Info on the Toscana (Tuscany) Region of Italy - Part 1

(LAST EDITED/UPDATED: 17 March 2009)

Here are some links on the Toscana (Tuscany) Region of Italy - Part 1:

INFORMATION

• Regione Toscana – In Italian Only– sito web ufficiale – Capital: Firenze (Florence) – Located in central Italy (west coast), it borders the regions of Emila Romagna, Lazio, Liguria, Marche and Umbria and its coast is on the Ligurian Sea.
• intoscana.it – "Official Tuscany Web Site " – In Chinese, English, French, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish
• See Tuscany – "a land of quiet coves and wild mountains, sleepy towns and dynamic cities. There's a lot going on, and it's very easy to miss out on something spectacular.... Unless you're well informed. You'll find all sorts of information and advice here, including: ..."
  
• Tuscany – Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
• Welcome To Tuscany! – Source: In Italy Online
• The AngloFILE – "The local business directory with 1,910 listings of English-speaking businesses and services in Tuscany" – Source: AngloINFO Tuscany – "Life in Tuscany, in English!"

AIRPORT INFORMATION

• AIRPORTS
• Aeroporto di Firenze – Florence (FLR)
• Pisa International Airport "Galileo Galilei" (PSA)
  
• AIRPORT GUIDES
• Airport Contacts in Tuscany – Source: AngloINFO Tuscany – "Life in Tuscany, in English!"
• Pisa International Airport Galileo Galilei Travel Guide (PSA) – Source: iExplore
  
• Amerigo Vespucci Airport Guide (FLR) – Source: Travel Library – "Always Direct - Always Impartial"
  
• AIRPORT TRANSPORTATION
• To/From Airport – Pisa – Source: www.pisa-airport.com
  
• VOLAINBUS – Firenze/Florence – "is the shuttle bus that connects Florence railway station with Amerigo Vespucci Airport, the fastest and cheapest way to reach it. Volainbus runs from 5.30 am to 11 in the night every half hour. The special ticket costs 4,00 EUR one way and can be purchased on board by the driver." – Source: vivifirenze – "living & studying in florence"
• Timetables and routes – In English, Italian – Source: ATAF
  
• SEE ALSO:
  
• Info on Low Cost Airlines with Flights out of and to Italy , dated Friday, April 20, 2007
• Info on Airports in Italy, Airport Guides and How to Get To and From the Airport *, dated Wednesday, November 23, 2005

ARTICLES

• 36 Hours in Florence – By DANIELLE PERGAMENT – Published: June 3, 2007 – Source: Travel section of the New York Times
• Cooking Schools in Tuscany – "Hands-On Lessons in La Cucina Tradizionale" – By Clay and Joanna Hubbs – Source: TransitionsAbroad
• Florence, Then and Now – By ADAM BEGLEY – Published: November 30, 2008 – Source: Travel section of the New York Times
  
• Observer Escape section of The Observer (Sunday paper), sister publication of the Guardian Unlimited – "Best daily newspaper on the world wide web" – found in the travel section on the Guardian Unlimited web site
  
• How Tuscany brought out the artist in me – "Phil Hogan discovers his inner artist on a painting holiday in Tuscany" – Sunday June 3 2007
  
• Tuscany on two wheels – Tom Robbins, Sunday April 23 2006
  
• TRAVEL section of The New York Times
• 36 Hours in Florence – By DANIELLE PERGAMENT, Published: June 3, 2007
• Tuscan Summer: Food, Wine And Music Galore – By JENNIFER CONLIN, Published: May 27, 2007
• Savoring Tuscany a Glass at a Time – By JENNIFER CONLIN, Published: April 15, 2007
• The Riches of Lucca – By MARK BITTMAN, Published: September 24, 2006
• Tuscany – Source: ITALY Magazine – "THE NO.1 MAGAZINE FOR LOVERS OF ALL THINGS ITALIAN"
• Tuscany in winter brings shivers of delight – "Sure, it might be cold and rainy, but it's also the off-season, so the tourist spots are less crowded, and hotel prices and airfares are a bargain." – By Susan Spano, Reporting from Siena, Italy – 04:56 PM PDT, March 13, 2009 – Source: Travel section of the Los Angeles Times

AUTOSTRADA

• Autostrada – the highway system in Italy
• Infoviabilità – Real Time Traffic – In Italian Only

COMMENTS/OBSERVATIONS

• FORUM/DISCUSSION
• Source: Travel Talk > Europe > Italy section of Frommer's
  
• Two Weeks (with Kids) in Tuscany & Florence: A Trip Report – "abukont - 12:53pm Jul 10, 2006 EST"
• Source: tripadvisor – "Recommendations for hotels, resorts, inns, vacations, travel packages, travel guides and lots more!"
  
• Tuscany forums: Tuscany with kids - my trip report – "Posted on: 5:24 pm, August 12, 2006"
  

COMUNE INFORMATION

• Tuscany Region – In English, Italian – Source: Comuni-Italiani.it – "Italian Cities and Towns. Information and statistics on Italian Regions, Provinces and Municipalities. All Cities, Towns and Villages in Italy. Official site, zip codes, phone prefix, population, useful links."
  
• Provinces of Tuscany Region (10) – includes "List of Towns and Cities in the Province"
  
• Arezzo
• Florence (Firenze)
  
• Grosseto
  
• Livorno
• Lucca
• Massa-Carrara
• Pisa
• Pistoia
• Prato
• Siena

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

• Emergency Information – In Chinese, English, French, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish – Source: intoscana.it – "Official Tuscany Web Site"
• Emergency Telephone Numbers in Tuscany – Source: AngloINFO Tuscany – "Life in Tuscany, in English!"

EVENTS AND FESTIVALS (festa or sagra)

• Calendar of Events in Tuscany – Source: In Italy Online
• Cantine Aperte (2007) in Toscana – In Italian Only – Source: Movimento Turismo del Vino Toscana
• Cantine Aperte (Open Wine Cellars or 'Open Wine Cantinas') – Annual event – Last Sunday in May – What this means is that wine cellars of the Movimento Turismo del Vino association throw open their doors and you can sample some of the best wines in Italy. – In Italian Only – Source: Movimento Turismo del Vino
• Capodanno a Firenze – Event: In Italian Only – Source: Firenze.net – In English, Italian – Please note: The Italian version provides more detail and events.
• EVENTS AND FESTIVALS – In English, German, Italian – Source: waytuscany
• Events in Tuscany – In English, Italian – Source: Saimicadove.it – "Getting the most out of Tuscany" – Please note: The Italian version provides more detail and events.
• Festivals and Seasonal Events in Tuscany – Source: Tourism in Tuscany – "An Insider's guide to Tuscany"
  
• Folkloric and gastronomic events in San Miniato area, Pisa province and north Tuscany – "2007 EVENTS CALENDAR" – Source: Aolmaia Tuscany Society
  
• The International Antiques Fair
• 24th The International Antiques Fair – In September and October in Firenze (Florence) (Tuscany) – Source: ViviToscana " - Events in Tuscany - Florence"
• The International Antiques Fair – Source: vivifirenze – "living & studying in Florence"
• Palio (Horse Race) – Annual event – In August in Siena
  
• La Sagra del Tordo – The Feast of the Thrush – In October in Montalcino
• Sagre e Feste in Toscana – Some events in English but mostly In Italian – Source: Saimicadove.it – "Il Portale per Vivere la Toscana" – Please note: The Italian version provides more detail and events. – See above Events in Tuscany
• Sagre in Toscana – In Italian Only – Source: GIRAITALIA.it
• Street Shopping: Outdoor Markets in Tuscany – Source: In Italy Online!
• Teato del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino 2007 – In English, Italian – Annual event – 24 April - 30 June 2007 – "The oldest music festival in Italy, and one of the most famous, the Maggio Musicale in Florence was founded in 1933 and features two months of opera, concerts, ballet and exhibitions."
• Toscana in Festa – "is designed to help you discover Tuscany using a simple and fast consultation and search method. Thanks to this web-site you can find out about all the events taking place at any given time of the year, museums are listed according to subject, and you can find out all the information you need to know about each municipality of Tuscany."
• vivifirenze – "living & studying in florence" – Please scroll down to the section on the left portion of the web page titled "What's On in Florence" and select one of the following:
  
• Shows
• Art
• Movies
• Nightlife
• Other Events
• What's On: Tuscany – "Tuscany's most comprehensive English-language guide to What's On throughout the Tuscany region, with events, music, sport and more..." – Source: AngloINFO Tuscany – "Life in Tuscany, in English!"
• LIST
• Italian Holidays, Festivals, Street Parties… – "a list of Italian holidays and festivals which can be accessed by city, region and date." – Source: the Hostetler web site
• Under "Region", select "Toscana"
• Under "Month", select any month of the year you are interested in traveling
• Press the "Submit" button, on the next screen, a listing of events will appear
  

FOOD AND GROCERY STORES

• LISTS
• Business - Grocery shopping – Source: intoscana.it – "Official Tuscany Web Site " – In Chinese, English, French, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish
• Hyper, Super and Minimarkets – Source: Tuscany Net
• NOTE: The lists above and the following section titled, "GROCERY STORES" are for medium to large chain food retailers in Tuscany and Italy. They are not an "alimentari" which is a small neighborhood grocery store (mom and pop) operation.
• GROCERY STORES: (medium to large)
  
• Carrefour Italia – In Italian Only – Subsidiary of Carrefour
• On the main page, please click on the "Carrefour" logo at the bottom of the page and then on the next screen, please click on "Dove Siamo" (Where we are) on the dark blue information bar. On the next screen, position your cursor over the Toscana (Tuscany region) and click once. Please position your cursor over the flashing "Carrefour" logo for the address, map location, hours of operation, driving directions, etc. of the Carrefour store in that city.
  
• Conad – In Italian Only
• On the main page, please click on "Scegli la tua provincia" (You choose your province)
  
• Coop, IperCoop (Coop Italia) – In Italian Only
• On the main page, please click on "Scegli la tua provincia" (You choose your province)
• Esselunga – Primarily in Italian with some pages in English
  
• On the main page, please click on "Punti vendita" and then click on "Dove trovarci, quando siamo aperti" (Where to find to us, when we are open)
  
• EuroSpin Group – "is the largest Italian group in the discount food channel."
• On the main page, please click on "DOVE SIAMO" (Where we are). On the next screen, position your cursor over the Toscana (Tuscany region) and click once. Please position your cursor over the city on the Toscana region map and click once for the address, hours of operation, map location, driving directions, etc. of the store in that city.
• GS – (GS Supermercati, Superstore GS, Iperstore GS and GS Spesaidea) – supermarkets and hyperstores – In Italian Only – Subsidiary of Carrefour
• On the main page, please click on "TROVACI" (Find Us) on the dark red information bar. On the next screen, under "DOVE SIAMO" (Where we are), enter information about your location and press "TROVA" (Find).
• Pam – In Italian Only
• On the main page, please click on "dove siamo" (Where we are)
  
• Penny Markt – In Italian Only
• On main page, please click on Negozi (Stores)
• Gusto sidis, sidisMini, sidis, MaxiSidis, superSidis , Ipersidis, IPERSHOP, Pantamarket (Midal S.p.a Distribuzione Alimentari) – In Italian Only
• CEDI SISA CENTRO NORD – part of SISA – In Italian Only
• On the main page, please click on "Supermercati" (Supermarkets). On the next screen, with the words "Punti Vendita" on it. under the word "PROVINCIA", please select the Italian province you want to go to and press "Conferma" (Confirmation). When the name of the store appears on the next screen, click on the red button with the words "Vai a Scheda" on it, the address and phone numbers for the store will appear on the screen.
  
• SMA – In Italian Only
• On the main page, please click on "I nostri Supermercati" (Our Supermarkets). On the next screen, position your cursor over the word "Toscana" (Tuscany region) and click once. Please position your cursor over the name of the province on the Toscana region map and click once for the address, hours of operation, etc. of the store in that province.

FOOD AND WINES

• Tuscany – Source: ItalianMade.com – "The Official Web Site of the Foods and Wines of Italy"

KIDS

• Children In Tuscany – "Children" – Source: In Tuscany
• Florence with the Kids – "" – Source: See Tuscany
• Italy With Kids – "Italy: what a wonderful country. Here's links for visiting Venice, Rome, Florence, Tuscany, even theme parks, with kids." – Source: Travel with Kids section of About.com
• Tuscany – "fun things to do kids in Italy" – Source: travel for kids – "useful information - BEFORE YOU GO. WHILE YOU'RE THERE"
• Read about travel with kids in Italy and Tuscany under the section above titled, "COMMENTS/OBSERVATIONS"

MAPS

• Map of Italy – "This is a map of Italy, showing all of the regions (or autonomous communities). You can click on any of the regions to see a detailed map for the region." – Source: Tourizm travel services
• A map of Tuscany, Italy – Source: italy-weather-and-maps.com – "home to maps of Italy, current Italian weather conditions, and six day weather forecasts for every Italian region and province."
• Rick Steves' Italy Map: Including Rome, Florence, Venice and Siena City (Rick Steves) [FOLDED MAP] – Source: Amazon.com
  
• Toscana (Tuscany) Laminated Map – by Berndtson Maps – by Berndtson & Berndtson (Author) – Source: Amazon.com
• Michelin Toscana, Umbria, San Marino, Marche, Lazio, Abruzzo (Michelin Maps) – Source: Amazon.com
• Tuscany Rail Map – "Distance between Major Cities and Tourist centers in Tuscany" – Source: Italy for Visitors section of About.com
• Tuscany Travel Map and Resources – From James Martin – Source: Europe for Visitors section of About.com

MARKET DAYS

• Florence Markets – Source: World Guides to Florence
• Local Markets in Tuscany – Source: AngloINFO Tuscany – "Life in Tuscany, in English!"
  
• Open-Air Markets in Florence – Source: In Italy Online!
  
• Markets in Tuscany – By Province in Tuscany – Source: Tuscany Net
  
• Open air markets – Source: Cortonaweb
• Pisa Markets – Source: World Guides to Pisa
• Tuscany Italy Markets – Siena – Source: Turismo Verde
• TYPICAL MARKETS in FLORENCE – Source: StudentsVille.it
  
• Weekly Markets in Tuscany – Pauline Kenny, July 2004 – Source: slow travel italy

NOT A MAP

• 360° – "A new way to explore Tuscany" – Source: Italy Travel Guides Ltd
  

SHOPPING

• LISTS
• intoscana.it – "Official Website of Tuscany" – In Chinese, English, French, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish
• Business
  
• Bank (1768)
• Clothes outlet (57)
• Grocery shopping (11)
• Monobrand shopping (187)
• Non food retail shopping (36)
  
• Post services (51)
• Shoes outlet (14)
• Shopping centre (18)
• craigslist florence / tuscany
  
• MISCELLANEOUS
• Florence Shopping (Florence, Italy) – Source: world-guides.com
• Pisa Shopping and Pisa Markets / Mercato (Pisa, Italy) – Source: world-guides.com
• Shopping & Style – Source: AngloINFO Tuscany – "Life in Tuscany, in English!"
• Shopping in Florence – Source: arttrav.com
• MIXED: HOUSEHOLD ITEMS AND FURNITURE
  
• IKEA Firenze Sesto Fiorentino
• SEE ALSO:
• Info about and on Where to Buy Furniture in Italy , dated Friday, August 18, 2006
• GROCERY STORES
• See section titled "GROCERY STORES" above
  
• SEE ALSO:
• Info on Food Stores (Chains) in Italy *, dated Monday, November 21, 2005
• OUTLETS
• Barberino Designer Outlet – "half an hour away from Florence and less than an hour from Bologna. More than 90 shops featuring the best brands with fashion products from previous seasons at prices cut by 30 to 70% all year round." – In English, Italian – management by McArthur Glen Designer Outlets
• Italy's Hottest Fashion Outlets – Please scroll down to the Tuscany section – Source: Corriere della Sera – Italian Life
• Italy's Top Shopping Outlets – Source: The Observer, Sunday November 13, 2005
• OUTLETS – In Chinese, English, French, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish – Source: intoscana.it – "Official Tuscany Web Site"
  
• Clothes outlet
• Shoes outlet
  
• Outlet Shopping Tuscany – "Bella Toscana :: vacation rentals, farm house holiday homes in Tuscany Chianti :: Bella Toscana" – Source: La Bella Toscana
  
• PRATESI – Men and Women's shoes – Locations in Tuscany: Ambra (AT), Radda in Chianti (SI), Monteriggioni (SI)
• Tuscany – "Factory Outlets in Italy - Fashion & Accessories" – Source: PrimeItaly.com
• Valdichiana Outlet Village – Foiano della Chiana (AR) – In English, German, Italian

TOURISM/TRAVEL GUIDES

• Holiday Guide: Tuscany – Guide To Tuscany – Source: Villa & Apartment Holidays
  
• intoscana.it – "Official Tuscany Web Site " – In Chinese, English, French, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish
• tourism in tuscany – In English, German, Italian – Source: REGIONE TOSCANA – In Italian Only
• Rick Steves' Florence and Tuscany 2007 (Rick Steves) (Paperback)
  
• Top Ten Places to Visit Tuscany Italy – "International Travel Report is dedicated to presenting information regarding the entire spectrum of travel around the world."– Source: Travel Gadget Review – "is dedicated to presenting information regar"the travel guide you write"ding the entire spectrum of travel gadgets, clothing, and equipment."
• Travel & Tourism – Source: AngloINFO Tuscany – "Life in Tuscany, in English!"
• Tuscany – Source: Eyewitness Travel Guides
• Tuscany and Umbria – "Travel Guides" – Source: Travel section of the New York Times
• Tuscany Travel Guide – Source: VirtualTourist – "Real Travelers • Real Info"
• Tuscany Travel Guide – Source: World66 – "the travel guide you write"
• Tuscany Travel Guide – Source: Holiday Apartment Tuscany
  
• Welcome 2007 Tuscany – "Tuscany travel guide online resource for travelling in tuscany holiday accomodation hotel farm villa tuscan tours tips maps weather travel tips places of art charming towns of the best charming italian region. direct contact accommodations brochure last minutes best deals." – Source:
  
• Your first Time in Tuscany ? – "Tips for your next Vacations in Tuscany." – Source: Welcome Tuscany

WEATHER

• Tuscany, Italy - today's weather in Italy – Source: italy-weather-and-maps.com – "home to maps of Italy, current Italian weather conditions, and six day weather forecasts for every Italian region and province."
• Weather in Tuscany – In English, German, Italian – Source: ETRUSCAN CHARTER Yacht Broker & Charter
• Weather in Tuscany – Source: Welcome Tuscany

MISCELLANEOUS

• craigslist florence / tuscany – "Local community classifieds and forums - a place to find jobs, housing, goods & services, social activities, a girlfriend or boyfriend, advice, community information, and just about anything else -- all for free, and in a relatively non-commercial environment."
  
• SURVIVAL TIPS – "Survival tips in Italy" – Source: In Tuscany
• SEE ALSO:
• Info on guides for Tuscany/Toscana, Italy , dated Tuesday, March 17, 2009
• Info about airports in Tuscany/Toscana, Italy *, dated Tuesday, March 10, 2009
  
• Info on restaurants/ristorante in Tuscany/Toscana, Italy *, dated Tuesday, February 24, 2009
• Info on the "Top Ten" for Tuscany/Toscana, Italy *, dated Tuesday, February 17, 2009
• Info on walks/walking in Toscana/Tuscany , dated Tuesday, February 10, 2009
• Info about day trips in Tuscany/Toscana, Italy *, dated Tuesday, February 03, 2009
• Info on 2009 Events and Festivals (feste or sagre) in Toscana (Tuscany) *, dated Tuesday, January 06, 2009
• Info on 2008 Christmas Markets (Buon Natale) in Italy *, dated Tuesday, November 18, 2008
  
• Info on the Toscana (Tuscany) Region of Italy - Part 2 , dated Tuesday, June 26, 2007
• Info about the Italian school system in Italy , dated Friday, May 11, 2007
• Info on 2007 Events and Festivals (festa or sagra) in Italy *, dated Friday, January 05, 2007
• Info on 2007 National Holiday Observances in Italy *, dated Tuesday, January 02, 2007
• Info on blogs about Italy written by Expats living in Italy *, dated Tuesday, December 26, 2006
• Info on Wi-Fi and Hotspots in Italy *, dated Tuesday, June 20, 2006
• Info on Apartment, Vacation and Villa Rentals in Italy *, dated Tuesday, May 02, 2006
• Info about the Weather in Italy *, dated Friday, April 28, 2006
• Info on Comunes, Provinces and Regions in Italy *, dated Friday, November 18, 2005
• Info on On-Line Route Planning and Maps of Italy *, dated Thursday, November 17, 2005
• Info on Market Days/Antique Markets in Italy *, dated Saturday, November 19, 2005

* = Blog entry has been updated.

The above links are current. If anyone has any suggestions for other sites, please feel free to post your comment and I'll update this blog entry. For your specific interest, please search the web for further information using

If you are looking for tourist information, I would suggest that you go to the guide book of your choice. I have provided just a few links about tourism. What you will find above is information for individuals: living in the Toscana (Tuscany) region of Italy, spending some time in that region or planning to come to this region of Italy.

To keep this blog entry from becoming too long, I have broken it up into two parts. Next Tuesday, 26 June, Part 2 will be available with further information about the Toscana (Tuscany) region of Italy.

That's it for Tuesday, 19 June 2007: martedì, 19 giugno 2007.

Ciao, Ben

Moving2Italy2 – #1 source of links About, For or On Italy for those individuals moving, traveling or already living in Italy.

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"Don't spit at the sky, because it will come back to you."

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Friends and Family in Italy

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(LAST EDITED/UPDATED: 17 March 2009)