A WEEK IN TUSCANY

The countryside of Tuscany stretches from the crisp, clear air of the Apennines to some of the most beautiful coastlines of Italy. Its cities are among the greatest cultural treasure houses of Europe, from Florence, the home of the Renaissance, to the mediaeval splendours of Romanesque Lucca, and ancient hill-towns. Away from the well-worn tourist trail, parts of Tuscany are still quite remote, such as the Garfagnana, a beautiful rural enclave flanked by the Apennines and Alpi Apuane - the Marble Mountains 'birthplace of Michelangelo's David'. The region is stunning, with a variety of flora and fauna including indigenous bird species, deer and wild boar foraging in the beech and oak woods, while seasonal flowers carpet the upland meadows. Away from the mountains we enjoy the panoramic coastal views of the Cinque Terre, following a network of footpaths linking fishing villages and vineyards.