Summer in Tuscany means hiking, wellness, cycling, and culture!

TUSCANY OF THE PATHS

Explore the magnificent mountain landscapes of La Via Romea Strata. Once a favorite route for pilgrims, the Via Romea Strata, nestled in the Tuscan mountains, remains particularly pleasant in summer. The iconic Croce Arcana pass welcomes you with a 360-degree view of the Apennines, before joining the pretty town of Pistoia via wooded high-altitude trails. Here you can discover typical mountain products such as chestnuts, an essential ingredient in many traditional recipes and folk festivals. Then the Pistoia valley opens up before you, Santiago’s little sister: the city holds a relic of Saint James of Compostela.

Pistoia’s historic center, less known than that of other Tuscan cities, is a fascinating place to explore, with its medieval streets, its wonderful Piazza del Duomo, and its many architectural treasures.

TUSCAN THERMAL BATHS WITH HYPOTHERMIC WATERS: a source of freshness in summer

Escape the summer heat by choosing one of the hypothermic thermal springs whose temperature varies between 20° and 30°. Most often, these springs gush out next to hotter ones, allowing you to choose different types of baths and create your own thermal circuit.

At Terme di Equi, with a view of the Apuan Alps, the water flows at an average temperature of 24° for baths, inhalations, and beauty treatments. Surrounded by hills, appreciated by the composer Verdi who considered it the eighth wonder of the world, Grotta Giusti offers waters and vapors between 28° and 34° among stalactites and stalagmites.

In Rapolano Terme, near Siena, Terme Antica Querciolaia offers baths at 22-25° next to the 40° pool. Terme di Montepulciano, in a bucolic countryside dotted with historic villages, offers sulphurous waters rich in carbon dioxide, flowing at only 20°. The pools of the Albergo Posta Marcucci establishment allow you to bathe in waters of varying temperatures, from 28° to 32°, in the heart of the sublime hills of Val d’Orcia.

CYCLING TOURISM AND THERMAL BATHS

In Tuscany, cycling rhymes with well-being! Among the many itineraries that combine cycle paths and the benefits of thermal waters, here are our favorites:

Experienced cyclists will head towards the Maremma with a challenging route that alternates climbs, hairpin bends, and technical descents on roads that have seen great cycling champions pass through. They will stop at the Terme di Saturnia, a site that tells 3,000 years of thermal tradition.

Medium difficulty for the gravel itinerary on the Strade Bianche (white roads) of San Quirico, in the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage site, where you can enjoy a moment of relaxation in Bagno Vignoni to appreciate the charms of the ancient Roman basin. Wildlife enthusiasts will choose the circular route that leads them through Italy’s largest marsh, the Palude di Fucecchio, a nature reserve where herons, cranes, and storks can be observed. The start and finish of this route are in the heart of Italy’s largest thermal center with Art Nouveau architecture: the Montecatini thermal baths.

CYCLING TOURISM IN PUCCINI’S FOOTSTEPS

Tuscany once again takes to the podium of the Italian Oscar for cycling tourism, an award that recognizes the excellence of Italian cycle paths and greenways, with the Puccini track. The Ciclopedonale Musicata (musical cycle-pedestrian route) is a true tribute to the great composer, a cycling enthusiast, a modern man who remained very attached to his land and who introduced Italian opera to the world. The Puccini cycle path combines the cultural and natural heritage of the tourist regions of Piana di Lucca, Versilia, and Terre di Pisa in a route connecting Lucca and Versilia. The itinerary traces the life and places of the composer, whose centenary of death will be celebrated in 2024.

VETRINA TOSCANA

The Federation of Wine, Oil, and Flavor Routes of Tuscany (which represents 5000km of territory with over 2,500 associates) and Toscana Promozione Turistica have signed an agreement for the promotion of wine and food tourism at national and international levels and the improvement of hospitality for wine tourists. The planned initiatives concern the tourist promotion of territories linked to representative productions of the Tuscan region, such as olive oil, wine, cured meats, and cheeses, in order to promote off-season stays and enhance lesser-known places.

SUSTAINABLE TUSCANY

Tuscany has created an Atlas of Tuscan paths to inspire and guide you in your choice of hiking itineraries. 1,378 km of itineraries divided into seven routes along ancient historical roads, trade routes, and religious paths allow you to discover unique artistic and architectural testimonies, UNESCO sites, religious heritage, and natural parks.

The seven paths mapped in the Atlas are: La Via Francigena, la Via Lauretana Toscana, la Via Matildica del Volto Santo, la Via Romea Germanica, la Via Romea Strata, la Via Romea Sanese, and la Via di Francesco. The paths have been organized to facilitate the travel experience, and each itinerary has been selected for its particularities that will allow
walkers to live an original and evocative adventure.

Curious to know more about the trails? Visit the VisitTuscany.it website to download the PDF of the Atlas, which provides geographical and technical information (elevation gain, mileage, maps), information on accommodation and restaurants, historical testimonies, and suggestions on visits to make along the route.

EXHIBITIONS AND EVENTS

The Bronzes of San Casciano at the Quirinal Palace in Rome

Unveiled in autumn 2022, the bronzes of San Casciano dei Bagni are considered one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the last 50 years. This Etruscan-Roman treasure was extracted intact from the village’s large pool at the exact spot where it had been deposited. With the advent of Christianity, the large basin was sealed by travertine blocks and columns, a seal to safeguard the sanctuary, allowing 24 votive statues dating from the 2nd to 1st century BC to remain unharmed. A discovery that reconstructs the mysterious link between the Etruscans and the Romans who recognized the sacred value of water and appreciated its beneficial effects, to the point of creating a “salutary” cult around the spring.

The bronzes can finally be admired in their extraordinary beauty in Rome, at the Quirinal Palace from September 2 to October 29, 2023. The exhibition entitled “The Gods Return. The Bronzes of San Casciano” presents itself as a journey through the landscape of the hot waters of the Chiusi region. Indeed, the exhibition tells the story of the important bronze production thanks to the abundant water resource of the region. After their exhibition in Rome, the bronzes will be hosted in the Palazzo dell’Arcipretura in San Casciano dei Bagni.

Porrettana Express, an exciting journey aboard a historic train

Porrettana Express is a project to enhance the trans-Apennine railway and the territory crossing the Apennines from Pistoia, aboard themed historic trains. The travel experience aboard each of these trains is unforgettable, as participants not only travel in vintage carriages to discover the gentle mountain landscapes, but also benefit from a themed entertainment service throughout the journey. Offered are: workshops for families, historical journeys to discover the Gothic Line, a visit to the ecomuseum of the Pistoia mountains, or even theatrical and literary performances.

An experience not to be missed for young and old: a journey back in time to discover small villages immersed in the green mountains, passing through long tunnels and crossing spectacular bridges.

Here are the dates of the next trips:
9/07 – Pistoia/Pracchia – Pistoiese Mountain Kids Train
16/07 – Pistoia/Pracchia – Hiking Train – Mountain Biking
22/07 – Pistoia/Porretta T. – Porretta Soul Festival Train
6/08 – Pistoia/Pracchia – SMI Museum and Gothic Line Train
10/09 – Pistoia/Pracchia – Pistoiese Mountain Kids Train

The eccentric Pecci in the center of Prato

The Centro Pecci in Prato is one of the first Italian museums to promote contemporary art movements. Thirty-five years after its opening, the center has decided to exhibit to the public, as part of a permanent exhibition, 50 works selected from the impressive collection of over 1,200 pieces gathered over the years.

ECCENTRICA, the Center is so in two ways: its vocation, which expresses its character, and its location, in industrial Tuscany. In the bronze ring designed in 2016 by architect Maurice Nio, works by Warhol, Schnabel, Kapoor, Fontana, Boetti, Kounellis, Bonvicini, and many others are displayed. The aesthetic choice for the exhibition spaces favored
fabric, the pivot of Prato’s economy and a symbol of the social reality of the territory.

Find out more about Tuscany on the official website: https://www.visittuscany.com/fr

Source: Press Release

SEE ALSO: All our Travel articles