The Tuscan hills
Hilly for more than 65% of its area, the Tuscan region enjoys a mild climate thanks to the shelter from cold winds that blow from the north east offered by the Apennines.
There are many reasons to visit and experience Tuscany: the artistic and cultural heritage, the extraordinary landscapes of the countryside and of course the food and wine scene.
From the Etruscans to the Romans to the Renaissance, Tuscany is possibly the greatest repository of art in the world and represents an unparalleled reminiscence of customs and traditions. Tuscan cities of art as well as the rural Tuscany and its hills dotted with ancient farmhouses bounded by the typical cypress trees, can be explored driving along the winding country roads with their continuous and gentle ups and downs through woods, olive groves, vineyards and crops that cover the hills with the ever changing colours of the seasons. Here and there you run into old churches and medieval villages that often not even appear on tourist guides.
Tuscany is a region where cultural and artistic past is still a strong expression in present tradition, just think of the Palio of Siena which is not a mere historical reconstruction, but a genuine competition still very much felt by the inhabitants of the city.
The Tuscan cuisine is an expression of popular culture, simple but yet refined, it's a further essential attraction. Made of simple and tasteful dishes that have their roots in the hard life of the fields, it is accompanied by traditional Tuscan olive oil and red wines that have in the Chianti, Montepulciano and Montalcino some of their best expressions. This is a happy marriage that, even if adjusted to the current fashions, it keeps alive the taste for good food and the pleasure of dining.
