Central Italy
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TUSCANY (TOSCANA)
Tuscany, like fine wine, has been some time in the making ...with its enchanted landscapes and rolling hills covered with bright yellow fields of sunflowers, olive groves, and grapevines, hill towns, monuments, and art, Tuscany is the Italian region in every visitor's dreams. Its capital city, Florence, is the heart of the Italian Renaissance. By the high Middle Ages, the cities of Pisa, Siena, Arezzo, Pistoia, Lucca, and especially Florence had become wealthy because of textile manufacturing, trade, banking, and agriculture. There were many wars between the city states to conquer territory and power. Gradually, Florence came to overshadow and conquer all other cities in the region. Today, Tuscany is a major cultural center and is possibly the greatest repository of art in the world, from extraordinary paintings and sculpture to frescoes and architectural masterpieces. |
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UMBRIA
One of Italy's smallest regions, Umbria lies in the shadow of its more illustrious neighbor, Tuscany. It lies just east of Florence. The many Umbrian hills and mountains cast long dark shadows over river valleys which are already darkened by lush chestnut groves and elm forests. This landlocked region's overwhelmingly medieval character harkens one back to the mysticism and mysteries of the Dark Ages. One thing everyone remembers about Umbria is its wonderful little hill towns – Montefalco, Spoleto, Orvieto, Todi, Gubbio and Spello – just to name a few. Olive oil and wine production flourish here, in a more modest sense than Tuscany, but nonetheless high in quality and enjoyment. |
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THE MARCHES (LE MARCHE)
Travelers who want the best of central Italy are now heading for Le Marche, the third region, alongside Tuscany and Umbria, that makes up the area. It is pronounced "lay markay", is plural (Le Marche) and is sometimes translated into English as "The Marches". The region lies on the eastern side of central Italy, between the Adriatic Sea and the high Apennine mountains, and much of it remains unspoiled by the ravages of mass tourism. True, the Adriatic coast has been a mecca for "sun n' sand" vacationers for decades; but few venture far from the beaches. Inland, perhaps more so than anywhere else in central Italy, you will find places where time really has stood still. Many visitors who come to Le Marche are looking for a taste of the "real" Italy, unsullied by mass tourism, yet welcoming to foreigners - if that's what you want, you won't be disappointed. Whether you want to admire masterpieces of Renaissance art and architecture, trek across wild uncharted mountains or hunt out the best of the catch in a Mediterranean fishing port, Le Marche has enough to keep you busy for a vacation and beyond. |
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LAZIO (LATIUM)
In the heart of Italy and along the Tyrrhenian Sea, Lazio, the region surrounding Rome, is the center of the Italian political life, thanks to the presence of the government and Parliament. It is also the center of Catholicism, and a favorite destination of tourism due to the innumerable landmarks of the Roman civilization and, along the Northern Tuscan border, of the Etruscan civilization. More than half of the population of the whole region lives in or around Rome. Most of the region's other sights can be managed as daytrips from the city, but if you're interested in a slightly different experience, consider staying for longer in one of Lazio's other provinces. |
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ABRUZZO
This is a hilly and mountainous region, just a few hours east of Rome, wedged between the Apennines and the Adriatic Sea. Abruzzo's regional capital is L'Aquila, and a third of the Abruzzo is made up of national parks and nature reserves which offer varied hiking trails. Like the territory, Abruzzo’s traditional cuisine is rustic, comprising of much lamb and mutton. About midway between Rome and the Adriatic Coast lies the remains of Alba Fucens, a Roman site built to be a sort of half-way city for visitors and troops on the way to the coast. |
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