"Tuscany. Everything you've heard is true." Tuscany by oja

Tuscany Travel Guide: 12,800 reviews and 25,601 photos

If you don't know it already, let me say it now: when it comes down to hugely popular, tremendously known, massively visited and loudly praised places, I turn into an old grumpy cynic. "I believe Paris has lost it," I squeeze out of the corner of my mouth. "Well, go and see Venice if you haven't been there before, but..." I sigh and scare the beginner travellers who then wonder what monster expects them there. "Oh, speaking of Salzburg, by the way..."

Umph. Yes, you're allowed to call me snob when I do this. Feel free. Go ahead. Say I'm terrible. That's what I'm like. Sometimes.

However, this orientation may also fail in certain cases. Tuscany was surely one of them. Knowing how visited, popular and praised it is, I was ready to say 'OK, fine, but...' once I get there. But seeing the famous rolling hills, ultra-romantic villages perched on top of them and cities stuffed with art, art and more art, all I could utter was 'wow'. And wowed I did. A lot. Permanently. It was actually my most common word in those all too short five days I spent exploring the region with my friends and my VW Polo. Even places like Florence, Siena and San Gimignano, which was once a well-kept secret and has recently turned into a well invaded tourist destination, rated as simply great at the end of the day. So what can I say? Go there. Something must be in it for you, no matter what you look for. Everything you've heard about it is true. And it's only the beginning.

Pros and Cons

Pros:beauty, art, pleasures it offers, cultural peculiarities
Cons:10 minutes can be a very relative notion
In a nutshell:Everything you've heard is true.

Last visit to Tuscany: May 2002
Intro Written Sep 11, 2002
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Reviews (11)

No, I'm younger than you think! :( - Tuscany

Montepulciano Things to Do (2)

Sometimes an off-the-beaten path location in the far South of the region has now turned into a popular and well-visited... more travel advice

Scrofiano Off The Beaten Path (3)

This was perhaps the biggest discovery of them all. A tiny village by the 'blue' road (i.e. alternative to motorway)... more travel advice

Certaldo Off The Beaten Path (3)

Certaldo was another village in the vicinity of our hostel which I heard of as 'interesting'. The other three were first... more travel advice

And now to the real finds -... - Tuscany

And now to the real finds -... Off The Beaten Path (3)

And now to the real finds - small picturesue villages nobody had told us about. We mostly discovered them by chance and... more travel advice

Comments (12)

Helga67 Feb 25, 2004 at 12:59 PM Report Abuse

Great writing, I enjoyed your Tuscany page
craic Oct 18, 2003 at 1:16 PM Report Abuse

Excellent!
morgandk May 25, 2003 at 4:21 PM Report Abuse

Wonderful view!
lotharlerch Apr 30, 2003 at 3:04 AM Report Abuse

reading your pages is always a delight for me!
prleprle Mar 16, 2003 at 9:34 AM Report Abuse

Very interesting tips. I really enjoyed your story.
iandsmith Jan 22, 2003 at 1:36 AM Report Abuse

May your page always be in the top 5! I only hope I can do half as good when I'm there next month.
phred1910 Jan 3, 2003 at 8:06 AM Report Abuse

great honesty. makes me believe your impressions more...
basstbn Jan 3, 2003 at 8:00 AM Report Abuse

Great page. I appreciate your insightful views and comments.
rachel_sun Oct 25, 2002 at 9:06 PM Report Abuse

looks a must see,lovely little villages you found away from it all.i must go one day,thx
Knoto Sep 26, 2002 at 1:29 PM Report Abuse

Wonderful Page!!! We want visit these area next Year! Thanks