| WHY GO |
| The British love Tuscany - so much so that it has been dubbed Chiantishire, as they decamp from gloomy England and set up in villas for a summer of sight-seeing, swimming and socialising. But Tuscany is large and there are many hidden or lesser known places - you don't have to mix with your fellow Brits if you don't want to. The landscape, recognisable as the background of countless Renaissance Madonnas, remains relatively unspoiled, dotted with ancient farmhouses which have been beautifully restored. The cities of Florence, Siena and Verona harbour almost too many familiar cultural references, but medieval hill-top villages such as Montalcino and Pienza seem completely untouched by time. Foodies will rejoice at the superlative Tuscan food and wine on offer in the many restaurants and wine bars. It is the perfect landscape for exploring, particularly outside of the hot and crowded summer months. |
 |
