Tuscany — the name evokes olive groves, rolling hills, historic towns, castles, seaside villas and long afternoons sipping wine beneath a clear Italian sky. This central Italian region stretches from the Tyrrhenian Sea to the Apennine Mountains and includes a small archipelago of islands. Its famous towns—Florence, Pisa, Siena, Lucca and Grosseto—are rich in art and history, from the Leaning Tower of Pisa and Siena’s medieval towers and narrow streets to the world-class collections housed in the Uffizi Gallery in the heart of Florence. Nearby, the island of Elba offers wild trails and waterfalls and a dramatic historical note as the place where Napoleon was exiled in 1814.
Tuscany is as much a culinary and sensory destination as a visual one. The region produces celebrated wines such as Chianti, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Brunello di Montalcino, and local desserts include castagnaccio (a traditional chestnut cake) and buccellato (an anise-flavored cake). For a full-sensory stay, consider the Grand Hotel & La Pace in Montecatini Terme, a renowned spa town. The hotel pairs historic luxury with fine dining and a well-equipped spa that features a Rasul chamber and heated pools. The surrounding spa park invites relaxed strolls or short bicycle rides to admire classic thermal centers and landscaped gardens.
Other exceptional accommodations include Il Salviatino, a restored 15th-century villa in the village of Fiesole on Florence’s outskirts. Il Salviatino combines elegant formal gardens with a full-service spa and characterful rooms that retain original features such as exposed stonework, mezzanine levels, spiral staircases and ancient stone baths. Staying in such properties enhances the sense of history and place that defines a visit to Tuscany.