Tuscany has captured the imagination of artists, historians and romantics through the centuries. The 'capo luogo' Firenze is literally a museum of fine art captured on celings, walls and in its architecture. In the thirteenth century, it wasn't just its art but also its currency, 24 carat gold coin the Fiorino, that made it the preferred currency of trade in Europe. It shouldn't come as any surprise then that the Florentine's are very proud of their history, and believe that they hold a superior place in Italy's history and culture.

Tuscany Villas welcomes you! This is a travel guide to Tuscany with a British perspective, to help you succeed in getting the best out of your holiday. We combine a mix of Tuscany's history and tradition, with suggested itineraries, travel advice, and cultural insights gained from living more than ten years in the region.

In Our Tuscany you can read a series of first-hand articles, from getting married to buying a house in Tuscany to the Top 5 places to eat in Tuscany. The aim is not just to provide you with practical tourist information on the Tuscany region, but to impart some insider knowledge gained through living here both as a tourist and as a resident. Using our Interactive map of Tuscany  you'll be able to pinpoint some of the regions most famous monuments and historic buildings, being able to zoom right in to get a first person view of the places themselves. Our First time visitors guide to Tuscany and drivers guide will help you prepare for your visit to Italy, while our guide to the beaches will help you to match the beach to the type of experience you are looking for - whether it's a family, nightlife, or a natural beauty experience you are after. If you're coming to Florence in the car, parking guide!

Our newsletter, subscribe on the right, delivers relevant information in the summer months for those planning a holiday, and every so often the newletter will reveal something special and truly unique, so it's well worth signing up for. If you are looking for information on some of the historical heavyweights of the region, such as the Duomo of Florence, the beauty of San Gimignano or the famous Palio of Siena, take a look in the section Places to visit to make sure you don't miss these.

Finally, if you've got comments or feedback you'd like to share, please drop us a line using our contact form. If you'd like instant updates you can also join us on Twitter here.

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