Although not the only large city in the region of Tuscany, Florence is widely recognised as the unofficial capital of the world-famous region in Italy. It is a town full of history and passion. Not only do you get to experience world-class art and architecture but also delicious food and the best wine in the world. It is truly the heart of the region.
The city of Pisa, more precisely the cathedral district, was the heart of the Pisan Republic for many centuries. Grandiose buildings were envisioned and constructed here, luckily they prevailed and can still be visited today.
Between the 11th and 15th centuries, Pisa used to be a wealthy and powerful republic in today’s Tuscany. Architectural masterpieces were built, and fantastic art was created at this time. Pisa was a center of culture and commerce for many centuries. But like any prosperous state, it was surpassed by another place, in this case by the sea republic of Genova. Pisa was largely forgotten, but luckily, the cultural heritage survived the centuries.
Envisioned and built in the 12th century, the Cathedral district of Pisa in Tuscany is truly a place of marvels. Sure, we all know the Leaning Tower of Pisa more as a funny mishap in architectural history, but you cannot miss the brevity and majesty of these buildings in the way they must have been built many centuries ago.
Like many other Italian towns, Riomaggiore is filled with different colors. The houses are painted in red, blue, and different shades of yellow. Furthermore, there are beautiful bright flowers everywhere. Take a dive into the colors of Riomaggiore!
For many centuries, the villages of Cinque Terre were only reachable by sea. When young lovers wanted to meet, they had to take a different path to do so in secret. A network of mule tracks connected the villages over the hills and vineyards. After dusk, these were the paths lovers could take to finally meet their loved ones. Today, the lovers’ lane is a favourite hiking route for many, its romantic past has become history.
Michael Hoffman Photography 