It’s no surprise that you’d want to give every place in Tuscany a visit because of how each of them can provide you with different kinds of experiences. However, for first timers, this can be a bit of a stretch since being in a new place will provide you with lots of options that you may not have any idea on where to start especially if you think that the number of days you plan on staying there is not enough to cover everything. So for your convenience, here are the top places that you should visit first when you are in Tuscany.

Florence – There are 3 words that can describe Florence and these are: charming, historical, and magical. The Cradle of Renaissance is something that this city can never be beaten Historical places such as the Ponte Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria, and the Cathedral are one of the architectural reasons why you would love to go here. You can never go wrong if you plan on feeding your cravings for Renaissance architecture in this city.

Pisa – The Leaning Tower of Pisa and Piazza dei Miracoli alone are enough to convince you why visiting this place shouldn’t be a part of your list. There are also other hidden gems that will make this city worthy of your time. But if these famous architectures aren’t enough for you, then you can continue along until you reach the Lungarno because you will find other noteworthy spots such as the beautiful “Chiesa della Spina” church and the San Matteo Museum.

Siena – It would be impossible to visit Tuscany and not put Siena as part of your itinerary. Siena will surely provide you with a unique charm as well as some great ancient history. It is recommended that you dedicate an entire day of your Tuscan trip to this city since it would be perfect to walk on its cobblestone streets in the shadow of the brick buildings that surrounds it. This city is also famous for the Palio wherein it is being held each year during July 2 and August 16. You will know that you’re in the heart of the city when you reach Piazza del Campo and you can’t mistake this one because it is easily recognizable in its shell-shape. From here, you can also take some time to appreciate the 88 meter Torre del Mangia. It’s Cathedral is also something that you wouldn’t want to miss because it boasts a black and white façade then it will surprise you with its spectacular interior.

Lucca – Lucca has been dubbed as the “city of 100 churches”, and it is well-recognized for its walkable and perfectly preserved 16th-century walls. It is ideal that you start your tour on this 4km walkway since it overlooks the entire town. You shouldn’t miss out visiting the Roman Amphitheatre and its elliptical shape structure, the Guinigi tower with some trees on its top portion. The forum can be located in the beautiful San Martino Cathedral and the S. Michele square. You can go to the center of the city by passing through the 6 different gates. Just walk around within the walls of the city and then follow the narrow streets.

Almost all cities in Tuscany are famous for their meat, pasta, wine, and most of all, ice cream. Siena, in particular, isn’t an exception in this one because they too have lots of ice cream parlors that are striving to provide the most artisan, freshest, and creative gelateria ever. So if ever you have the time to visit this historical city, and you are craving for some gelato, take the opportunity to give this gelateria a shot. Also, make sure that you avoid the fancy, over-priced tourist traps and only go for the high-quality finds that offer their gelato at an affordable priced. Here are our suggestions for the best and affordable gelateria in Siena, Tuscany.

La Vecchia Latteria – Every tourist who comes will surely say that this is one of the best creams they’ve ever tasted in all of Italy. This ice cream parlor looks a bit modest with a display and interior that aren’t anything like the ones you see residing in the city. The creaminess and richness of its flavors are unmatched compared to the other ice cream parlors out there. This gelateria also makes itself come out on top by using only the freshest and most natural ingredients you’ll even find which means that each batch of ice cream they serve on a daily basis are freshly made. If you want, you can also take a glimpse on the side of their ice cream display since they provide a window for customers to witness how their ice creams are being made.

Nannini – If you are looking for the most creative and satisfying gelateria in Siena, then you shouldn’t miss out on the Nannini. The restaurant may not that be visible to the average tourist, but those who ventures inside will surely come back for more. You can indulge yourself in a variety of flavors as well as some creative mixes such as the penguino wherein it includes a Nutella-like chocolate with a mix of vanilla and cream. If you’re a chocolate lover, then you’ll surely appreciate this place for bringing that into their ice cream menu.

Grom – No matter which part of Italy you will go, the Grom will surely seem like a familiar place since it can be found in almost all major Italian cities as well as some cities abroad. Even though that it may not be that unique to Siena, everyone who may have come to the place will surely say that it’s a worthy visit. Grom also abides by a strict philosophy where they only have to use the freshest ingredients and keep away from the artificial ones. The eggs and milk that are used add extra creaminess to it, and the fruits involved are sweet and seasonal. So if you want to visit this gelateria, then you can’t miss it because it’s located in the center of the city. Don’t ever leave Siena without dropping by this amazing gelateria.

So make sure that you don’t skip on any of these ice cream parlors to ensure that you will enjoy the city particularly on the gelato that it prides itself with.

Tuscany is a region in Italy wherein it is full of historical architecture, luscious vineyards, and a beautiful scenery. From these general ideas alone, there’s no doubt that you’d love to visit Tuscany sooner or later. But apart from the beauty it represents, there are other things in which some people are not familiar of especially on certain aspects where the place can be as notable as it can get. So before you plan your visit to this beautiful region, it’s time for you to know a bit about it first.

Tuscany is where the Italian language originated – Apart from being the heart and soul of Renaissance, Tuscany is also known as the center of culture wherein it became a big influence in the artistic and commercial development of Europe as well as the entire world. Even though there’s a clear relationship between the Italian and Latin language, the modern Italian language that can be commonly heard nowadays is based on the Tuscan dialect which was founded during the Renaissance period.

Tuscany is the first region to adopt pavements – In 1399, Florence is the first European city ever to pave their streets. This was a product of the rich merchants and banks during that era. This set a bar for the other cities in Europe as well as the rest of the world with this trend that they have set upon.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is not the only one – If you think that the Leaning Tower of Pisa is the only one that has a distinct lean, then you thought wrong. The other structures that have this kind of lean are the bell tower of the church of St. Michele dei Scalzi and the church of St. Nicola. The word ‘Pisa’ is actually a Greek word meaning “marsh land”, the Italian architects during that time may have considered this fact before they proceeded on building the famous tower.

Pinocchio is from Tuscany – Even though when people hear the name “Pinocchio”, they would usually associate it with the 1940 classic Disney film, the original story was actually written by Carlo Collodi who was a residence of Florence.

The Marble Arch originated from Tuscany – The huge arch in London that marks the corners of Oxford Street, and Park Lane are very familiar to a lot of people. But the thing that people are not aware of is that the arch’s marble was shipped all the way from Tuscany. A majority of the great artists during the Renaissance also utilize this wonderful resource as well.

Tuscany has a ski resort – Some people would usually think that Tuscany is all about the warm weather and lush vegetation but during the winter season, the slopes that reside in Mount Amata is something that skiers, hikers, and snowboarders would consider a haven. They surely enjoy the wintry conditions especially on the skiing slope that it provides.

With this new found information that you’ve learned about Tuscany, there’s no doubt that you’re eager to explore the place even more.