Choose the areas in Tuscany where you would like to go!
Tuscany shows a large variety of landscapes from the rugged Apennine hills covered in forests, rolling hills with vineyards and olive groves, the white mountains with marble of the Apuan Alps, swamps, pine forests, islands and sandy beaches with dunes and coastal areas that are great for diving. A landscape with a variety and richness of natural beauty that makes up a vast natural and cultural heritage. For example, the protected area of the Val d’Orcia (natural, artistic and cultural reserve) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tuscany is divided into several geographic areas each with its own identity. Some geographical zones belong to two or three provinces.
There are so many interesting things to see and do in Tuscany that it can be hard to choose where to start.
The Tuscan territory is mostly hilly (66.5%) with several streams that give the various areas different features as for example Valdarno (valley of the Arno river), Valdinievole (valley of the river Nievole), Valtiberina (valley of the river Tiber), Val d’Orcia (valley of the Orcia river) and so on. If you like walking or cycling, there are many paths within the numerous existing nature reserves in Tuscany. In most areas parks, protected areas and nature reserves can be found. The major mountain ranges (the Alps and the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines) account for 25.1% of the territory. The lowland areas cover 8.4% of the region and mainly stretch along the coast. The Tuscan coast is met by the Ligurian Sea in the Versilia area and the Tyrrhenian Sea, in the Maremma. They are part of the Tuscan 7 islands.
According to a legend, the Tuscan Archipelago islands originate from a crown of pearls worn by the goddess Venus, which accidentally fell into the sea. Below a list of the major geographical areas of Tuscany by province.
Click on the name of each area to read more.
| ALPI APUANE | Province of Lucca and Massa Carrara | mountainous area characterized by the extraction of marble |
| AMIATA | Province of Grosseto and Siena | mountain and ski area |
| APPENNINO TOSCO EMILIANO | Province of Florence, Massa Carrara, Lucca, Pistoia and Prato | mountainous area |
| TUSCAN ARCHIPELAGO | Province of Grosseto and Livorno | islands and seaside resort |
| ARGENTARIO | Province of Grosseto | natural beach |
| CASENTINO | Province of Arezzo | valleys with natural reserves and religious complexes |
| CHIANTI | Province of Arezzo, Florence, and Siena | wine area |
| ETRUSCAN COAST | Province of Livorno | beach resorts |
| CRETE SENESI | Province of Siena | hilly area with marble mountains and medieval villages |
| GARFAGNANA | Province of Lucca | hilly area full of vegetation and nature reserves |
| LUNIGIANA | Province of Massa Carrara | hilly area with marble mountains and medieval villages |
| MAREMMA | Province of Grosseto, Livorno, and Pisa | coast area with nature reserves and historical nature seaside resorts |
| MUGELLO | Province of Florence | typical agrarian hilly area |
| VALDARNO | Province of Arezzo, Florence, and Pisa | valleys around the river Arno |
| VALDERA | Province of Pisa | typical agricultural hinterland |
| VAL D'ELSA | Province of Florence and Siena | valley of the river Elsa |
| VALDICHIANA | Province of Arezzo and Siena | agro-industrial area and wine |
| VALDINIEVOLE | Province of Pistoia | hills with castled hamlets |
| VAL D'ORCIA | Province of Siena | hilly World Heritage Area |
| VALTIBERINA | Province of Arezzo | hilly area in the surroundings of Tiber River |
| VERSILIA | Province of Lucca and Massa Carrara | coastal zone |
There are some other minor areas with particular characteristics as to the geological formation, vegetation, and exploitation of water and mineral resources that are appealing to tourists.
| TUFF AREA | Province of Grosseto | area with houses built of tuff rock and Etruscan archaeological finds. |
| EMPOLESE | Province of Florence | leather industries |
| LUCCHESIA | Province of Lucca | flat area around the city of Lucca with production of oil, DOC wine and camellias |
| MEDIA VALLLE DEL SERCHIO | Province of Lucca | valley of the river Serchio |
| MONTALBANO | Province of Florence, Pistoia, and Prato | wine district |
| MONTAGNE PISTOIESE | Province of Pistoia | mountain and ski area |
| SVIZZERA PESCIATINA | Province of Pistoia | group of medieval hamlets set in the hills |
| VAL DI BISENZIO | Province of Florence and Prato | area of natural reserves |
| VAl DI CECINA | Province of Livorno and Pisa | valley of the river Cecina |
