field in Tuscany]]
(
Italian ''Toscana'') is a region in central
Italy , bordering on
Latium to the south,
Umbria and
Marche to the east,
Emilia-Romagna and
Liguria to the north, and the
Tyrrhenian Sea to the west. It is often regarded as among the most beautiful parts of
Italy .
Tuscany was essentially the birthplace of the
Italian Renaissance , and its artistic heritage includes
Architecture ,
Painting and
Sculpture , collected in dozens of
Museum s, the best-known of which is the
Uffizi in
Florence and in situ in even quite small cities.
Tuscany is known for its
Wine s (most famous of which are
Chianti ,
Morellino Di Scansano and
Brunello Di Montalcino ) and has 120 protected regions (
Nature Reserve s).
Notable
Tourist destinations in Tuscany include
Florence ,
Siena ,
Pisa ,
Lucca ,
Barga , the
Maremma , the
Crete Senesi , the
Lunigiana and
Garfagnana areas, and the island of
Elba .
See main article: ''
History Of Tuscany ''
The region is noted for the production of wine, notably
Chianti , one of the most famous wines in Italy.
Also cattle (particularly the famous 'Fiorentina' steak) and the production of olive oil, principally in
Lucca and the surrounding hills.
Tourism is the economic backbone of the so-called 'Cities of Art' (
Florence ,
Lucca ,
Pisa ,
Siena ,
San Gimignano ), as well as on the coast and in the isles (
Elba ).
Also of economic note is the quarrying of marble in
Versilia ,
Garfagnana and in the
Alpi Apuane .
