Introduction to Tuscany and Umbria

The rolling green hills of Tuscany and Umbria have long been the holiday destination of choice for the rich and famous. No wonder, as both central Italian regions combine extensive culture with indulgent relaxation. Opportunities abound to visit fresco-painted churches and Renaissance masterpieces in Florence's top art galleries, as well as quirky landmarks, such as the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Wine tasting in Chianti makes a pleasurable pastime after a morning's sightseeing, and romantic evenings spent strolling through any of the region's medieval and quaint hilltop towns prove unforgettable.

Sightseeing

The Leaning Tower of Pisa stands tall and tipsy -- climb the 300 spiraling steps for sweeping views of the Tuscan city. Work off all those hearty meals with a panoramic cycle atop fortification walls that surround elegant Lucca nearby. Culture vultures can't miss Florence's 13th-century Basilica di Santa Maria Novella, built in typical Tuscan Romanesque style, or the Uffizi Galleries, home to the world's greatest collection of Renaissance masterpieces by Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo.

Shopping

Florence is undoubtedly Tuscany's shopping mecca, where well-heeled fashionistas browse the designer boutiques of Via Tornabuoni and Vigna Nuova; the latter is home to the flagship Salvatore Ferragamo shoe megastore. More affordable souvenirs include pretty Florentine paper in swirly Renaissance-style patterns, and quality leather goods from San Lorenzo market. Further afield, in Siena and Impruneta, traditional handmade terra cotta tiles and pots make great gifts.

Eating and Drinking

Food lovers are lured to the hill town Montalcino, famed for its gourmet honey and salty pecorino cheese. Nearby, in the ancient Etruscan town of Montepulciano, try the ruby colored wine of the same name, in production since the 8th century. Stop for more wine-tasting and a laid-back traditional lunch of homemade pasta in hare sauce, grilled meats and simmered beans at one of the medieval Chianti wineries, considered to be among the best in Italy.

Art and Culture

Art lovers flock to Florence's Accademia for Michelangelo's world-famous sculpture David while the Galleria Nazionale in the Umbrian university town of Perugia has 30 rooms of fine regional paintings. Visit Siena for its Gothic cathedral with black and white marble tiles and a crypt containing 13th-century frescoes. Assisi, the Umbrian birthplace of Italy's patron saint, St. Francis, is home to the holy Basilica di San Francesco, where Giotto's colorful Life of St. Francis frescoes have forever fascinated art historians.