Land of longing Italy: Tuscany embodies the idea of Dolce Vita made in Italy like no other region in the country. Cypress-lined paths, green vineyards, fortress-like villages on the tops of flat hills, fine sandy beaches and cities steeped in history - Tuscany stands for joie de vivre, cultural enjoyment and relaxation. Anyone who has taken a dip on the Riviera della Versilia, strolled through the narrow medieval streets in Lucca, stood in front of the Leaning Tower of Pisa or visited the wild horse show "Palio" in Siena is infected once and for all with the virus called "Tuscany". The scent of the pine forests, the taste of a strong Montepulciano, the chirping of the cicadas on a warm summer evening and the glitter of the Tyrrhenian Sea in the bright sunlight make Tuscany an incomparable place where poets, poets and painters found the inspiration for their works. Tuscany: art and cultural treasures from eight centuries Tuscany welcomes its visitors with centuries-old art and cultural treasures. Florence, the capital, was the epicentre of the fine arts and humanities during the Renaissance. Luminaries such as Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci worked in the city and the astronomer Galileo Galilei found employment as court mathematician to the Medici clan in the 17th century. The Uffizi Gallery in Florence, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the medieval old town of Lucca and the noble tower houses, called "family towers", in San Gimignano are cultural treasures of inestimable value. The town of Montepulciano, situated on a slope of the Chiana valley, is not only known for its excellent red wine. In the centre, one Renaissance palace follows the next and from the balcony of the Caffé Poliziano you can enjoy a magnificent view of the lovely hilly landscape of Tuscany. Bathing on the Versilia Riviera The golden-yellow dream beaches of Tuscany stretch seemingly endlessly along the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea. A hotspot of bathing tourism is the Riviera della Versilia, which stretches between Marina di Massa and the coastal town of Viareggio. If you are looking for a property in Italy with a sea view, you will find it in resorts such as Forte dei Marmi and Camaiore. In the hinterland of the coast, the Apuan Alps rise to an altitude of almost 2,000 metres. Most of the beaches on the Riviera della Versilia are managed. This means that you can look forward to a first-class infrastructure with sunbed and parasol rental, beach bars, freshwater showers and sanitary facilities. Tuscany: the region for gourmets In addition to enjoying the landscape and culture, Tuscany is known for its excellent cuisine. Hearty dishes such as Florentine steak (at least 800 grams of beef fillet), cinghiale in umido (wild boar stew) or the delicious bread salad panzanella are certainly not suitable for losing weight, but God certainly did not have a diet in mind when he created Italy. Some of the best wines in the world come from Tuscany. Fine wines like a Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, an exquisite Tiganello or a spicy Chianti make not only wine connoisseurs click their tongues. The fact that wine is not just for drinking is proven by an ancient tradition that is still practised by locals in some regions of Tuscany. Dry almond pastry called cantucci is dipped into a glass of Vin Santo. When the dough has softened, the mixture is allowed to melt slowly in the mouth.