Italy is perhaps the most fascinating European country for visitors interested in history, with numerous monuments and artefacts remaining from both the period of the Ancient Romans and from the Etruscan period – the Etruscans were the tribes that occupied much of central Italy before the Roman Empire was established.
The visitor to Italy is spoiled for choice when choosing a region to explore, and one of the most interesting places to consider is the Tuscany region of north-eastern Italy.
Tuscany is best known around the world for the city of Florence, the world’s greatest ensemble of renaissance architecture, and for several other great cities such as Siena and Lucca. The famous ‘Leaning Tower of Pisa’ also falls within the Tuscany region of Italy.
These renaissance marvels are certainly all very highly recommended when you are visiting Tuscany, but to step back further in time, to discover its Etruscan roots and the more traditional character of the region, it is better to head for the hills – the hill villages, that is, that stand high above the plains of southern Tuscany and appear largely unchanged with the centuries.
There are several of these villages of note, and fortuitously they often stand close to each other: Pienza and Montepulciano are close together in the south-east, for example, while Pitigliano and Sovano are only a few kilometres apart in the very southern reaches of Tuscany. If you don’t have the time to venture so far south, try Saint Gimignano and Certaldo, in the more northern part Tuscany.
Particularly recommended, Sovana is only a small village but features an intersting attraction called the ‘Etruscan necropolis’ (necropolis is a place where people were buried). Among the highlights of the Sovana necropolis is the Silenus Tomb, found near the equally ancient remains of the Fortress of Aldobrandeschi. The tomb dates from the 4th century BC and includes a burial chamber, and a decorative stone above the entrance.
All these villages and towns ooze history from every pore, and several of them have uncovered the remains of important Etruscan monuments, showing that the well chosen locations and the fertile soil were as important 2500 years ago as they are now.
Likewise, the medieval churches in these villages are old – typically 13th – 14th centuries – but themselves were built on the site of much older churches, often dating back to the first few centuries after the fall of the Roman empire.
There is more to Tuscany than history, of course, and your visit should include plenty of time to enjoy the scenery – rated among the most varied and attractive destinations in Europe, the unspoiled countryside provides the perfect backdrop for the towns and villages.
Be sure also to allow plenty of time for every Italian’s greatest pleasure – mealtimes! Be prepared to spend hours sitting in small country restaurants, enjoying fine fresh produce in traditional recipes which themselves have origins dating back hundreds of years, and of course to be enjoyed with at least a glass or two of the fine Italian wines of the region.
So, if you plan to visit the region, be sure to visit the important cities and to explore the beautiful rolling countryside of the region, but spare time as well to step back in time and visit at least a couple of the magical hill villages of Tuscany – you might just find they are the highlight of your visit!
