FROM WWI TO COVID, from Florence to the tiny villages of Tuscany, stories of love, courage and adventure from award-winning author Paul Salsini. FROM A TUSCAN TREASURY "So we became spies. When Maria and I would enter a village we would find out if there were any Germans or Fascists there so the partisans would know if it was safe to enter. Sometimes we’d be stopped, but mostly we just looked like simple Italian women with scarves on our heads and prayer books in our hands. We always told them we were going to church to pray for the end of the war." From "The Staffetta" "Anna, can I tell you something? After I left you on the doorstep that night, I couldn't stop thinking about you. I couldn't sleep nights. I went on long runs, but that didn't help. I was supposed to referee a football game Saturday morning and I made terrible calls. I couldn't concentrate hearing confessions Saturday afternoon. I barely made it through Mass on Sunday. Anna, I couldn't wait to see you again." From "Anna and the Television Priest"

Walk in the footsteps of the Medici, sip aperitivi, and discover the cultural heart of Italy: with Rick Steves, Tuscany is yours to discover. Inside Rick Steves Florence & Tuscany you'll find: Comprehensive coverage for spending a week or more exploring Florence and Tuscany Rick's strategic advice on how to get the most out of your time and money, with rankings of his must-see favorites Top sights and hidden gems, from the Uffizi Gallery and the Duomo to a 600-year-old perfumery How to connect with local culture: Listen to a street musician's serenade on the Ponte Vecchio, stroll through a morning market sampling freshly-made pasta, and sip full-bodied wines with Montalcino locals at a corner enoteca Beat the crowds, skip the lines, and avoid tourist traps with Rick's candid, humorous insight The best places to eat, sleep, and relax with a glass of Chianti Self-guided walking tours of lively neighborhoods and incredible museums Detailed maps for exploring on the go, including driving tours through the heart of Tuscany and Brunello wine country Useful resources including a packing list, Italian phrase book, historical overview, and recommended reading Over 400 bible-thin pages include everything worth seeing without weighing you down Complete, up-to-date information on Florence, Siena, Pisa, Lucca, Volterra, San Gimignano, Montepulciano, Pienza, Montalcino, Cortona, and more Make the most of every day and every dollar with Rick Steves Florence & Tuscany. Spending less than a week exploring Florence? Try Rick Steves Pocket Florence.

This unique guide to one of today’s hottest tourist destinations combines fascinating articles by a wide variety of writers, woven throughout with the editor’s own indispensable advice and opinions—providing in one package an unparalleled experience of an extraordinary place. This edition on Tuscany and Umbria features: ● Articles, interviews, recipes, and quotes from writers, visitors, residents, and experts on the region, including Frances Mayes, Mario Batali, Erica Jong, Barbara Ohrbach, Faith Willinger, and David Leavitt. ● In-depth pieces about Florence and the hill towns of Tuscany and Umbria that illuminate the simple pleasures of local cuisine, the dazzling art treasures of the Uffizi, the civilized wilderness of Tuscan back roads, the many varieties of olive oil, the endearing quirks of the Italian character, and much more. ● Enticing recommendations for further reading, including novels, histories, memoirs, coookbooks, and guidebooks. ● An A–Z Miscellany of concise and entertaining information on everything from biscotti to Super-Tuscan wine, from the history of the Medicis to traveling with children. ● Spotlights on unusual shops, restaurants, hotels, and experiences not to be missed. ● More than a hundred black-and-white photographs and illustrations.

Here is everything you imagined Tuscany to be: palazzi, villas and churches, vineyards and lofty cypresses. Masterpieces of Renaissance painting and sculpture are there, but so is a great Chianti with a plate of steaming pasta. After the pageant of Siena's Palio, the magic towers of San Gimignano and the Leaning Tower of Pisa, take it easy on a beach at Viareggio and do some designer shopping in Florence. Tuscany is eternal.

2011 Edition. Here's what to see and do, and where to eat, sleep, drink, shop, and stay, from Florence, Firenze, 'City of Flowers,'' to Tuscany's rolling hills, medieval towns, and beyond! Author Vesna Neskow introduces the places and pleasures of the region, including its famous cuisine, rich in ingredients produced locally, and equally renowned wines. Ms. Neskow lived in Europe for 13 years. She speaks six languages. Her TV work has been produced by CBS and broadcast on NPR, and she has written for the New York Times Book Review. This bestselling travel guide features: color-coded, numbered entries in the text keyed to full-color area maps in each chapter, ''Top Picks'' directing you to not-to-be-missed attractions, full-color spot illustrations throughout to liven the text, and 8 easy-to-use maps.

Now available in PDF format. DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Florence & Tuscany will lead you straight to the best attractions the charming city of Florence and awe-inspiring Tuscany region has to offer. You'll find detailed listings of the best hotels, restaurants, bars, and shops for all budgets in this fully updated guide, plus in-depth coverage of all the unforgettable sights in Florence and Tuscany. This uniquely visual travel guide to Florence and Tuscany also includes illustrated cutaways of floor plans and reconstructions of the region's stunning architecture. The pull-out map, clearly marked with sights from the guidebook, includes detailed street views of all the key areas. Transportation maps and information on the most useful tickets to buy for your stay help you get the most out of your trip. There's even a chart showing the walking distances between major sights and attractions. DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Florence & Tuscany shows you what others only tell you.

The Rough Guide to Florence & the Best of Tuscany is the essential companion to discovering the romantic Italian city and its breath-taking surrounds. The full-colour introduction highlights the renaissance architecture that dominates the streets of Florence, as well as the dramatic and varied scenery of the best pockets of Tuscany. There are full accounts of all the major tourist sites, including Michelangelo’s statue of David the charming Ponte Vecchio and Tuscany’s world-renowned wine regions, as well as thorough explorations of those hidden gems, from small hillside villages and Florence’s dynamic drinking scene. There are special features on Florence as the capital of Italy and Tuscan Food & Drink, not to mention countless recommendations for Michelen-starred restaurants, humble pizzerias, bars and cafés and hotels for every region and budget. The guide has all the practical information you need to get there, travel around with ease and ensure you don’t miss the unmissable. Make the most of your time with The Rough Guide to Florence & the Best of Tuscany.

You can count on Rick Steves to tell you what you really need to know when traveling through Florence and Tuscany. With the self-guided tours in this book, you'll discover the geographic heart of Italy. Take the Renaissance Walk and tour the Uffizi Gallery to learn how Florence taught civilized living to the rest of Europe. Wander through the medieval city of Siena and find out what Pisa has to offer beyond the Leaning Tower. Relax in sunny Tuscan hill towns where you'll enjoy full-bodied wine, the world's best gelato, and the company of friendly locals. Rick's candid, humorous advice will guide you to good-value hotels and restaurants. You'll learn how to get around by train, bus, or rental car and get up-to-date advice on what's worth your time and money. More than just reviews and directions, a Rick Steves guidebook is a tour guide in your pocket.