If, however, you are stuck for things to do, we’ve prepared this little guide on what is there to do in Tuscany, to help you make the most of your holiday.

Crete Senesi area, Tuscany, Italy

If you’re interested in history, you can hardly go wrong. Tuscany is the home of some of Italian’s most beautiful historic cities. Florence, Siena, and Pisa are all located in the heart of Tuscany. Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance, is one of the most visited cities in the world and is home to some incredible art and architecture. There is so much to see and do there that it could take up pages by itself; whether you’re looking for the incredible sculpture of Michelangelo or want to spot some fashionable designs, Florence is an excellent choice.

David by Michelangelo in Florence, Tuscany, Italy

You also simply can’t miss the Leaning Tower of Pisa, one of the trademark images of Italy. Despite the fact that the tower is lopsided, you can still climb right up to the top and look at the nearby city and landscapes. The tower’s lean is stable, making it safe for you to enjoy its famous slant and the view of one of Italy’s many beautiful cities.

If history, art and architecture don’t really suit you, there is still plenty to do. Hiking and walking are both great activities; you can go on a day’s hike to mountains just on the edge of this beautiful region, or walk along the rolling farmland. There are a number of cycling tours, both mountain biking on those same peaks or leisurely bike rides through the countryside.

Shop in San Gimignano, Tuscany, Italy

Finally, if neither of those are your style and you’re seeking pure relaxation, there is plenty of that to be had in a Tuscan villa in Italy. You might choose to enjoy a wine tasting in Chianti or spend your evenings enjoying delicious local food in a series of cafes near your villa. With an abundance of local markets, you’ll find plenty to cook yourself in addition to enjoying elsewhere.

Don’t forget the shopping either; in addition to the shopping destinations in the city centres, you’ll find quite a few outlet shops to net bargains on Italian goods. Moreover, there are quite a few hand-crafted products that you can only get in Tuscany.

Tell us, what do you look forward to most from a Tuscan holiday?

Photos provided by cottagestocastles.com

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Leaning Tower of Pisa was built as a freestanding bell tower of the Pisa Cathedral. However in the beginning, the tower stood uprightly like the majority of bell towers. But because of carelessly made ​​bases and soft soil it started to lean. Leaning Tower of Pisa is one of the few cases where thanks to poor work it became popular throughout the world.

The building is approximately 55.9 meters high on the lower side and 56.7 meters on that higher one. To its top you can get by 294 stairs. Construction of the tower began in 1173 and lasted almost 200 years since it was interrupted several times due to the wars with its neighbours (Genoa, Lucca and Florence). Its top with the bells was finished in 1372. However at that time the tower was already inclined, actually since the completion of the first three floors in 1178.

Because the tilt of the tower was constantly increasing and threatening its collapse, the tower was closed to the public in 1990 and rescue works started. In 2001 the tower was finally reopened with the statement that it should be stable at least for the following 300 years.

Although the Leaning tower is the most famous attraction in Pisa, it is not the only one. It stands in a place called Campo dei Miracoli or “Field of Miracles”. We can find here other wonderful architectural gems, such as Duomo, the Baptistery, or monumental cemetery Campo Santo. All the buildings are really beautiful, but in fact, they still attract far less attention than the famous tower.

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Tartu is a university town. The history of the local university dates back to 1632, and for centuries it has undergone a number of prominent personalities, such as W. Ostwald, owner of a Nobel Prize in chemistry. During the opening days, you can get into the university building. Except of the University Museum you can visit also a student cell. A small attic room looks like in the 19th century, where troublesome students were locked here as a punishment for violation of school rules, e.g.

• canceling the night calm, or late return of books to the library – 2 days
• an insult to the ladies – 4 days
• an insult to the attendant – 5 days
• fighting – up to 3 weeks

The center of Tartu is Raekoja plats with the Town Hall from 18th century. Originally its tower was empty, the clock has been installed later to stop students from being late. At the northeast corner of Town Hall Square you can see the ‘Leaning House’ as the answer to the Leaning Tower of Pisa. This is one of the most interesting sights in Tartu. Just few streets away you find toy museum, full of dolls and teddy bears from all different parts of the world and historical periods. During your walk through Tartu, you can find many other attractions. Inside the students canteen you will discover the most beautiful student caffe in the world.

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Pisa, Tuscany, Italy / Photo by admin

There are many famous universities and other institutes of higher learning located in Pisa. The 12th century University of Pisa is the most famous of the institutes in the city. However, you can also find the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies and the Napoleonic Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa in the Italian city of Pisa.

The city dates back to the days of the Greek Empire. There have been a number of artefacts uncovered over the years which have confirmed this. The most important of these is the discovery of an Etruscan necropolis back in 1991. This means that Pisa can be easily dated back to the 5th century B.C.

Pisa was known as an important port city for the Roman Empire. Known back in 89 B.C. as Portus Pisanus, the city played an important role in the Roman naval battles against the Carthaginians, Gauls and Ligurians. Pisa would continue to be a prosperous city and home to the Italian Naval fleets until 1284 when the Genoese fleet defeated Albertino Morosini at the Battle of Meloria.

The famous 67 meter tall leaning tower of Pisa took an amazing 344 years to build. The construction of the tower began in 1173 and by the time that the second floor was added in 1178, the tower began to sink as a result of the small foundation.

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