Tuscan Tours and Sights

• Located in central Italy, the Tuscany region’s influence on culture can not be overstated. It is regarded as the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance in the 14^th century; producing artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli, and Michelangelo. Florence, the capital city of the Tuscany region, has influenced cultural and artistic movements around the world—a rippling effect of beauty emanating from what some call the “cradle of the Renaissance”.  Florence maintains buildings of architecture from another age, ready to be witnessed as the stand the test of time. Whether the traveler is looking to relax at a café, enjoying the air and ambiance of classic beauty, or visit the some of the greatest artworks on the planet in pristine museums—a few days in Florence will cure the itch for an eye-opening journey into Italy’s past and present.

• A more local attraction than Florence, Pisa is not as overwhelming. Though the Gothic and Renaissance architecture will keep the traveler’s eyes wandering as they traverse the city, the streets are filled with more locals than tourists. Of course, the primary attraction is the Leaning Tower; a construction project gone terribly wrong—again and again. But this tower is only one of many sites. In fact, the Leaning Tower was simply meant to be a bell tower of the famed Duomo next to it. This cathedral, finished in 1118, is an astonishing example of Romanesque style. Inside, the arches are a mystic geometry that enhance the awe of the vaulted ceiling—seeming to stretch just within the reach of the heavens. Pisa has the calm of a smaller city with fantastic sites to behold, and the food—well, it is Italy.

• Getting further away from the hectic atmosphere of larger cities, the Cinque Terre waits for the traveler along the rugged western coast of Italy. It is a line of five seaside villages existing for centuries in mostly remote places. This villages are Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. Some are positioned on rocky ground, while others are snuggled into cliffsides—all having an appeal of the best views that Italy’s coasts offer up. The colorful buildings elevated above a blue ocean, as the village lights reflect on the water at night or daylight soaks the surrounding mountainsides, can be a refreshing environment for any traveler looking to get away from the world for a bit.

Italy is one the most visited locations on Earth, a romantic place with varied sites to visit for almost every traveler. But Blue-Roads Touring takes the traveler down roads of the lesser known, as well as some of the more known. This can be a great mix to truly experience the heart and soul of a country that has come to represent a baseline of beauty across the world.