Things to see and do Toscane

The elegant Place du Dôme, the ancient heart of the city, has a very medieval charm and concentrates religious, judicial and civil powers, as was customary in the Middle Ages. Around it are its precious monuments: cathedral, bell tower, baptistery, Pretorio Palace (1367) with its courtyard decorated with 14th century frescoes, Bishops' Palace (episcopal residence until 1786), and municipal palace, symbol of civil power. As in the past, the Piazza del Duomo is animated on Wednesdays and Saturdays mornings by the market. One of the most beautiful squares in Italy!

The construction of the Basilica of Our Lady of Humility began in 1495 to celebrate a miraculous event: while internal struggles raged in the city, some of the faithful saw tears on the fresco of the Virgin Mary nursing the Child Jesus (now preserved in the Rospigliosi Chapel). A huge church was then built, with a Renaissance dome (the third largest in Italy, after St. Peter's in Rome and Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence), on the very site of the miracle. The text of the time reports about the miraculous image as follows: "In the year of the Lord 1490, on Saturday, July 17, this image was seen pouring sweat, or liquor, from his Holy Head, which like clear water sprang clearly from its source, and from each part of the forehead miraculously irrigated his clothes. Because of this novelty, the church was attended with great devotion by some of them; once the miracle was seen, they began to ring the bells. "But the construction of the basilica took a long time, more than fifty years precisely, and was interrupted several times for financial reasons or because of internal vicissitudes, such as the fierce struggle between the Panciatichi and Cancellieri families who were fighting for political power. Today, the basilica is the most important Renaissance building in Pistoia, and its large dome is visible from all over the city.

Located on the famous and popular Via Nazionale, also known as "Rugapiana", this gallery exhibits in a room dating from the 11th century pictures of Cortona and its region, taken by local photographers. The most surprising thing is surely the well ( "pozzo" in Italian, from which the gallery takes its name) which is located in the middle, probably of Etruscan origin. Watercolours, prints, engravings and ceramics are also on display, and pretty hand-bound notebooks are on sale.

The (small) Museum of Minerals and Mining Art is located in the centre of Rio Marina, within the historic headquarters of the mine management, the Palazzo del Burò. It exposes the different minerals present on the island of Elba, in particular pyrite and magnetite. This collection is one of the most important on the island, with samples of exceptional beauty. The visit continues with the discovery of the geological history of the Elbe and its deposits, exploited from Etruscan times to 1981. In addition to a life-size gallery, the museum also presents original working tools found on the extraction sites, such as picks or carbide lamps - precious objects for miners who take us back in time, telling us about the lives of these men who, from generation to generation, have spent their lives in the dust, noise and humidity of the galleries. An interesting meeting to understand how iron has regulated the economic activity of the island of Elba for centuries.

From April to October, guided hikes to Rio Marina's iron mining sites are also organized by the museum. Ask at the reception desk about the days of departure. Also offered, and in high demand, is the mini-train tour of the open-pit mines. The visit, on reservation, lasts a good hour for an exciting tour through the geo--mineralogical heritage of the island of Elba.

Built in 1677, the church represents a strong sign of Napoleon's passage on the island of Elba. Since 1852, every May 5 is celebrated a mass in his honour. There is also the body of San Cristino, martyr and patron saint of the city of Portoferraio. The small adjacent museum preserves the flag that Napoleon gave to the Elbe on May 4, 1814, the bronze mask of Napoleon dying, given by Prince Anatolio Demidoff, and the bronze casting of his right hand.

This superb nature reserve is located in Torre del Sale, about 12 kilometres from Piombino, on the road to Vignale. It extends over approximately 92 ha of freshwater ("Bottagone") or saltwater ("Orti") ponds, and is home to more than 200 species of birds, the stars of which are white herons, white storks and geese. The site is one of 117 oases protected by WWF Italy. An ideal spot for birdwatching and beautiful walks in perspective.

You will find a wealth of practical information about the region, the calendar of festivities, as well as tips on crossing to the island of Elba. Indeed, from the port of Piombino, ferries leave for the islands of the Tuscan archipelago (Elba is only 10 kilometres from the coast), as well as for Sardinia and Corsica. The two main companies are Moby (www.mobylines.fr) and Toremar (www.toremar.it). They both serve Portoferraio, the "capital" of the island of Elba, in about an hour.

Spread all over the village of Montecatini Alto (located in the heights of Montecatini Terme), the medieval towers bear witness to the village's defensive past. In the past, Montecatini Alto had twenty-five of them, but there are only seven left today. Their construction dates back to the 12th century. As for the city's defensive walls, only the "Porta di Borgo" has survived the passage of time. On the other hand, the two fortresses, Tramontana and Carmel, which each dominate their hill, have passed through the ages.

The former Guzman powder magazine (fortification built during the Spanish occupation in 1692 and where Garibaldi acquired the ammunition necessary for the Expedition of the Thousand in 1860) houses the Orbetello Archaeological Museum. The exhibition, characterised by a didactic layout, preserves the archaeological remains of the region, as well as particularly precious discoveries from the Etruscan necropolises of Orbetello and Talamone. We can see beautiful ceramics, coins, Roman and Etruscan objects dating from the 7th and 6th centuries BC.

Marina di Campo is probably the largest of all the beaches on the island of Elba. It is almost 1,400 metres long. And fortunately! Because in summer, it is quickly taken by the trendy youth on holiday. It is nevertheless magnificent, with its fine golden sand worthy of a postcard. Some parts are freely accessible. The beach is easily accessible by foot from the city centre of Marina di Campo.

Fort Longone, also known as Fort San Giacomo, which dates from the seventeenth century, when the region was under Spanish domination, was intended to strengthen the defense system and control of maritime traffic.

Only a walk along the ramparts can be considered. For years, this ancient Spanish fort has served as a prison. Do not have fun getting inside, even if doors are open. The police watch and take up all those who venture there. It is also possible to access beautiful beaches at the foot of the fort.

With an almost unspoilt nature, the Maremma Natural Park, created in 1975, covers nearly 10,000 hectares. This reserve, located between Principina a Mare and Talamone, is mainly composed of pine forests - including the Alberese one, which was restored in 1844 by the Lorenas. It also includes the Uccellina Mountains (covered with dense Mediterranean vegetation, pine forests and very old olive trees), the mouth of the Ombrone, and multiple towers built against pirate invasions. This preserved area includes the Palude della Trappola, a very marshy area rich in wildlife, with large colonies of marsh birds and some birds of prey. Many bird species are protected.

Immense and wild at the same time, the Parc naturel de la Maremme offers many hiking trails, with different levels of difficulty. The themes of the walks are also varied, since itineraries focused on the history of Benedictine women in the region, the life of deer, or the history of medieval ruins, for example, are proposed. It is not uncommon to encounter free-ranging animals such as wild boars, foxes, fallow deer, martens or this species unique in Italy, the maremmana, a cow with long horns (which strangely resembles buffaloes). In the distance, there are the remains of the old Abbazia di San Rabano, the only unnatural element in this untamed setting. The landscape is absolutely magnificent.

Since 1957, the Civic Museum has been housed in the Palazzo Neri-Orselli, one of the few examples of palaces in Montepulciano that have preserved its typical 14th century Sienese civil architecture. This palace houses a collection of more than 200 paintings by artists such as Margaritone d'Arezzo, Bicci di Lorenzo, Sodoma, Paris Bordone, as well as goldsmith's pieces and precious terracotta signed Andrea della Robbia. In its archaeological section, the Civic Museum also looks back to the Etruscan period of Valdichiana

Beautiful and large fine sandy beach, easily accessible and with a large (paid) car park, surrounded by the abundant vegetation characteristic of the island of Elba. On the beach, there are bars and restaurants. Eating spaghetti allo scoglio with your feet in the sand, while the darkness gradually falls on the sea, is part of the holiday! Some areas are open access, others are occupied by seaside resorts. And you can rent pedal boats there!