About this ebook
Whether you want to sample delicious Tuscan food and wine, gaze at the iconic Leaning Tower of Pisa or browse eclectic markets in Florence, your DK Eyewitness travel guide makes sure you experience all that this region has to offer.
The birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence is filled with architectural masterpieces and dazzling collections of art. Yet the countryside is just as mesmerizing, with cypress-lined roads leading to picturesque towns and idyllic islands lying just off the coast.
Our newly-updated guide brings Florence and Tuscany to life, transporting you there like no other travel guide does with expert-led insights and advice, detailed breakdowns of all the must-see sights, photographs on practically every page, and our hand-drawn illustrations which place you inside the region's iconic buildings and neighborhoods. DK Eyewitness Florence & Tuscany is your ticket to the trip of a lifetime.
Inside DK Eyewitness Florence and Tuscany you will find:
- A fully-illustrated top experiences guide: our expert pick of Florence and Tuscany's must-sees and hidden gems.
- Accessible itineraries to make the most out of each and every day.
- Expert advice: honest recommendations for getting around safely, when to visit each sight, what to do before you visit, and how to save time and money.
- Color-coded chapters to every part of Florence and Tuscany, from Santa Croce to Oltrarno, Central - Tuscany to Southwest Tuscany.
- Practical tips: the best places to eat, drink, shop and stay.
- Detailed maps and walks to help you navigate the region country easily and confidently.
- Covers: Tuscany, Florence, Around the Duomo, Around Santa Croce, Around San Lorenzo
Oltrarno, Tuscany, North East Tuscany, Central Tuscany, South East Tuscany, North West Tuscany
South West Tuscany.
Touring the country? Try our DK Eyewitness Italy. Want the best of Florence and Tuscany in your pocket? Try our DK Eyewitness Top 10 Florence and Tuscany.
About DK Eyewitness:
At DK Eyewitness, we believe in the power of discovery. We make it easy for you to explore your dream destinations. DK Eyewitness travel guides have been helping travelers to make the most of their breaks since 1993. Filled with expert advice, striking photography and detailed illustrations, our highly visual DK Eyewitness guides will get you closer to your next adventure. We publish guides to more than 200 destinations, from pocket-sized city guides to comprehensive country guides. Named Top Guidebook Series at the 2020 Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards, we know that wherever you go next, your DK Eyewitness travel guides are the perfect companion.
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Reviews for DK Florence and Tuscany
53 ratings1 review
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Indeholder "Sådan bruges guiden", "Introduktion til Firenze og Toscana", " Firenzes og Toscanas placering på landkortet", " Portræt af Toscana", " Året rundt i Firenze og Toscana", " Firenzes og Toscanas historie", "Områderne i Firenze", " Firenze - kort fortalt", " Østlige bymidte", " Nordlige bymidte", " Vestlige bymidte", " Oltrarno", " To forslag til rundture", " Bykort, Firenze", "Områderne i Toscana", " Toscana - kort fortalt", " Vestlige Toscana", " Nordlige Toscana", " Østlige Toscana", " Centrale Toscana", " Sydlige Toscana", "Praktiske oplysninger", " Overnatning", " Restauranter, cafeer og barer", " Indkøbsmuligheder", " Lokale forhold", " Rejseveje", "Register", "Ordliste", "Mini-parlør".
Glimrende og superflot guidebog, men der må være sket noget siden 1997
Book preview
DK Florence and Tuscany - DK Travel
FLORENCE AND TUSCANY
Inspire / Plan / Discover / Experience
Contents
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price guide
Throughout the guide the following price categories have been applied:
¡¡¡ On a budget
¡¡¡ Mid-range
¡¡¡ Splurge
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Discover Florence and Tuscany
alt imaget Panoramic views over Ponte Vecchio
g Discover Florence and Tuscany g Contents
Welcome To
FLORENCE AND TUSCANY
alt imaget The view over the Duomo and rooftops in Florence.
Awe-inspiring Renaissance masterpieces. Ruby-red Chianti and pungent pecorino cheese. Cypress-covered hills and maze-like medieval towns, packed with age-old tradition. Whatever your dream trip to Florence and Tuscany includes, this DK Eyewitness travel guide is the perfect companion.
alt imagealt imagealt imageAs the birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence and Tuscany has an artistic legacy that is second to none. From Michelangelo’s David to the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the sheer concentration of world-famous icons is breathtaking. The region’s culinary heritage is equally rich, with every town and village producing its own unique delicacies: try a panino col lampredotto in Florence, go truffle hunting in San Miniato or sup cacciucco in Livorno. And no trip to Tuscany would be complete without sampling the local wine. Brunello di Montalcino, Vernaccia di San Gimignano – these celebrated names are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the vast array of exquisite varieties on offer.
Dating back to medieval times, Tuscany’s appealing towns and cities are a perfectly preserved slice of the past. Their historic streets are home to an array of architectural delights and lively piazzas. The countryside is calmer but no less colourful: the mesmerizing landscapes include the lush green hills of Val d’Orcia, the rainbow-coloured beaches of Elba and the otherworldly white marble quarries of Carrara. Urban or rural, this is Italy at its most truly picturesque.
From the winding streets of Florence to the outer reaches of the Tuscan Archipelago, we’ve broken the region down into easily navigable chapters, with detailed itineraries, expert local knowledge and colourful, comprehensive maps to help you plan the perfect visit. Whether you’re staying for a weekend, a week, or longer, this DK Eyewitness travel guide will ensure that you see the very best the region has to offer. Enjoy the book, and enjoy Florence and Tuscany.
1 Florence’s Palantine Gallery in the Palazzo Pitti.
2 A rustic farmhouse and cypress trees in Tuscany.
3 The dramatic exterior of the Santa Croce in Florence.
g Discover Florence and Tuscany g Contents
REASONS TO LOVE
FLORENCE AND TUSCANY
Sublime landscapes, Renaissance artworks, picturesque towns, and delectable local dishes and wines: there are so many reasons to love Florence and Tuscany. Here, we pick some of our favourites.
1 CITYSCAPES
006_reasons_to_love_Eifel_Towert The wide-open view of central Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo, taking in the famous Duomo and Ponte Vecchio, is quite simply awe-inspiring.
Discover Reasons to Love Florence and Tuscany
2 VAL D’ORCIA LANDSCAPES
alt imaget Gentle hillsides, pockets of woodland, and rows of cypresses along winding lanes and around the occasional stone chapel: picture-perfect Val d’Orcia is a photographer’s paradise.
Discover Reasons to Love Florence and Tuscany
3 SIENA’S PIAZZA DEL CAMPO
alt imaget The piazza is the centre of community life in Tuscany and the welcome upon entering the delightful shell-shaped heart of Siena is one of the warmest.
Discover Reasons to Love Florence and Tuscany
4 THE LEANING TOWER
006_reasons_to_love_Eifel_Towert One of the Seven Wonders of the medieval world, Pisa’s off-kilter tower still has the power to surprise, however well-prepared you are.
Discover Reasons to Love Florence and Tuscany
5 FLORENCE FASHION
alt imaget Italy’s original capital of fashion, Florence oozes style. Many of the world’s top designers, including Gucci, hail from the city; view their eye-catching wares around Via de’ Tornabuoni.
Discover Reasons to Love Florence and Tuscany
6 TUSCAN FOOD
alt imaget Italian cuisine is a world favourite, and Tuscany’s is among the tastiest. Pride of place goes to the chunky Fiorentina steak: a treat for meat lovers.
Discover Reasons to Love Florence and Tuscany
7 ELBA AND THE ISLANDS
alt imaget Salty sea spray and sunbeams sparkling on the water – a boat trip around Elba and the Tuscan Archipelago is a joy for the senses.
Discover Reasons to Love Florence and Tuscany
8 SAN GIMIGNANO
alt imaget With its forest of towers and charming medieval centre built of stone, San Gimignano is the quintessential Tuscan hill town. Wander at will through the pretty piazzas and alluring lanes.
Discover Reasons to Love Florence and Tuscany
9 MICHELANGELO’S MARBLE
alt imaget Relive the creation of Michelangelo’s David by touring the marble quarries of Carrara and then seeing the sculpture itself in the Galleria dell’Accademia in Florence.
Discover Reasons to Love Florence and Tuscany
10 ARTISTIC MASTERPIECES
alt imaget As the birthplace of countless Old Masters, Tuscany’s artistic heritage is unparalleled. Immerse yourself in the breathtaking collections of world-class galleries such as the Uffizi.
Discover Reasons to Love Florence and Tuscany
11 ETRUSCAN TREASURES
alt imaget Exploring southwest Tuscany’s Etruscan sites offers a fascinating insight into the ancient world. Trace the footsteps of the region’s founders along the sunken roads of the Vie Cave (see Etruscan Footpaths).
Discover Reasons to Love Florence and Tuscany
12 TUSCAN WINES
alt imaget Brunello di Montalcino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Chianti Classico – many of Italy’s finest wines are Tuscan. Don’t miss cantucci with Vin Santo as an end-of-meal treat.
g Discover Florence and Tuscany g Contents
Explore
FLORENCE AND TUSCANY
This guide divides Florence and Tuscany into six colour-coded sightseeing areas, as shown on this map. Find out more about each area on the following pages.
n Double-tap image to read the labels
g Discover Florence and Tuscany g Contents
Florence and Tuscany Itineraries
alt imaget The Duomo dominating Florence’s skyline.
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Discover Itineraries
2 DAYS
A Tour of Florence
With their artistic legacy, picture-perfect countryside and delicious regional delicacies, Florence and Tuscany are a treasure trove for travellers. Whether you want to wander around medieval towns or relax with world-class wine, our itineraries will help you make the most of your visit.
Day 1
Day 2
Discover Itineraries
alt imaget Piazza Santo Spirito.
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Discover Itineraries
7 DAYS
In Tuscany
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Discover Itineraries
alt imaget Pisa’s Leaning Tower.
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Discover Itineraries
10 DAYS
In Florence and Tuscany
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6