Tuscany is arguably the prettiest region in Italy. It is emblazoned with seemingly infinite colours and textures - poppy meadows and emerald green pastures, ochre hillsides and orange-roofed villages. Every corner is worth a photograph. But away from this rustic scene you'll find some of Europe's most engaging cities, too.

Take a trip out to Florence and stare transfixed at Michelangelo's David. Crane your neck sideways to gaze at the angle-defying Leaning Tower of Pisa. Or head to Siena and lose yourself in the warren of Medieval lanes and alleys. What is really great about Tuscany is that you shift gear to suit your mood. One day you're strolling through fields with tall grasses tickling your legs and the next you're sipping a cappuccino in a bustling square.

Boasting a blend of delicious food, beautiful wine and the birth of Renaissance, Tuscany is classic Italy. Renaissance heritage is rife, magnificent works of art, sculpture and architecture line the streets of almost every city while medieval hill towns are scattered liberally among the lush fruit groves of orange, lemon, olive and chestnut.

Acres of vineyards produce some of the world’s finest wines, and the legendary gastronomic delights of fresh fruit, seafood, pasta and pizza are sure to make your mouth water. The region’s most prized art and historical relics reside in the larger cities; while hilltop medieval towns offer comfortable, inexpensive villa holiday living and breathtaking views of rustic vineyards and olive groves.

Tuscany remains essentially rural, its climate and terrain perfect for outdoor adventures on your villa holiday. Rolling hills, serene lakes and plunging valleys are ideal for horse riding, cycling and walking holidays. Learn to cook regional food with local chefs, sample a wave of famous wines or simply take a wander into the countryside to enjoy the vibrant seasonal colours. Visiting the region at different times of the year can offer really unique Tuscany holidays. In June, sunflowers are in abundance; observe the grape harvests in late September, or be there for the October arrival of porcini mushrooms and truffles.

Shopping

Tuscany is known for its high quality leather goods, crystal, terracotta and lace, but you can also visit a variety of factory outlets offering the height in designer fashion on your villa holiday. Antiques, local crafts, souvenirs, jewellery and art can be found in all Tuscany’s main cities. Dazzling colours, noises and aromas will draw you to the authentic outdoor markets selling everything from food to furniture.

Eating out

Tuscany is home to the very finest home grown food. With a world-renowned reputation in wine and olive oil production, you can expect to sample the most delicious natural fare – all cooked and lovingly prepared from scratch. Sun-drenched trattorias are the perfect place to soak up the Tuscany way of life on your villa holiday, where eating out is a real event. Pizzeias, restaurants and village eateries serve only traditional cuisine to ensure the true flavour of Italy lands on every plate.

Striking buildings, galleries and treasure-crammed cathedrals set Tuscany apart as one of the top cultural destinations in the world. Famous for its art, its history and its evocative landscape, Tuscany offers visitors beautiful countryside and tranquil villages. Everywhere there are fascinating places to visit such as the medieval towns of San Gimignano, Pienza and the famous Cinque Terre towns. Surrounded by rolling hills, San Gimignano's 13th century lookout towers dominate the landscape for miles around.

Explore the spectacular rocky heights of the Apuan Alps and tranquil villages and hills; nature reserves, lively walled cities and cultural jewels such as Pisa are to be found. Everywhere are fascinating places to visit like the spectacular Carrara marble quarries. Visit some of the most beautiful cities in Italy to uncover this rich trove of art and architecture – each celebrating its own unique place in history. Tuscany also boasts many traditional festivities throughout the year, marking historical events and medieval tournaments that took place centuries ago. Festivals of music, arts, dance and film also offer visitors the chance to join in the Tuscany atmosphere.

Try a trip to Florence. There’s so much to see in Florence that the difficulty will be squeezing everything in. A fitting place to start is the Uffizi Gallery, home to the Medici art collection and containing works by Botticelli, Da Vinci and Raphael.

Michelangelo’s ‘David’is a star attraction, now housed in the Galleria del’Accademia. Dominating the city’s skyline is the Duomo – climb the Campanile (bell tower) for amazing views of the city and look round the Baptistry, Florence’s oldest building. Another definite for your sightseeing agenda is the 14th-century Ponte Vecchio, the only bridge to escape bomb damage in World War II, and now lined with small shops selling gold and silver.

Pisa is only an hour away from Florence, making it ideal for a multi-centre break. Few buildings around the world capture the imagination as much as Pisa's famous leaning bell tower, situated in the aptly named Miracle square. Within the same square is the beautiful baptistery and cathedral, which provide a fascinating architectural combination.

Almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, San Gimignano is one of Tuscany's best-preserved Medieval towns. Surrounded by flame-shaped cypress trees and poppy-filled meadows, San Gimignano exudes an almost fairytale-like character, compounded not least by the thirteen 13th-century lookout towers that punctuate its skyline. Built to serve as both fortresses and symbols of aristocratic wealth, these tall, windowless towers have come to symbolise the town.

Climb to the top of the soaring Torre Grossa and gaze out across the idyllic Tuscan hills and stroll through the quaint cobblestone streets to the 12th-century Collegiata. Its plain and rather unassuming facade belies its magnificent interior. One of the most frescoed churches in all Italy, the colonnaded central aisle is decorated in striking blue and white stripes its indigo-hued vaulted ceilings are awash with gold stars. Vivid fresco cycles depicting Biblical tales adorn the walls – of particular note are the 26 split level episodes from the Old Testament which include the creation of Adam and Eve and Noah's Ark.

Towering over the river Cecina, looking down on vineyards, terraces of olive trees and chestnut and oak woods is the historical village of Pomarance. In its quiet, secluded hilltop location 70km west of Sienna, it is the perfect place to discover the wonders of Tuscany. In the village itself are well-preserved reminders of its past including the medieval houses and the old Roman church. Beyond it are the ancient city of Volterra 20km away and the coastline just 30km away.

The green hills around Villamagna are filled with woods, meadows, vineyards and olive groves. Hidden among them is the small and charming village iself. Quiet and tranquil, nowhere could be closer to nature than this picturesque part of Tuscany where wild boar and deer browse undisturbed.

Imagine the residents of Siena preparing for a horse race. But they are not dressing in fancy frocks and outrageous hats; their preferred costume dates back 400-500 years to medieval times. Some are wearing armour, others are in gaudy pantaloons or the long-obsolete uniforms of standard bearers. This horse race will be run bareback, within the confines of the city's main square! It's just part of the most celebrated festival in Tuscany, an event that can trace its history back to the early 1200s.

Siena's past also lives on in its buildings. It is, without doubt, one of the best-preserved medieval towns in the whole of Europe. You can wander through the winding streets and fancy yourself transported back to those days.

A walk into Piazza del Campo – Siena's main square and the scene of the horse race – will present you with buildings on a slightly grander scale. A turreted campanile, the soaring bell tower typical of so many Tuscan towns, stands above the square and its heavily ornate fountain. And then you come to an extraordinary Duomo, a huge striped cathedral, the barred effect achieved with alternate layers of black and white stone, and enhanced by the generous use of pink and green marble inlaid around the portico. Step through this inviting portal look up…at a ceiling depicting the night sky, painted with gold stars.

      When you rent a holiday home in Tuscany through ownersabroad.org, you deal directly with the owner, who is your best source of information for local attractions, restaurants, entertainment near your accommodation in Tuscany.　Local knowledge helps to make the most of villa holidays in Tuscany.