Places to visit

Pisa (40 km)

The history of Pisa has got its roots in the 5th century B.C., when Pisa was an Etruscan settlement, that faced the sea. In the 2nd century B.C. the Romans built Portus Pisanus.
After the end of the Roman Empire, this was a port town of great importance for the Gothes, the Longobards and the Carolingians too. A further development transformed Pisa, in the 11th century, into one of the most powerful Italian Maritime Republics, together with Genoa, Venice and Amalfi.
For most part of the Middle Ages, the powerful Pisan navy guaranteed to the town the supremacy of the West Mediterranean Sea.

http://www.comune.pisa.it/

Florence (30 km)

Firenze is situated on the Appenines slopes, on a plain crossed by the Arno and surrounded by green hills, that are typical of Toscana. Firenze is the town which gave its own language to Italy, helping her to become a nation and which gave to Europe that unique great season of cultural, artistic and scientific development called Renaissance. http://www.comune.firenze.it/

Vinci (20 km)

Leonardo's Home Town The borough of Vinci numbers 14 thousand inhabitants. It is situated in the heart of Tuscany, only a few kilometres from Florence and Pistoia, a stone's throw from Pisa, and within an hour's drive from Lucca and Siena. Vinci extends over an area of 54 sq. km., with a minimum altitude of 26m at Sovigliana and a maximum of 640m on Montalbano (Cupolino), where the greater part of the borough territory may be found. http://www.comune.vinci.fi.it/
Vinci, Leonardo's home town, lies in the heart of the most verdant countryside. This gives the surrounding landscape a magical and enchanted quality, worthy of the most suggestive of Leonardo's images.

Pisa-Livono seaside (60 km)

From Viareggio to the Gulf of Poets, the northern part of Tuscany is flanked by the long sandy beaches of the Versilia, upto the border with Liguria, where, in the Cinque Terre, the shape of the coast becomes rocky offering a haven for diving enthusiasts. The sea which washes the coast of Tuscany has all the advantages of the Mediterranean Sea. It is ideal for windsurfing, water-skiing and other water sports.

http://www.vacanzeinversilia.com/tirrenia.html

Abetone mountains (40 km)

Abetone is a well-known mountain resort in the Pistoia Appennines situated 1388m above sea level. It takes its name from a massive fir (abete) tree that was cut down when the Lorraine and the Este ordered the building of the Trans-Appennine road linking the Duchies of Modena and Tuscany. For a long time it has been popular as a retreat from the heat in summer and for skiing in the winter.

http://www.abetone.org/

Chianti winery

How is Chianti Classico produced? To begin at the beginning, pruning starts once the vine has entered a dormant state, which lasts from the end of November to the end of February. The traditional pruning systems are the Guyot and a derivation known as the Tuscan arched cane. http://vinitoscani.altervista.org/

San Giminiano (25 km)

San Gimignano rises on a hill (334m high) dominating the Elsa Valley with its towers. Once the seat of a small Etruscan village of the Hellenistic period (200-300 BC) it began its life as a town in the 10th century taking its name from the Holy Bishop of Modena, St. Gimignano, who is said to have saved the village from the barbarian hordes. http://www.comune.sangimignano.si.it/

Siena (50 km)

Siena is situated 322 mt above the sea level, in the heart of Tuscany. It has kept its typical medieval appearance untouched, with narrow alleys and noble palaces, surrounded by a beautiful hill landscape.
Siena is an ancient medieval town, that was born on three hills and was enclosed by walls. Still today, it welcomes its visitors with this motto, written on the Camollia Door: “Cor Magi tibi Seni pandit� (Siena opens its heart to you, even more than its door).
The undisputed symbol of the town is the tower Torre del Mangia, in the renowed Piazza del Campo, that has been the theatre of the Palio for many centuries.

http://www.comune.siena.it/

Montespertoli - town of wine

 Montespertoli, situated in the Chianti area about 25 Km from Florence, is an important grape and wine producing town. It is known as "the town of wine" and the Wine feast of Montespertoli start at the end of the May month. Because of its position along the Via Volterrana (the road which connected Florence to Volterra), it played a strategic role in the past centuries. It is worth to visit the Parish Church of St. Pietro in Mercato (IX century) in Lucardo, the Church of St. Lorenzo in Montefugoni, the Botinaccio Convent (XVI century) and the Church of St. Stefano in Lucignano.http://www.comune.montespertoli.fi.it/

CERTALDO(15 km)

Come testimoniano alcuni ritrovamenti nel territorio, si fanno risalire ad epoca etrusco-romana. Deriva il suo nome dal latino cerrus       (o dal germanico cerrus aldo) col significato dialtura ricoperta di cerri" La sua storia Ã¨ documenta dal 1164 quando Federico il Barbarossa concesse il territorio ai Conti Alberti che vi esercitarono il dominio fino alla fine del 1200. Assoggetto alla Repubblica di Firenze, Certaldo divenne dal 1415 sede del Vicariato, tanto che anche nel periodo Mediceo fu il centro politico e giudiziario più importante della Valdesa. La facciata, come l'atrio e il cortile del Palazzo Pretorio, reca le insegne dei diversi Vicari fra cui i bellissimi stemmi in terracotta invetriata della bottega dei Della Robbia.http://www.comune.certaldo.fi.it/