Tuscany - Green Travel Guide

Idyllic rural landscapes, and masterpieces of art and architecture that the world admires. Welcome to Tuscany! The second region of Italy by number of UNESCO heritage: the historical center of Florence, Piazza del Duomo of Pisa with its famous Leaning Tower, the historical center of San Gimignano, the beautiful historic center of Siena, in the historical center of the city of Pienza, the landscapes of the Val d'Orcia, to the Medici villas.

Tuscany has been enticing visitors ever since the Etruscans and Romans, arrived here to to stock their grain silos, pilgrims came to walk the stages of a medieval spiritual routes, saints that chose these wonderful lands as a place of meditation, Napolean came to plunder art, and aristocrats travelers came to complete their Grand Tour.

Pisa, Piazza dei Miracoli, one of the Unesco sites in Tuscany — Pisa, piazza dei Miracoli, ph. by James Drumsara, via flickr

Tuscany is a region where the past and present merge in pleasant harmony.

Discover all our green travel guides in Tuscany and the eco-friendly accommodations:

Arezzo

Firenze

Grosseto

Livorno

Lucca

Massa Carrara

Pisa

Pistoia

Prato

Siena

Even today Tuscany conquer the world with her beauty in unexpected places, its food and wine doc, its landscapes so rich in cultural and historical heritages.

Today visitors come to Tuscany to discover fine art, to explore the extraordinary countryside, or to enjoy the simple yet wonderful cuisine and wine.

Eco tourists can enjoy the mountain paths, the rolling hills by foot, by bicycle or by horse, but also the the natural thermal baths, the wild beaches, islands and the sea.

Sunset in the Isle of Elba, a green oasis with tuscan arcipelago

Gentle, carefully cultivated hills in Val d'Orcia, occasionally broken by farm houses and by picturesque villages. — Gentle, carefully cultivated hills in Val d'Orcia, occasionally broken by farm houses and by picturesque villages, such as Pienza.

Amazing green Landscape to discover slowly.

In the beautiful countryside, among the wineyards and olive groves, there are organic farm houses, ancient villas and amazing castels, many of that built for the Medici family, the great patrons of the Renaissance who supported eminent artists and scientists such as Galileo.

The territory north-west and east of Tuscany is instead full of mountain ranges and pristine forests, teeming with wild animals, from the wolf to the wild boar.

Countless roads, tracks and trails wind through the beautiful countryside of Siena, the tuscan arcipelago (the Island of Elba), the tuscan coast (from Livorno to Piombino), the Lunigiana and the Chianti countryside.

We suggest to go by bike from Colle Val d'Elsa to San Gimignano, through the beauty of the landscape and Romanesque churches (40 km), from Bagno Vignoni to Pienza (29 km), or from Rapolano Terme to the ancient thermal waters at the Antica Querciolaia (19 km), discovering thermal waters by bike!

But there are many other routes lenses do not miss: the discovery of the Val d'Orcia aboard a vintage steam train (http://trenonatura.terresiena.it) between puffs and postcard landscapes, or the many paths lenses to explore on horseback. If you choose the latter you will be totally immersed in the sound in nature, along the gentle paths of the Crete Senesi, the strong green and pristine mountains and the bright blue of the coasts. The choice is yours!

Green Guide to Tuscany: traditional train in Val d'Orcia, Tuscany — Traditional Train in val d'Orcia, ph. by Frank Andiver, via flickr

Food and wine of Tuscany, organic and local.

Who has not experienced the pleasure of tasting a glass of good wine, preferably organic and local, experience the unique atmosphere of Tuscany?

Here are some products of the most important Italian wines: Brunello di Montalcino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Vernaccia di San Gimignano, to taste along with the unique food of the region, such as the bistecca alla fiorentina.

Do not leave without tasting one of the many delicious traditional recipes with bread and vegetables, such as panzanella, Ribollita, acquacotta, pappa al pomodoro, garlic bread, soup of kale.

Here you can truly understand the essence of Slow Food and the surprise of how Tuscan dishes made from local ingredients are simple and delicious!