Choose the areas in Tuscany where you would like to go!
Tuscany shows a large variety of landscapes from the rugged Apennine hills covered in forests, rolling hills with vineyards and olive groves, the white mountains with marble of the Apuan Alps, swamps, pine forests, islands and sandy beaches with dunes and coastal areas that are great for diving. A landscape with a variety and richness of natural beauty that makes up a vast natural and cultural heritage. For example, the protected area of the Val d’Orcia (natural, artistic and cultural reserve) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tuscany is divided into several geographic areas each with its own identity. Some geographical zones belong to two or three provinces.
There are so many interesting things to see and do in Tuscany that it can be hard to choose where to start.
The Tuscan territory is mostly hilly (66.5%) with several streams that give the various areas different features as for example Valdarno (valley of the Arno river), Valdinievole (valley of the river Nievole), Valtiberina (valley of the river Tiber), Val d’Orcia (valley of the Orcia river) and so on. If you like walking or cycling, there are many paths within the numerous existing nature reserves in Tuscany. In most areas parks, protected areas and nature reserves can be found. The major mountain ranges (the Alps and the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines) account for 25.1% of the territory. The lowland areas cover 8.4% of the region and mainly stretch along the coast. The Tuscan coast is met by the Ligurian Sea in the Versilia area and the Tyrrhenian Sea, in the Maremma. They are part of the Tuscan 7 islands.
According to a legend, the Tuscan Archipelago islands originate from a crown of pearls worn by the goddess Venus, which accidentally fell into the sea. Below a list of the major geographical areas of Tuscany by province.
Click on the name of each area to read more.
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ALPI APUANE; Province of Lucca and Massa Carrara; mountainous area characterized by the extraction of marble
AMIATA; Province of Grosseto and Siena; mountain and ski area
APPENNINO TOSCO EMILIANO; Province of Florence, Massa Carrara, Lucca, Pistoia and Prato; mountainous area
TUSCAN ARCHIPELAGO; Province of Grosseto and Livorno; islands and seaside resort
ARGENTARIO; Province of Grosseto; natural beach
CASENTINO; Province of Arezzo; valleys with natural reserves and religious complexes
CHIANTI; Province of Arezzo, Florence, and Siena; wine area
ETRUSCAN COAST; Province of Livorno; beach resorts
CRETE SENESI; Province of Siena; hilly area with marble mountains and medieval villages
GARFAGNANA; Province of Lucca; hilly area full of vegetation and nature reserves
LUNIGIANA; Province of Massa Carrara; hilly area with marble mountains and medieval villages
MAREMMA; Province of Grosseto, Livorno, and Pisa; coast area with nature reserves and historical nature seaside resorts
MUGELLO; Province of Florence; typical agrarian hilly area
VALDARNO; Province of Arezzo, Florence, and Pisa; valleys around the river Arno
VALDERA; Province of Pisa; typical agricultural hinterland
VAL D’ELSA; Province of Florence and Siena; valley of the river Elsa
VALDICHIANA; Province of Arezzo and Siena; agro-industrial area and wine
VALDINIEVOLE; Province of Pistoia; hills with castled hamlets
VAL D’ORCIA; Province of Siena; hilly World Heritage Area
VALTIBERINA; Province of Arezzo; hilly area in the surroundings of Tiber River
VERSILIA; Province of Lucca and Massa Carrara; coastal zone
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There are some other minor areas with particular characteristics as to the geological formation, vegetation, and exploitation of water and mineral resources that are appealing to tourists.
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TUFF AREA; Province of Grosseto; area with houses built of tuff rock and Etruscan archaeological finds.
EMPOLESE; Province of Florence; leather industries
LUCCHESIA; Province of Lucca; flat area around the city of Lucca with production of oil, DOC wine and camellias
MEDIA VALLLE DEL SERCHIO; Province of Lucca; valley of the river Serchio
MONTALBANO; Province of Florence, Pistoia, and Prato; wine district
MONTAGNE PISTOIESE; Province of Pistoia; mountain and ski area
SVIZZERA PESCIATINA; Province of Pistoia; group of medieval hamlets set in the hills
VAL DI BISENZIO; Province of Florence and Prato; area of natural reserves
VAl DI CECINA; Province of Livorno and Pisa; valley of the river Cecina
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