Tuscany must see places (Part 1)

Tuscany must see places (Part 1)

Our trip to Italy was an extended one that allowed us to see and stay in many areas over a few months. However for most people it is impossible to see all that Tuscany has to offer in a single visit. So what I have tried to do here is offer my view of the regions’ highlights. These are a mixture of places to visit, special buildings and unforgettable vistas.

Assisi

The Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi is the mother church of the Franciscans and since 2000 is a World Heritage Site. The basilica is much larger than it seems and is definitely worth a visit. The murals are incredibly and you can see the possessions of St. Francis in the basement. When the morning mist settles in the Vale of Spoleto below Assisi it makes it one of Umbria’s most special hill towns.

San Gimignano

San Gimignano is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Italy. Fifteen of the original 72 towers survive to this day. The Piazza del Duomo, the town church' s square, is surrounded by these thousand-year-old towers. The towers were owned by the rich to stay safe when the town was sacked. After Florence took control of San Gimignano, most of them were torn down. The Piazza della Cisterna is a beautiful piazza with an old stone well in the middle.

Corsa dei Ceri

This is a procession, a pageant and a race all at the same time. It is between three teams bearing the small statues of Saint Ubaldo, Saint George, and Saint Anthony. They are mounted upon huge wooden pedestals each carried by a team of ' Cerioli' clad respectively in yellow, blue, or black. It is held in the Umbrian town of Gubbio each year on May 15.

Spoleto

This is a medieval fortress town close to the Apennines, and is visually stunning as you travel towards it. The town is also something of an architectural Smorgasbord. The Romans left grand arches and an amphitheatre while the Lombards made it the capital of their duchy in 570, building a Romanesque cathedral in the early 13th century. The facade then had Renaissance elements added to give it the look you see today.

Piazza del Duomo

The main attraction for visitors to Florence is the Piazza del Duomo where many of the city’s major monuments are located. There’s the impressive Duomo with its massive dome and adjacent clock tower. Il Duomo di Firenze is one of the most amazing architectural and artistic wonders of the Renaissance with its unique Brunelleschi’s Dome.