Tuscany

Toscana

Tuscany extends over the heart of central Italy. The capital city is Florence, which is almost 300 km from Rome, the Italian capital.  Despite the fact that it is surrounded by the Apennines, with imposing, mountainous massifs, the region is mainly hilly and has vast plains. Tuscany is especially known for the works of art present in its cities and for the beauty of its landscape. Florence, Siena, Pisa, Lucca, Pistoia, Prato, Massa, Arezzo, Grosseto, Livorno are the capitals of the provinces.

From fish and soups, to sumptuous meats, the tasty Tuscan cuisine offers a full range of treats such as soppressata, prosciutto ham, ribollita soup, bean and lard soup or spelt soup. Among the pasta dishes: pappardelle pasta with hare ragù, tomato pappa, black rice. And for dessert? - cenci, panforte and cantucci (cookies sweetened with almonds, for dunking in "Vin Santo") must be tried.

Tuscany is a region famous also for its red and white wines ranging from table wines to wines of great prestige and universal fame. The most famous reds are "Brunello di Montalcino", "Nobile di Montepulciano" and Chianti produced in the hills and bottled by the Sangiovese vineyards. Most of the white wines come from Trebbiano vineyards, like the light and sparkling "Galestro" and the simple "Tuscan white". The "Vernaccia of San Gimignano", obtained from Vernaccia grapes, is very flavorful, as is the "Montecarlo," from the Lucca region. Among the characteristic sweet wines is the famous "Vin Santo" made with raisins from Trebbiano and Malvasia, aged for several years in small casks and then bottled.