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3 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Tuscany

One of our favorite things to do is share what we love about Tuscany, home of the Villa Campestri Olive Oil Resort with our guests. The region is definitely more dynamic than just’under the Tuscan Sun’ and you would be surprised at how many small towns are worth discovering, even in our ‘home’ in the Mugello Valley.

More than that is Italy’s strong and vast history, centuries of innovation, home to vast culture and talented ‘stars’ have made this place a must-visit for many people around the world. For this week’s blog post, we want to share these 3 Fun Facts that you probably didn’t already know about Italy’s most popular region. We could think of much more but we would like to make this a continuing series in order to learn a little more about la nostra  bella Toscana.

1. UNESCO loves Tuscany! Many would be surprised at just how many UNESCO heritage sites are in this region. This includes the historic centers of Florence, Siena, San Gimignano, Pienza, and the Piazza del Duomo in Pisa, plus the incredible Medici Villas. Not to mention the Val d’Orcia national park (a truly stunning and serene place).

2. Parliamo Italiano because of Tuscany! While many know of Tuscany’s famous figures, including Michelangelo, Boccaccio, Machiavelli, The Medici Family, Leonardo da Vinci and the list could go on. But did you know that Tuscany is the birthplace of the Italian Language? Look no further than Dante Alghieri whose famous literature ‘The Divine Comedy’ and ‘Inferno’ , along with works by Petrarca, gave this country a common tongue during the Renaissance period.

3. Walking on Sunshine! Tuscany was the first region to adopt pavements. According to InToscana: In 1339, the city of Florence became the first European city to pave their streets. A product of the rich banks and merchants of that era, Florence set the bar for cities around Europe and the rest of the world with this trend setting action.

 

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Guide to UNESCO Sites in Tuscany

Tuscany, an Italian region renowned for its cultural and historical wealth, is home to numerous UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These sites represent not just the architectural and artistic beauty of the region but also its significant historical heritage.

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A Guide to Tuscan Vineyards

In the heart of Italy, Tuscany stands out as one of the most emblematic regions for wine production. Famous for its landscape of gentle hills, cypress trees, and picturesque villages, this region is also a paradise for wine lovers. Tuscan vineyards, nourished by fertile soil and an ideal climate, produce wines that are appreciated worldwide […]

Horseback Excursions Mugello

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Sport Fishing in Tuscany

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Where to Eat Chianina in Val di Chiana

In Val di Chiana, to savor an authentic Chianina steak, there are several renowned restaurant options: 1. Ristorante Casa Cecco: Offers the chance to taste a Chianina steak in a farmhouse dating back to 1600. 2. Agriturismo di Trequanda: Here, Chianina meat, raised in local pastures and processed by the company’s trusted butcher shop, becomes […]

Artists of the 1400s: The Most Famous Italians and Florentines

The Italian Quattrocento was a period of extraordinary artistic effervescence that produced numerous world-renowned artists. Among them, some of the most influential were: 1. Andrea Mantegna (1431–1506): A painter and engraver from Padua, famous for his frescoes in the Camera degli Sposi in Mantua.