Tuscany & Elba

Trip preparation

Airports Car Rental To visit Tuscany there are many options to choose from. The main airports in Tuscany are: Galileo Galilei Airport in Pisa, Airport Amerigo Vespucci in Florence ,Airport Ampugnano in Siena, Falconara airport in Ancona, and the International Airport of Umbria San Egidio in Perugia. The island of Elba also has a small airport, Marina di Campo. To rent a car, you can do directly to one of the airport stands.

Language

In Tuscany and the island of Elba speaks Italian but also speaks the Tuscan dialect, which belongs to the southern dialects (Central-Southern Italy).

Electricity

The coverage is good in general in this region except in some mountainous areas and far away from the big cities. The same happens on the island of Elba, but in this case in some coastal areas.

Best travel time

In Tuscany, high temperatures in summer are common in coastal areas and big cities. The days are long and this means you get a lot of sun. Spring and fall are the best seasons to visit the region because, although sometimes it rains, the temperatures are milder and there are many sunny days. In winter, snow in the Apennines and mountainous areas is common. On the island of Elba the Mediterranean temperatures of the island cause quite hot summers but winters are very wet.

Vaccinations

No vaccinations are required to enter in Tuscany or on the island of Elba, in any case there may be some that are recommended, like in your own country of origin, such as the flu if you are traveling in winter.

History

This region has witnessed the presence of Etruscan, Roman, Gothic, Byzantine and Holy Roman Empire, but the greatest glory came in the renaissance resulting in the numerous monuments that still stand today in cities like Florence, Pisa and Siena. One of the most relevant and important families in the Middle Ages and from the standpoint of economic and cultural viewpoints the Medici, a very influential family in both the social landscape and political and artistic areas. On the island of Elba is worth noting that Napoleon Bonaparte was imprisoned there until he escaped to fight his last battle at Waterloo.

Traditions and Culture

The Tuscan culture as well as being the result of many superstitions, celebrations and picnics. But wisdom and agricultural techniques have also played heavily on the development of their traditions and progress in knowledge and science. They have made this area more open-minded to changes and new customs. Still, the lower classes located in the rural areas remain entrenched in their applications and have been a little stagnant in the past. The inhabitants of this region of central Italy are open minded people to society. They are also proud people of their land and their customs and their vast artistic heritage, history and culture Like Michelangelo. The lifestyle in Tuscany may be typical of rural towns and the countryside and the hectic pace of life led by residents of large cities.

By car

Roads and highways in this region are also very well maintained and it is easy to navigate them. . The highways are marked with the letter A plus a number on a green background, the sections which are near large cities are usually toll roads.

By taxi

To get to Tuscany and the island of Elba or travel through the region there are many possibilities as far as transportation is concerned. The train and bus are the most used, the rail network has very good connections to major cities but the prices are very high. High-speed trains are a good choice when you do not have much time. To navigate in central cities you can take the metro, tram or bus, depending which city you are in. You can also travel to and from the Tuscan island of Elba by boat, the main ports of Ancona and Livorno, and even by plane. Travelling by taxi in Italy, as in the rest of Europe, it is not economical. It is better to go by taxi only when there is no other options, for example if there is no bus or tram or if you have a lot of luggage.

Sights

There are many places worth visiting, but the most important monuments of Tuscany are: - Florence: Palazzo Vecchio, Palazzo Pitti, the Cathedral and the Cupola and the Basilica of San Lorenzo. - Pisa: the Leaning Tower, Piazza dei Miracoli, the Baptistery and the Campo Santo. - Siena: Piazza del Campo, Palazzo Publico, the Cathedral and the Church of San Domenico. Other cities in the region are also places of interest are Lucca, Arezzo and San Gimignano. The island of Elba is a vast natural paradise and its coasts are greatly appreciated.

Events

One of the most curious things in this region is the Feast of San Galgano, near Siena. In the abbey of the same name you can find a sword stuck in a rock in the San Galgiano s. XII. As in the legend of Excalibur, no one has managed so far to pull the sword from the stone. Every year in June a Medieval market takes place here.

Food

The typical dishes of Tuscany and the island of Elba are more than just pizza and pasta. Their ingredients are varied such as bread, meat, fish, vegetable soups like minestrone, and wine. The dish in the summer is the Panzarella, a kind of cold soup made of bread, tomato, onion and sometimes anchovies and basil and always accompanied by olive oil. Other famous dishes are the "Bistecca", sirloin steak grilled with rosemary and olive oil, and "tagliata di Manzo, grilled beef tenderloin seasoned with pepper, oil and balsamic vinegar.