Tuscany must see places (Part 4)

Tuscany must see places (Part 4)

Barga

The village of Barga is known for its cathedral and summer music festival. It is set in the shadow of the Orrecchiella and Alpi Apuane mountains. The cathedral is at the top of the hill and offers a spectacular view of the valley below.

Monti dell’Uccellina

The protected environment of the Monti dell’Uccellina in the Maremma is one of the last pristine stretches of coastline in Italy. It offers one of the wildest and emptiest beaches on the Italian mainland. On the seaward side of the Monti dell' Uccellina nature reserve the grey sand beach is backed by dense Mediterranean macchia which stretches for around four miles.

Santa Croce

The Cappella Pazzi in the cloisters of Santa Croce is the gold standard of Renaissance church architecture. The Basilica di Santa Croce is the principal Franciscan church in Florence. It can be found on the Piazza di Santa Croce, about 800 metres south-east of the Duomo. It is also the burial place of Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, and Rossini

Pienza

This was the town that started Renaissance town planning. It happened in 1459 after Pope Pius II decided to transform his birthplace. He chose Rossellino to apply the ideas of Alberti. This view was of a square known as Piazza Pio II with buildings all around it. The Piccolomini Palace, the Borgia Palace and the cathedral completed the overall concept which was then copied in many other towns.

Santa Maria Novella

One of Florence’s key churches, Santa Maria Novella, has a hybrid Romanesque and Renaissance façade. In fact it is the only church with its original façade still in place today. The frescoes inside are by Andrea di Firenze, Uccello, Masaccio, Ghirlandaio and Filippino Lippi.

Pisa

Pisa’s Campo dei Miracoli is the setting for more than just the famous Leaning Tower. Here you will find the city’s cathedral plus the magnificent baptistery and the beautiful cemetery known as the Camposanto. The 56m white marble tower built in 1372 is the bell tower for the Romanesque cathedral.

Abbey of Sant’Antimo

Splendid and serene do not do justice to describe Sant’Antimo. It is one of several working abbeys set in the countryside south of Siena. It is a former Benedictine monastery and its history dates back to 1051. Once you see the location it could only be Tuscany.

The final two must do’s in this region is something you can do in every place you stop. Sample some Tuscan wine, some of Italy’s finest vintages can be found in local wine bars. The other is Ice cream. Until you’ve sampled gelato, you don’t know just how good ice cream can be.