This region of Italy is home to centuries of cultural heritage. There are around 270 museums in total, including world-famous collections like the Uffizzi in Florence.
The Renaissance was born here, forged by artists such as Brunelleschi, Donatello and Masaccio. Throughout the medieval and Renaissance periods, the art schools of Florence, Siena, Pisa and Lucca – all within easy reach of Castelfalfi – produced work of monumental historic importance.
And the visual arts are just one part of Tuscany’s cultural life. For music lovers, there’s a summer opera festival at Torre del Lago, near Lucca, while the annual Lucca festival attracts leading rock and pop names from around the world.
Twice a year, a very different sort of festival comes to Siena. Here, in the Piazza del Campo, they stage Il Palio – a daredevil bareback horse race between ten districts, or contrade. This medieval tradition is preceded by a magnificent pageant that draws visitors from around the world.
This is also the ideal place to nurture your own artistic gifts. You don’t have to be a Leonardo to be inspired by the exquisite light and landscape of Tuscany. So why not join one of the art courses at Castelfalfi?
Your work may not end up the Uffizzi, but it’s the perfect way to find a new, and rich, perspective on the splendour of your surroundings.