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It is not for nothing that Tuscany is considered one of the most famous locations for shooting Hollywood films and that every rural tourist enterprise with a view around the world frames itself as Tuscan. The most beautiful region of the country, located in the heart of the Italian nation, is considered the “Land of the Good Life” and offers an experience that is much greater than the sum of its parts. Tuscany celebrates life, the special in its simplicity, creativity, curiosity and inspiration. Its travelers enjoy a happy and interesting atmosphere that is difficult to describe in words, and on the other hand, there are many, many words that deserve to be said about it.
Tuscany is considered one of the most beloved tourist destinations in the world and a gem very close to the hearts of Israelis. This happens due to the Italian suburban character which reminds to some extent of the cordial, lively and also cunning Israeli character, due to the many beauty and mysteries that are found in every corner and of course due to the fine cuisine which is identified in its tastes with the fashionable Israeli palate.
Due to the fact that it is a region that dominates a large number of optional destinations, you can find all possible types of accommodation in Tuscany: from luxurious and impressive hotels overlooking the views of the Duomo of Florence to small and cheap Airbnb apartments with a nearby supermarket or market. The range of options provides an opportunity to fly to Tuscany cheaply and save significantly on the price regardless of the season in which you fly. A jump in prices does indeed apply in the summer months (from June to October), but as long as you are willing to settle for two or three star hotels, an apartment or a hostel, the price differences will remain negligible. An intermediate option in terms of costs is to stay with friendly Italians who rent out a room in their house and enjoy being hosted in a real local apartment with all the typical atmosphere involved.
The Tuscans are wonderful and kind hosts who know how to provide a successful service to their guests. But at the same time, Italy in general is not free of tourist traps and you may encounter them when you demand extras from the hotel, sometimes without knowing about an additional payment for them in advance. In other words – feel free to go to the counter and get recommendations for restaurants, sites and ways to travel, but ask twice before opening the bottle of mineral water in the room.
We’ll open up and be careful that in Tuscany there is no chance of keeping the figure, unless you abstain almost completely from food and in fact have no choice but to say goodbye to one of the main elements of a trip to Tuscany. The Ha’aretz region offers a dream come true for diners and connoisseurs of all kinds and is lined with an extremely rich repertoire of markets, country restaurants and chef-gourmet restaurants, renowned food tours, home stays with local Italians who cook heartily and even small supermarkets where you will find an impressive selection of special cheeses, olive oil , breads and wines.
Tuscan cuisine is based on centuries-old rural tradition, but serves it to the table in a modern and elegant atmosphere. Most of the dishes consist of local seasonal ingredients and will usually be served over a meal that includes bread and wine served as an appetizer, a pasta dish that is the first dish and a meat or fish dish for the main course. If there is room left in the stomach, of course you must not give up any dessert on the menu.
Tuscany is blessed with the perfect climate for growing wine grapes and therefore it is considered one of the most prominent and highest quality wine producers in the world. Visiting at least one winery is a highly recommended experience and in no way should you give up combining wine with your lunch and dinner and experiment with the different varieties and series.
In Tuscany, as all over Italy, there is a kind of hidden division into restaurants, which includes in the first group the commercialized and tourist restaurants that serve quite routine food (relative to what else you can eat here) and at high prices, and the small and intimate restaurants that serve wonderful tradition on a plate in the second group at normal prices for the locals. It is likely that in any central and busy place you will meet the first type, therefore it is recommended to follow your heart and feet to the alleys far from the eyes of tourists and find pearls in taste, presentation and atmosphere.
The region of Tuscany covers an area of 23,000 square kilometers and is home to nearly four million people. The capital city is Florence, known as a world center of culture and art where the Renaissance was born. The extensive cultural heritage of the region has given rise to countless museums, buildings and important sites on which all modern culture rests, existing alongside an atmosphere The intoxicating village (literally) that includes hundreds of selected wineries and wild views from the four directions of the sky.
Tuscany has six places that are considered national heritage sites according to the United Nations declaration: the old city in Florence, the ancient center in Siena, the Pisa Cathedral and the Cathedral Square, the historic center in San Gimignano and Pienza Val d’Orchia. In addition, it has over 120 nature reserves and most Its towns have been declared world heritage sites by UNESCO. Since this is a huge country full of towns and villages, each of which invites adventure and interest, here is only a partial list of the recommended cities that are suitable for a day/half-day trip or an overnight stay of two or three days:
Considered one of the most important cities in Europe and in general, serving as the capital of the province of Tuscany. The city offers a journey back in time to the famous Renaissance period, the greatest artists and famous works of art from the period, alongside breathtaking architecture, good food, cool cafes, an exciting luxury brand boulevard and magical urban alleys. You can tour the old city on foot and meet all the recommended places within walking distance. Do not miss arriving at the Duomo of Florence and meeting the Doors of Paradise, the Uffizi Gallery which contains the most impressive collection of Renaissance paintings in Italy, the Church of Santa Croce where Machiavelli, Ghiberti, Michelangelo, Galileo and Rossini were buried, the Medici Church and its impressive gardens , the coveted market in San Lorenzo and of course on photos with the famous “David” statue of King David by Michelangelo.
The second largest city in Tuscany, whose ancient center has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Siena has an extremely fine culinary tradition, which exists alongside stunning landscapes, medieval-looking streets and a multitude of museums and sites. The symbol of the city is one of the most famous icons in the world: it is the wolf nursing the Ramus Vermulus – the founders of Rome. Don’t miss the impressive Duomo and its museum, the beautiful Piazza del Campo designed like a shell and containing impressive buildings including an important museum and the famous twice-yearly Palio horse race, Basilica dell’Oservana, San Francesco, the Botanical Gardens and the Medici Fort .
The city famous for its leaning tower offers a trip that ranges from old to new, between historical sites and desirable brands, between ancient heritage and advanced academia. Don’t miss arriving at the Miracle Square (Duomo Square) where the Leaning Tower stands, the Church of Chiasa di Santa Maria, Palazzo Agostini – a square that tilts to one side, similar to Pisa (did you know that this characteristic tilt to the side is a result of the particularly soft ground on which the city was founded?) and includes the The famous cafe in Pisa (Caffe Delaucero), Piazza di Cavalieri and the fashionable Borgo Strato pedestrian street.
A beautiful and unique town (it is also considered a world heritage site) where there is an authentic and particularly impressive encounter with the Renaissance.
A medieval style town that is surrounded by a wall and includes a number of impressive ancient sites and a magnetic atmosphere.
It is also called “Little Jerusalem” due to the fact that it had a large and famous Jewish community until World War II. The city has a special Jewish quarter that includes a synagogue and a museum.
A must destination in Tuscany, especially for wine lovers. The town is considered to be the producer of one of the best wines in all of Italy (Vino Nobile di Montepilciano) and includes plenty of cute little shops, quality restaurants, palaces and an extraordinary view. An excellent place to stock up on souvenirs and gifts. Bonus fact: Montepulciano starred in the blockbuster Twilight: New Moon. Those of you who invest and climb on foot up to the city hall building, will meet the plaza where the famous climactic scene was filmed. .
The spectacular location of the famous movie “Life is Beautiful” used to belong to a separate and independent republic and today it has a preserved and special historical center. It is recommended to enter and view the collection of frescoes inside the Church of San Francesco and also visit the fascinating archaeological museum of the city.
One of the successful journeys in medieval Tuscany, which is characterized by a small historic center with a great atmosphere, impressive towers and a mesmerizing setting of Italian houses that blend surprisingly naturally with a multitude of green hills. The city is known for growing the famous Orangeia grapes, from which the finest white wine is made.
An amazing town for adventurers and romantics, offering natural hot springs rich in minerals and sulfur and open for free all year round. The water temperature in every spring and waterfall in the place is uniform (37.5 degrees) and the place is ideal for families with children.
Attraction Type
Point of interest, historical site
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It was originally used as the clock tower of the Church of St. Agostino. At its head stands the statue of the fictional character Pulcinella.
Attraction Type
Point of interest, public space
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The central square of Siena, a popular place of entertainment and the heart of the happenings in the city
Attraction Type
Point of interest, public space
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The most popular points of interest in Pisa. The square is adjacent to the central cathedral, whose bell tower is the leaning tower.
Attraction Type
Baths and spa
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Historical sites of ancient baths that have been used for the enjoyment of the residents since the Middle Ages.
Attraction Type
Public space - world heritage site
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The ancient center in Siena is recognized as a world heritage site by UNESCO, with magnificent buildings from the Middle Ages
Attraction Type
Public space - world heritage site
Price Level
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A historical center with impressive buildings and monuments that helped to recognize as a world heritage site by UNESCO.
Attraction Type
Park and open museum
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A park with sculptures on exhibit that depict the vibrant figures found on tarot cards.
Attraction Type
A historical site
Price Level
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Napoleon Bonaparte's old residence during his exile in Italy.
Attraction Type
Monument
Price Level
$
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An important historical monument and a valued work of art that is considered the symbol of the city of Livorno.
Getting around by car in Tuscany is almost mandatory. Although it is easy to move from city to city by train, bus and even taxi, this eliminates the spontaneity of the trip and limits you to the evening hours. In Tuscany, the “Autostrada del Sol” runs between Milan and Rome and you can use it to easily get to any corner you want with your rental car right from the airport.
Although with the car it is very easy to move between the various Tuscan destinations, you will not be able to enter the attractions and sites themselves with it in any way and you have to look for a parking lot near the ancient center of each and every city. It is important to emphasize that any “smartness” on the part of the tourists regarding the entrance to the ancient and central sites will be accompanied by a high financial fine, which will be sent to you in retrospect thanks to the many cameras located at the entrance to each such area. Avoid inconveniences and park your car only in the appropriate places.
While traveling with a rental car in Tuscany is definitely recommended, it should be taken into account that each such trip requires a separate budget framework. The public parking lots in all Italian cities are considered very expensive and it is advisable to use up-to-date tips from travelers to find parking lots close to the main piazzas and slightly cheaper. The fuel in Italy is also not cheap and as you cover a long daily distance, you may find yourself filling the tank quite a bit. The good news is that gas stations and convenience stores are plentiful here (sometimes even every five km), so there is no chance that you will be left on the side of the road alone in the wilderness.
It is advisable to order the car in advance on the websites of the rental companies and you should consider a car with a manual transmission which will be significantly cheaper than any automatic car. Also, due to access problems that exist in most popular destinations, it is advisable to check in advance the issue of parking in your hotel’s parking lot. If your hotel has a parking lot, you can coordinate the entrance of the car in advance, but again this time it is quite an expensive business and often in difficult driving conditions, particularly crowded and congested with difficulties in navigation (especially in Pisa, Florence and Siena). If there is no parking for the hotel or you in any case prefer to avoid traveling within the city, it is recommended to find out in advance where the nearest parking lot is located and from where to reach the hotel on foot or by taxi / public transportation.
Tuscany is a region and therefore does not have a unique airport for the region, but several central airports located in the various cities. Most of the traveler traffic from Israel lands at the Milan airport and from there departs by train or car towards Tuscany (a smooth and enjoyable ride of about two hours on the autostrada), although it is possible to get as close as possible to destinations within Tuscany, by connecting flights to Pisa or Florence. Another option is to close a flight to Rome and make a connecting flight from there to one of the Tuscan destinations, or reach them from there using the impressive and well-developed train system.
The duration of the flight to Milan is about four hours (3 hours and 50 minutes to be exact), while the duration of the flight to Rome is a little more than four hours (about four hours and ten minutes). There are more than three daily flights from Israel to these airports, when the number of flights increases during the season and reaches up to 24 regular flights each week! This allows incredible flexibility in choosing the dates and times of the flight and of course provides a wide variety of flight types, with the most popular being the low-cost flights that are carried out mainly with the companies: EasyJet, Rainier and Alitalia (which is not a low-cost company by definition, but includes several flight routes at ridiculous prices and is considered as which appears to be the most viable airline for flights to the Land of the Boot). In addition, you can also fly with Israir and El Al, which operates the majority of flights here mainly through the use of its subsidiary Sandor.
For those of you who wish to extend the trip a little and lower the prices even further, the option is reserved to fly to Tuscany with another European company that lands in a desirable capital city (Berlin, Paris, Barcelona, etc.) and from there continue to Tuscany by connection. On the other hand, with this option you will indeed save a lot on prices, but you will have to extend the duration of the vacation a little, because the waiting times between connections may reach over 10 hours.
Tuscany is such a diverse destination, providing good options for every couple, family and group and across every season of the year. The peak season is the summer months (June to October), when July-August are considered the “peak of peaks” and are usually also characterized by heavy traffic in the central sites, parking shortages and many queues. On the other hand, the winter in Tuscany will be free of tourists and much cheaper, but it may limit you greatly in walking along the ancient areas in the various cities and also cause you to stop quite a bit on the side of the road due to the “opening of the gates of heaven” which simply will not allow you to advance one more meter.
Therefore, the warmest recommendation is simply to come during the transition seasons: March-May and October-November. The Tuscan climate is pretty much the same as the Israeli climate and this season the weather is indeed cool, but especially convenient for trips, for a hot and indulgent risotto before a cold and addictive gelato and full of spectacular views. All this alongside relatively low prices and much less tourists and queues.
Tuscany is the place for a romantic honeymoon vacation or for any other occasion. The views, food and wine of the Chianti region provide a perfect setting for romance. Read on the website about a romantic vacation in Tuscany.
The Tuscany region is one of the most beautiful regions in Europe and it will be difficult to cover it all in one trip. If this is your first time, you should definitely not miss the famous cities of Florence and Siena. You will find all the information about them on the website.
Because Tuscany is a vast country, getting around without a car can be cumbersome, so it is very worthwhile to rent a car to make life easy for yourself. You can do this through the website easily.
The region of Tuscany offers countless options for accommodation, in any budget and in any style you desire. It is recommended to choose the place according to the nature of your trip. On the site you can find the best and recommended hotels in the area.
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