Tuscany & Umbria [antikvár]

; Destination: Tuscany Umbria Tuscany and Umbria offerthe quintessential Italian experience, from rolling green hills bedecked with fertile vineyards and olive groves to majestic Renaissance cities overflowing with somé of the world's greatest art treasures. Florence, with its peerless array of museums, galleries and churches is the highlight for most visitors, while cities such as Pisa, home of the famous Leaning Tower, Orvieto with its spectacular Duomo, and Arezzo with its sublime frescoes, are not to be missed. The land of Dante, Da Vinci, Michelangelo and Botticelli, ancient homeland of the Etruscans, and essential port of call for 19th-century Grand Tourists, Tuscany has never lost its unique charm for foreign visitors. Its countryside is legendary, and II Chianti especially entices a constant stream of tourists to sample its fine wines and explore its picturesque hill towns. Elsewhere, colourful festivals and contests spring up throughout the year, many exercising the age-old neighbourhood rivalries of the once fiercely independent city-states, and giving the locals a chance to parade in fancy dress. Though not widely regarded as a beach-holiday destination, Tuscany does have a long coastline; elegant Viareggio remains popular with Italians, while the island of Elba, with its clean waters and white sands, has exploded in popularity in recent years. Umbria, known as the 'Green Heart of Italy', is a walker's and cyclist's paradise, with large swathes of verdant countryside, still largely untouched by the commercialism apparent in parts of its more famous neighbour. For those looking to get off the beaten track, the wild Valnerina region is hard to beat. You could alsó choose to pay your respects to St Francis and Giotto with a visit to the renowned Basilica in Assisi.