Tuscany City Breaks

Mention Tuscany, and southern Tuscany is the region that readily comes to mind, filled with the classic landscapes of olive groves, vineyards, cypress-topped hills and poppy-filled fields, and scattered with elegant villa, pretty farmhouses and countless sun-hazed hill towns.

At its heart is Siena, the finest medieval town in Europe, centered on the Campo, its majestic square, best known as the stage for the twice-yearly Palio horse race. Elsewhere, virtually every town has something of interest - Arezzo, Cortona, Montalcino, Pienza, San Gimignano, Volterra - as do the region's many pockets of glorious countryside, notably the wooded hills of Chianti and the pastoral heartlands south of Siena, each graced with pretty villages, sweeping views and beautiful, ancient abbeys such as Sant'Antimo and Monte Oliveto Maggiore.

In Tuscany the choice of pleasure is exceptional, from cities with a wide array of culture - notably Siena and Lucca - to the endless possibilities of of region's countryside. There are mountains, sandy beaches and a hundred villages lined with rustic trattorias and bustling bars. And not so far from the beaten track lie towns with the perfect combination of the culture, charm and beauty that make this usually blessed region so irresistable.