Gallery (uffizi.it), a storehouse of exquisite Renaissance art — such as Botticelli’s Birth of Venus — and arguably one of the best collections in Europe.
But first, bite the tourist bullet and head up to the Piazzale Michelangelo, from where you can gaze upon the city in all its beauty. The sweeping view includes the Duomo, the Uffizi and the Arnolfo Tower of the Palazzo Vecchio. It will also help you get your bearings and give you a sense of place and where the city’s attractions are.
Other highlights include the Duomo di
Firenze — Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Flower — which also offers a stunning view of the city, and Boboli Gardens, which can be found behind the Medicis’ Pitti Palace. The gardens are now full of Renaissance sculptures in a fantastic setting.
To get a taste of real Florence, cross the river to the Oltrarno district and hang out in the Piazza Santo Spirito, which is lined with cafés and restaurants where the locals relax.
You can then spend a few days exploring the nearby towns such as Pisa and its leaning tower, Lucca, Siena and Arezzo, all of which are an easy drive away.
In Pisa, you will have to jostle with the crowds at the tower — but if you’re here, you should visit it — but also make time to see the art at the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo.
Then head for Lucca, 24km to the northeast. One of the original independent city states, Lucca is blessed with fine architecture and awesome food — some would say the best in Tuscany.
Another day trip can take in Arezzo and Siena. Arezzo is famous for the frescoes of Piero della Francesca at the Church of San Francesco.
Siena, 70km southwest of Arezzo, is another former city state and home to the annual Palio bareback horse race. Here, you should just sit in the Piazza del Campo and watch the Tuscan life unfold around you.
Finally, do not miss the amazingly preserved medieval town of San Gimignano — a Unesco world heritage site — and its 14 wonderful towers.