Tuscany - The region stretches over the slopes of the Apennines, in front of the Tyrrhenian Sea. The Tuscan landscape is mainly mountainous and hilly, with a flat area beside the sea (the Maremma). The coastline presents different aspects, offering both long sandy expanses and headlands. In front of the coast there are the small enchanting islands of the Tuscan archipelago. Florence is the capital of Tuscany. Other important cities are Siena, Pisa, Arezzo, Pistoia, Lucca, Livorno, Grosseto, Massa Carrara. Tuscany is medium-sized region which can be crossed within a few hours. Generally the hardest part in getting from one place to the next depends on where you are headed: smaller villages are often only reachable by car or bus whose schedules might not be the most convenient. Aside from a few main roads that cross Tuscany, most of the roads are state or provincial with a single lane in each direction. Also, as many parts of Tuscany have hills, many roads wind up and down and around these hills - if you're driving, prepare to take your time and drive carefully. Having said this, if you are planning on visiting only the main towns in Tuscany, the most convenient way to move around is with the train: the main station in each town is generally in the center so there is no need to worry about parking or finding the main sights. 

Population: 3,516,296 - Area: 8,878 sq miles.

Major cities: Firenze, Massa Carrara, Siena, Lucca, Pistoia, Livorno, Pisa, Arezzo, Grosseto, Prato