Tuscany and surroundings

With its magnificent parks, today a UNESCO World Heritage Site, its striking downtown, its high fashion venues and its buildings that date back to bygone eras, this “garden city” is leading vacation spot for wellness, cultural activities and pure relaxation. The hot springs of Montecatini are Italy’s main thermal centre and among the best in Europe. A hub for tourism, business, sport, wellness and hospitality, the area is the beating heart of Tuscan spa culture, and the properties of the local waters  boost both health and beauty.  For centuries, a crossroads of cultures, exchanges and encounters, the Valdinievole extends between Lucca and Pistoia and boasts famous thermal baths, wild nature and gems of art and culture known throughout the world.

The lush hills are home to villages and castles, while the territory as a whole, nicknamed "Svizzera Pesciatina,"
 extends all the way to Montalbano. The first human settlements developed right in these hills, which reached their maximum splendour during the Middle Ages. Today, visitors can see traces of fortification process thanks to the strongholds still visible in their positions, defending the entire territory. Starting in the chestnut forests and passing through a landscape dotted with olive trees, on the way down into the valley, visitors will come across the springs of precious waters in Montecatini Terme, which can still today be enjoyed in one of the Liberty-style resorts.

This is where vapours rise from the ground in Monsummano Terme and where the Fucecchio Marsh is located. Thousands of years ago, part of this territory was covered by the sea, which ran right up to the foot of Montalbano, and the Fucecchio Marsh is what remains of that distant geological era. The Valdinievole is also the home of Pinocchio, the most famous puppet in the world. This is where the mother of Carlo Lorenzini, the author of the timeless story, was born. Carlo was born into a modest family, that worked for the aristocratic Garzoni family in Collodi, which is where Carlo got his pseudonym. The Valdinievole is also a land of inspiration. Its waters, its pleasant landscape and its rolling hills have always been a relaxing environment for musicians, including the illustrious Giuseppe Verdi and Giacomo Puccini, painters and artists of all kinds: from literature to theatre, opera and cinema. Nature in this region is the muse of all the arts, but the locals, also have a close bond with it, transforming it into a resource.

The area is known for its plant nurseries, especially in Pescia; the unique Bonsai Museum and the fragrant Citrus Garden are evidence of this. Lastly, the territory boasts excellent typical products, like Tuscan IGP olive oil, top-quality red and white wines, Vin Santo and the delicate but tasty Sorana bean. The delicious sweets produced here include the exquisite Montecatini Wafers and the famous “brigidini” made in Lamporecchio, which star at every town fair and are a favourite of every child in Tuscany.

The historic centre of Pistoia is characterised by the splendid Piazza del Duomo and the charming Piazza della Sala, both full of colorful, typical local and characteristic restaurants, bars and trattorias.
The zoological garden of Pistoia, is worth a visit, as well as Vinci, birthplace of the famous painter Leonardo and the Leonardian Museum., and the San Marcello Pistoiese Astronomical Observatory.


How to get there:

By car: Take the A11 motorway and exit at Pistoia. The historic centere of Pistoia is closed to traffic, so once you arrive in the city, you must park outside the ZTL (Limited Traffic Zone).
By train: Frequent regional trains allow you to reach Pistoia in about 15 minutes and the centere is within
walking distance.

Special events: Pistoia Blues and Serravalle Jazz.

Lucca is one of the most popular cities in Tuscany, and a place you really cannot  miss in a classic itinerary of the region. Do not miss the 16th century walls, the Cathedral of San Martino, the Botanical Garden, the Roman Amphitheatre, the Guinigi Tower and numerous other attractions.

How to get there:
By car: Take the A11 motorway and exit at Lucca Est or Ovest. The old town centre is closed off to traffic, so once you get there, you need to park outside the walls.

By train: Several regional trains allow you to get to Lucca in approximately 20 minutes. The Lucca train station is located in front of the historical walls.

How to visit it: The historic centre can be visited on foot but, if you want to travel over 5 km along the walls, renting a bike is recommended!

Special events: Lucca Comics & Games, (end of October) one of the most important events dedicated to comics, cartoons, games, video games in Europe.
Lucca Summer Festival, musical event with the most popular and renowned musicians, from all around the world (usually from June to September).

Pisa is famous all over the world thanks to The Leaning Tower, but, the city offers plenty of other interesting things to see, worth at least an entire day. Do not miss the town centre, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele and the Lungarni, the (Arno embankments), Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles) with the Leaning Tower, the Baptistery, the Cathedral and the Monumental Cemetery, the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo and the Museo delle Sinopie, and the Botanical Garden, all among the top must- visit attractions in Pisa.

How to get there:
By car: Take the motorway.
By train: Several regional trains take you to Pisa in just 40 mins.

Special events: Every June, Pisa celebrates the city’s patron saint, San Ranieri, with traditional events one after another during “Giugno Pisano”. If you are in Pisa at this time of the year, we suggest you spend some time enjoying the Luminara, the Regatta of San Ranieri and the Battle of the Bridge.

The city of Florence is undoubtedly one of a kind and it is the intellectual, artistic and cultural heart of Italy.

How to get there:
By car: Take the A11 motorway and park at the park-and-ride car park in Viale Guidoni, then take the modern Tramway to  the city centre. No stress, no fines.

By train: Regional trains connect Florence with Montecatini Terme, reachable very well, taking you there in approximately in 1 hour.

How to visit it: Explore the city on foot, enjoying even the most hidden corners.

Golden beaches, an inland area dotted with small villages and nature reserves waiting to be explored, a
mild climate and a nightlife full of shows and entertainment: this is Versilia.

How to get there:
By car: Take the A11 motorway towards Pisa and then Viareggio.

By train: Regional trains connect  Viareggio with Montecatini Terme, very well, approximately in 1 hour.
Versilia is filled with traces of the past that stand out in the main cities: Forte dei Marmi, Pietrasanta and Viareggio along the coast, Massarosa near Lake Massaciuccoli, Camaiore in the hills, and Stazzema and Seravezza in the Versilia, along with several small towns with a natural splendour that gives them an unexpected wild appeal. Do not miss the legendary Carnival of Viareggio in February or the evocative Puccini Festival during the summer.

The charm of the five fishing villages, Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and
Monterosso, leaves visitors breathless.

How to get there:
By car + train: Take the A12, motorway in the Genova – La Spezia direction. Park at the railway station and buy thea Cinque Terre Card: hourly regional trains stop at all the Cinque Terre stations.
By car  + boat: during the summer, a boat service that connects La Spezia with these five wonders of nature is available.

Private transfer: on request.

Chianti is a vast region, located in an area that encompasses Florence and Siena, Chianti.
Chianti’s scenery is as varied as its wines. With the gentle rolling hills covered with
rows and rows of grape vines and picturesque villages that have inspired poets and artists for centuries.

What to see: Do not miss towns like Greve in Chianti, Gaiole in Chianti, Radda in Chianti and the small villages
full of history and traditions. The best way to get there and discover the place is by car.
The Palio di Siena  takes place every year in Siena in August along with fairs and food festivals.
September/October is harvest time.