7-Nights Spotlight on Tuscany - Spotlights

San Gimignano

Welcome to San Gimignano, Italy - An Italian and European Paradise. -- It's no wonder Italy is one of top destinations in Europe. San Gimignano, Italy is a wonderful destination for even the most discriminating traveler. Come explore San Gimignano. It's no wonder San Gimignano, Italy is one of top destinations in Europe. It offers a traveler a feast of opportunities to fall in love with this charming country. There's no escaping it San Gimignano, Italy means history, ruins, food, art and love...There's layers of the stuff! Activities usually involve nothing more strenuous than eating, drinking and listening to good music. Find a cafe at twilight and watch the shades of pink turn to gold and copper before night finally falls. After dinner you can stroll by the fountains and have a gelato or an espresso, and pause in the early evening to experience the charm of San Gimignano, Italy as evening comes.

Siena

Siena is . . . the city of the blessed Virgins and the "Balzana"; black and white; decisive, just as its heraldic symbol; passionate and contemplative; always climbing and descending; clear and at the same time obscure; steep and narrow streets; the red of the Piazza del Campo appearing blinding and suddenly. In the alleys, in the museums and oratories of the Contrada, the spiritual songs of the Palio evoke very ancient rituals and modern allegories, while during the evening the shuffling of soles on the deserted pavement is in contrast with the peacefulness of the green valleys providentially enclosed within the wall, which ancient administrators had erected hundreds of years before it became common practice. Siena is also the Cathedral and the extraordinary panorama from the Facciatone; the Sala del Pellegrinaio in Santa Maria della Scala, the Libreria Piccolomini and the prestigious Accademia Chigiana; the enormous Medicean fortress that on the inside, at the Enoteca Italiana, harbors the most precious wines of Siena, Tuscany and the peninsula; sweet-smelling Trattorias, sweet spices, the sounds of the artisans and spouting fountains; Fontebrande and the mystery of the Diana, a famous river underneath Siena; the alchemy geometry of the Piazza, suggestively neo-Gothic and cathartic. And these are the reasons why "Siena opens up its heart more than any other place," as the famous inscription reads on the Porta di Camollia.

Pisa

The Leaning Tower is, of course, Pisa's main attraction. Even before three of its eight stories were constructed (building began in 1173 and continued until 1350), it had begun to lean. In 1990, the instability of the tower made it necessary to close it to visitors. Fortunately, an extensive program to rebalance the tower was successful in slowly righting the structure to its original degree of "lean." Now, thanks to modern engineering, the tower and its 294 stairs are once again open for climbing.

The tower is on the Campo dei Miracoli, a large, grassy square that's a pleasant place to relax. While you're there, visit the Baptistry, which contains a beautiful baptismal font and pulpit by Nicola Pisano; the Romanesque Cathedral di San Zeno, with its silver altar and figures by Brunelleschi; and the Camposanto Cemetery. All in white, the medieval buildings and the wall of the cemetery form a beautiful thematic whole. Stop at the 16th-century church and Palazzo dei Cavalieri, the piazza and the National Museum of San Matteo (excellent collection of 12th- through 15th-century art). And if you have time, visit Pisa's other leaning tower at the Church of San Michele degli Scalzi: Completed in the 13th century, this seldom-visited tower is worth a look, too.

It's also fun just to walk around Pisa. The city is very compact, with many narrow streets and a great ambience. We suggest seeing it on a day trip from Florence, perhaps in combination with Lucca, just 13 mi/20 km northeast. Another possible stop is Pistoia, which has a cathedral and baptistery in the Pisan-Romanesque style and the Ceppo Hospital (L'Ospedale de Ceppo), which has a brightly painted and enameled terra-cotta frieze by Giovanni della Robbia. If you want to see Pisa and another town all in one day, get up very early.

Montecatini

Montecatini Alto is the original Montecatini settlement, lying a few hundred metres above the 'new' town. The views from here are splendid, and the delightful Piazza Giusti is home to some good bars and restaurants.

Florence

The creative explosion of the Italian Renaissance happened right here, leaving petite Florence more art treasures than most national capitals. View the masterworks of local heroes like Michelangelo and Botticelli, visit countless unforgettable basilicas, then climb up into Brunelleschi's soaring dome to watch the sun set among cypress-clad Tuscan hillsides.

Lucca

A lovely and unspoiled walled city, Lucca once enjoyed a position of power in Italy second only to Florence. Today, it's famous as the birthplace of composer Giacomo Puccini, as well as for its silks and olive oil, and it has become a favorite spot for artists and writers.

When in Lucca, do what the locals do: Enjoy a leisurely walk while taking in the town's best sights. Spend some time walking along the city's ramparts, 3 mi/5 km long and wide enough to have grassy lawns and an occasional park bench. In town, take a walk down the medieval streets, stopping at the 14th-century Duomo San Martino to see Nicola Pisano's Descent From the Cross and the Volto Santo (Holy Face). It is said to have been carved by Nicodemus, who witnessed the Crucifixion, and is one of medieval Europe's most famous relics.

Walk down the Via Fullungo, which cuts through the middle of town leading to the Piazza dell'Anfiteatro, the site of a former oval Roman theater now lined with buildings. The original amphitheater retains its structure 6 ft/2 m below the road, with remains still visible in the buildings and shops surrounding the plaza.

Although you can see Lucca in half a day, you may want to linger to soak in its tranquil atmosphere and enjoy the many fine restaurants.