Insight Guides Pocket Tuscany and Umbria (Travel Guide eBook)
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About this ebook
Plan your trip, plan perfect days and discover how to get around - this pocket-sized guide is a convenient, quick-reference companion to discovering what to do and see in Tuscany and Umbria, from top attractions like Florence's Duomo and Uffizi Gallery, to hidden gems, including medieval Gubbio and the hill village of Todi.
-Compact, concise and packed with essential information about Where to Go and What to Do, this is an ideal on-the-move companion when you're exploring Tuscany and Umbria
-Covers Top Ten Attractions, including Pisa's iconic Leaning Tower and spiritual Assisi as well as Perfect Tour itinerary suggestions
-Offers an insightful overview of landscape, history and culture
-Contains an invaluable pull-out map, and essential practical information on everything from Eating Out to Getting Around
-Includes an innovative extra that's unique in the market - all Insight Pocket Guides come with a free eBook
-Inspirational colour photography throughout
-Sharp design and colour-coded sections make for an engaging reading experience
About Insight Guides: Insight Guides is a pioneer of full-colour guide books, with almost 50 years' experience of publishing high-quality, visual travel guides with user-friendly, modern design. We produce around 400 full-colour print guide books and maps, as well as phrasebooks, picture-packed eBooks and apps to meet different travellers' needs. Insight Guides' unique combination of beautiful travel photography and focus on history and culture create a unique visual reference and planning tool to inspire your next adventure.
Insight Guides
Insight Guides wherever possible uses local experts who provide insider know-how and share their love and knowledge of the destination.
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Insight Guides Pocket Tuscany and Umbria (Travel Guide eBook) - Insight Guides
How To Use This E-Book
Getting Around the e-Book
This Pocket Guide e-book is designed to give you inspiration and planning advice for your visit to Tuscany & Umbria, and is also the perfect on-the-ground companion for your trip.
The guide begins with our selection of Top 10 Attractions, plus a Perfect Itinerary feature to help you plan unmissable experiences. The Introduction and History chapters paint a vivid cultural portrait of Tuscany & Umbria, and the Where to Go chapter gives a complete guide to all the sights worth visiting. You will find ideas for activities in the What to Do section, while the Eating Out chapter describes the local cuisine and gives listings of the best restaurants. The Travel Tips offer practical information to help you plan your trip. Finally, there are carefully selected hotel listings.
In the Table of Contents and throughout this e-book you will see hyperlinked references. Just tap a hyperlink once to skip to the section you would like to read. Practical information and listings are also hyperlinked, so as long as you have an external connection to the internet, you can tap a link to go directly to the website for more information.
Maps
All key attractions and sights in Tuscany & Umbria are numbered and cross-referenced to high-quality maps. Wherever you see the reference [map], tap once to go straight to the related map. You can also double-tap any map for a zoom view.
Images
You’ll find lots of beautiful high-resolution images that capture the essence of Tuscany & Umbria. Simply double-tap an image to see it in full-screen.
About Insight Guides
Insight Guides have more than 40 years’ experience of publishing high-quality, visual travel guides. We produce 400 full-colour titles, in both print and digital form, covering more than 200 destinations across the globe, in a variety of formats to meet your different needs.
Insight Guides are written by local authors, whose expertise is evident in the extensive historical and cultural background features. Each destination is carefully researched by regional experts to ensure our guides provide the very latest information. All the reviews in Insight Guides are independent; we strive to maintain an impartial view. Our reviews are carefully selected to guide you to the best places to eat, go out and shop, so you can be confident that when we say a place is special, we really mean it.
© 2018 Apa Digital (CH) AG and Apa Publications (UK) Ltd
Table of Contents
Tuscany and Umbria’s Top 10 Attractions
Top Attraction #1
Top Attraction #2
Top Attraction #3
Top Attraction #4
Top Attraction #5
Top Attraction #6
Top Attraction #7
Top Attraction #8
Top Attraction #9
Top Attraction #10
A Perfect Tour of Northern Tuscany
Introduction
Treasures of Tuscany and Umbria
Into Modernity
A Brief History
The Roman Period
Christianity and Medieval Clashes
The Renaissance
From Unification to World War II
Recent Developments
Historical Landmarks
Where To Go
Florence
Piazza del Duomo
Piazza della Signoria
Galleria degli Uffizi
Around Piazza della Repubblica
The Bargello and Santa Croce
Santa Maria Novella to the Accademia
Across the Ponte Vecchio to the Oltrarno
Around Florence
Fiesole
The Mugello
Chianti
The Road to Lucca
Prato
Pistoia
Montecatini Terme
Lucca
The Garfagnana
Pisa and the Coast
Pisa
The Versilia
Livorno
Elba
The Maremma
Siena and Around
Siena
Il Campo
The Duomo and Art Gallery
Val d’Elsa
San Gimignano
Volterra
Southern Tuscany
Monte Oliveto Maggiore
Montalcino
Pienza
Montepulciano
Tufa Towns
Arezzo and Eastern Tuscany
Arezzo
Monterchi and Sansepolcro
Cortona and Lago di Trasimeno
Into Umbria
Perugia
Gubbio
Assisi
Todi and Spoleto
Orvieto
What To Do
Shopping
Florentine Favourites
Other Regional Crafts
Antiques and Flea Markets
Weekly Markets
Sports and Outdoor Activities
Entertainment
Music and the Performing Arts
Nightlife
Children’s Tuscany and Umbria
Calendar of Events
Eating Out
Where to Eat
What to Eat
Bars, Caffès and Gelaterie
Beverages
Wine
Reading the Menu
To Help You Order…
…And Read the Menu
Restaurants
Florence
Rest of Tuscany
Arezzo
Cortona
Lucca
Montepulciano
Pienza
Pisa
Pistoia
Prato
San Gimignano
Siena
Volterra
Umbria
Assisi
Gubbio
Orvieto
Perugia
Spoleto
Todi
A–Z Travel Tips
A
Accommodation
Airports
B
Bicycle Hire
Budgeting for Your Trip
C
Camping
Car Hire
Climate
Clothing
Crime and Safety
D
Driving
E
Electricity
Embassies and Consulates
Emergencies
G
Getting There
Guides and Tours
H
Health and Medical Care
I
Internet
L
LGBTQ Travellers
M
Maps
Media
Money
O
Opening Hours
P
Police
Post Offices
Public Holidays
T
Telephones
Time Zones
Tipping
Toilets
Tourist Information
Transport
V
Visas and Entry Requirements
W
Websites
Y
Youth Hostels
Recommended Hotels
Florence
Rest of Tuscany
Arezzo
Cortona
Fiesole
Lucca
Montepulciano
Pisa
Prato
San Gimignano
Siena
Volterra
Umbria
Assisi
Gubbio
Orvieto
Perugia
Spoleto
Tuscany and Umbria’s Top 10 Attractions
Top Attraction #1
Steve MacDonald/Apa Publications
Chianti
Vineyards cloak the fertile hills between Florence and Siena. For more information, click here.
Top Attraction #2
iStock
Duomo, Florence
The cathedral is one of the best-known symbols of the city. For more information, click here.
Top Attraction #3
iStock
Leaning Tower of Pisa
The famous monument is the centrepiece of one of the most breathtaking piazzas in Italy. For more information, click here.
Top Attraction #4
iStock
Piazza del Campo, Siena
Its Torre di Mangia offers incredible views of the city. For more information, click here.
Top Attraction #5
iStock
The Maremma
Tuscany’s southern coastline has many pretty beaches and resorts. For more information, click here.
Top Attraction #6
Corbis
Uffizi Gallery, Florence
An almost dizzying collection of the Italian Renaissance’s most revered paintings. For more information, click here.
Top Attraction #7
iStock
San Gimignano
A collection of beautifully preserved medieval towers gives this hill town a stunning skyline. For more information, click here.
Top Attraction #8
Shutterstock
The Garfagnana
This mountainous area in the north is popular with hikers, climbers and canoeists. For more information, click here.
Top Attraction #9
iStock
Assisi
The birthplace of St Francis is one of Italy’s most spiritual sites. For more information, click here.
Top Attraction #10
iStock
Orvieto’s Duomo
The city’s massive cathedral is spectacular both inside and out. For more information, click here.
A Perfect Tour of Northern Tuscany
Day 1
Historic towns
Drive west to Lucca on the A11, stopping at Pistoia for a stroll around its medieval alleyways and coffee in the central piazza. Continue on to Montecantini Terme and indulge in a spa treatment before lunch. Arrive in Lucca in time to seek out a traditional restaurant for some fine Tuscan cooking.
Day 2
Lucca
Hire a bicycle and ride along the top of the Renaissance walls then explore inside the walls starting from Piazza Napoleone – all the main sights are only a few minutes from here. Join the shoppers on Via Fillungo for some top-end retail therapy.
Day 3
Pisa
Continue along the A11 to the A12 for Pisa. Your first stop has to be Campo dei Meracoli, the green space graced by the Leaning Tower and the Duomo. From the Campo walk south passing through the most evocative part of the old city towards the river. Ideally book a hotel with a roof terrace overlooking the River Arno, and take an early evening riverside stroll before dinner.
Day 4–5
Viareggio
Enjoy breakfast on the roof terrace before travelling north on the SS1 to the seaside resort of Viareggio. The town’s streets that run from the elegant beachside boulevard have plenty of hotels, pizzerias and shops. Take the chance to rejuvenate on the beach for a while.
Day 6
San Gimignano
Continue south on the SS1 skirting round. Take the SR68 west to Volterra, host to some splendid medieval buildings. From Volterra head to San Gimignano, perched on the hill in the distance. Park outside the walls and wonder the unspoiled streets seeking out the Collegiate and Palazzo Comunale. Stop over to appreciate this lovely town when the day-trippers have departed.
Day 7
Siena – Il Campo
Leave San Gimignano heading for Poggibonsi. Get on the Superstrada Firenze-Siena towards Italy’s most perfect medieval city, Siena. In Siena first go to Il Campo and find a café where you can admire the buildings before visiting them. Next explore the sprawl of narrow streets near Il Campo, and find a bar for pre-dinner drinks.
Day 8
Siena – Duomo
Set aside the morning to visit Siena’s magnificent cathedral. Don’t overlook the cathedral’s museum and climbing the steep stairway to a lookout with splendid views. After lunch take in Siena’s many other sights, do a spot of shopping, and call in for ice cream at one of the city’s best gelateria, La Vecchia Latteria (San Pietro 10).
Day 9
Chianti Country
The last day slowly meanders through Chianti Country. Leave Siena on the Chiantigiana road, calling in at Badia a Coltibuono, Radda, Greve and various wine estates dotted along the way (easy on the wine tasting if driving). Arrive in Florence in time for an evening meal.
Introduction
Visitors to Tuscany and Umbria will soon notice that the inhabitants believe they live in the most ideal place in the world. The Florentines think of themselves as residents of one of the most prosperous cities in Italy, as caretakers of the greatest repository of art treasures in the Western world, and as speakers of the purest form of Italian. Elsewhere in Tuscany, you will meet people convinced they live