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Book Description
INTRODUCTION
Tuscany and Umbria harbour the classic landscapes of Italy, familiar from a thousand Renaissance paintings, with their backdrop of medieval hill-towns, rows of cypress trees, vineyards and olive groves, and artfully sited villas and farmhouses. It’s a stereotype that has long held an irresistible attraction for northern Europeans. Shelley referred to Tuscany as a "paradise of exiles", and ever since his time the English, in particular, have seen the region as an ideal refuge from a sun-starved and overcrowded homeland.

The expatriate’s perspective may be distorted, but the central provinces – and especially Tuscany – are indeed the essence of Italy in many ways. The national language evolved from Tuscan dialect, a supremacy ensured by Dante, who wrote the Divine Comedy in the vernacular of his birthplace, Florence. Other great Tuscan writers of the period – Petrarch and Boccaccio – reinforced its status, and in the nineteenth century Manzoni came to Tuscany to purge his vocabulary of any impurities while working on The Betrothed, the most famous of all Italian novels. But what makes this area pivotal to the culture not just of Italy but of all Europe is, of course, the Renaissance period, whose masterpieces of painting, sculpture and architecture are an intrinsic part of any tour. The very name by which we refer to this extraordinarily creative era was coined by a Tuscan, Giorgio Vasari, who wrote in the sixteenth century of the "rebirth" of the arts with the humanism of Giotto and his successors.

Nowadays Tuscany and Umbria are among the wealthiest regions of the modern Italian state, a prosperity founded partly on agriculture and tourism, but largely on their industrial centres, which are especially conspicuous in the Arno valley. Nonetheless, both Tuscany and Umbria are predominantly rural provinces, with great tracts of land still looking much as they did half a millennium ago. Just as the hill-towns mould themselves to the summits, the terraces of vines follow the lower contours of the hills and open fields spread across the broader valleys, forming a distinctive balance between the natural and human world.

Synopsis
"The Rough Guide to Tuscany and Umbria" provides detailed accounts of every sight, from the monuments of Florence, Siena and Assisi to the treasures of tiny Umbrian towns such as Montefalco and Spello. There are insightful reviews of accommodation and restaurants, helping you to enjoy the much-famed Italian dishes on offer. There are also practical tips on a host of activities, from attending Spoleto Festival to walking in the Monti Sibillini or shopping for original designer clothes.

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4 Reviews 5 star:  (1) 4 star:  (3) 3 star:    (0) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review (4 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews   29 of 29 people found the following review helpful: Indispensable, 8 Jul 2003 By A Customer As you can see I always buy a new copy of this Rough Guide whenever it is republished. It's encyclopedia like format is invaluable for anyone planning their first or subsequent trips to these enchanting areas of Italy. It is worth the cover price alone simply to make sure you get the most up to date information on arriving anywhere featured in the book for the first time. You are then able to make the most of your trip however long you have to spend. All aspects of your trip are updated so I encourage you to go and buy this latest edition. It is strong on Politics, transport and accommodation but this is what I have come to expect from any book in this remarkable series. Don't rely entirely on this boook however, there are many other books to help enhance your visit and I suggest The Cadogan Guide, and some background reading like Toby Jones's "The Dark Heart of Italy" or even Isabella Dusi's "Vanilla Beans and Brodo" to set the scene. Iris Origo's "War in the Val D'Orcia" is also vital reading for anyone who has fallen under the spell of this amazing country and James Bentley's "Umbria" will also add to your enjoyment.  Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? (Report this)   10 of 13 people found the following review helpful: Rough Guide to Tuscany and Umbria (5th ed.), 4 Jul 2003 By  "kuladk" - See all my reviews This edition generally improves on previous ones, especially in a nore attractive layout. However there is one exception. There is a printing error resulting in the map for Pisa and Central Italy on page 280 being duplicated on page 320 - where there should be a map of the Maremma. Alas there is no map for the Maremma (section 5 of the book)! So far The Rough Guide have not shown any sign of rectifying this error. So reader beware.  Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? (Report this)   1 of 1 people found the following review helpful: Detailed, accurate, informative, 10 Jul 2006 By  Pen name (UK) - See all my reviews There are times when travelling that you just want to go with the flow, see where you end up and not read up ahead of the game. On the other hand, there are times when you need accurate, informative writing such as this. This Rough Guide is one of the best I have used, whatever I consulted it for I found and the information was always spot on except for one point - street parking outside the city walls of Siena is NOT free so take a lot of change! Otherwise brilliant.  Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? (Report this) › See all 4 customer reviews...		Most Recent Customer Reviews Rough Guide to Tuscany and Umbria (5th ed.) This edition generally improves on previous ones, especially in a nore attractive layout. However there is one exception. Read more Published on 4 Jul 2003 Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews › See all 4 customer reviews...