| LE MURA DI SOTTO FARMHOUSE BENABBIO BAGNI DI LUCCA TUSCANY |
| Lucca is a beautiful walled city with 98 Romanesque churches to explore. Lucca�s galleries reveal unexpected masterpiece of mediaeval and reinassance art. On the top of its perfecty preserved walls there is a wonderful circular walk. The streets within the walls are closed to traffic and are full of elegant shops and beautiful palazzos. Bicycles can also be rented. The surrounding countryside is full of vineyards and you can follow a wine trail. The Lucchese villas with their wonderful Italians gardens are also to be enjoyed. Pisa�s leaning tower has just been reopened. The city is very beautiful and pleasant to walk in with unexpected peaceful piazzas. Recently, by pure accident, the largest Roman fleet has recently been discovered nearby, buried in the mud. Work is in progress to recover the ships and their contents but the site can already be visited. Outside Pisa is the now well-known San Rossore National Park, holiday destination of Tony Blair! The mouths of the rivers Arno and Serchio provide the perfect habitat for the many species of birds. Florence with its wealth of art is just an hour and half away. Tickets for the Uffizi can be pre booked by phone, which saves queuing. Chianti and Siena are just south of Florence. Pistoia a beautiful undiscovered medieval city deserving being explored. Pescia has a spendid mediaeval Piazza, Raffaello was the architect of one of the buildings. Collodi is the birthplace of Pinocchio and has a children�s park |
| Chianti and Siena are just south of Florence. San Gimignano is perhaps the best know village in Italy, where every affluent merchant built a tower. 15 still remain and so do wonderful works of art. Less discovered treasures lie towards Garfagnana. It is now a protected region with wonderful designated well marked walks. Theunspoiled landscape is dotted with castles. La grotta del vento � magnificent caves. Barga A tiny city with the most wonderful Romanesque cathedral. Viareggio The biggest seaside resort. The architecture is predominately Liberty with long avenues lined with palm trees. Forte dei Marmi is the trendiest spot on the coast with shops and prices to match .It is the holiday destination of Armani. There is a very good designer market on a Wednesdays. The beach is mainly paid bagnos all with lifeguards and showers. Most have bars and many have some children�s toys. There are areas of free beach. The whole coastline has the backdrop of the Alpi Apuane with wonderful footpaths. The mountains are formed from the world famous Carrara marble used by Michelangelo, Canova and Moore. Maranello is the home of Ferrari. If you find the right spot on the Abetone road you�ll be able to see the cars being tested on the circuit, but go and visit the �scuderia� and do not miss the extraordinary museum where all the great cars are displayed. |
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