Tuscany is noted as the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance and the art of the region have contributed vastly to high culture. There are a vast number of artistic works, museums and there’s art to see in churches, galleries, the vast villages, palaces and in piazzas, which are essentially town squares to see the art  and culture of Tuscany.

There are a great number of influential people whose work influenced not only the history of Italy, but also had a great impact on the art and culture of the larger global landscape of art and culture. The luminaries of Tuscany read like a who’s who list and include Michelangelo, Amerigo Vespucci, Galileo Galileo, Luca Pacioli, Puccini, Dante, Petrarch, Botticelli and Leonardo da Vinic – just to name a few.

As a visitor to Tuscany, you’ll want to take note that there are six major spots in this region of Italy that are noted as World Heritage Sites. They are the historic centers of Florence, Siena, Pienza, San Gimignano, Val d’Orcia and the Cathedral of Pisa.

These sites, plus the fact that Tuscany is home to more than 120 nature reserves that have strict protection, make this region one of the most popular tourist destinations not just in Europe by the world itself. The capital city of Tuscany is Florence. The beauty, majesty and vast array of things to do in Florence make it hot spot for tourist. Millions and millions visit the region annually. Florence alone averages about 10 million visitors a year. All that goes to tell you, as a visitor, that Tuscany is accustomed to tourists and understands the needs and desires of those visiting this amazing region.

The art of Tuscany is not only vast – it is unique. For example, Florence is a center of watercolor art. Florence is noted as having the largest repository of art from the Italian Renaissance period.

The Renaissance began in Florence, and the Medici family, which was dominant at the time, helped fund the start of it. This period lasted from the 14th Century to the 17th Century and was a cultural movement that spread across many areas and enriched them. It influenced art, religion, science, literature, politics and even education. Historians agree that it began in Florence. The Renaissance period is noted as the link between the Middle Ages and the Modern Era. It was a time of immense sweeping changes that lasted many years. It still has a profound impact on society today, and much of the art and other displays left from this era are incredibly beautiful and contribute to Tuscany as a prime place for visitors.

Tuscany is home to many wonderful museums and art galleries that are home to works of art that are not only historic in nature but among the world’s most valuable. Some would say they are, in fact, priceless. Some notable highlights include the Uffizi Gallery in Florence that has many incredible works, including the Birth of Venus by Bottecelli. There is also the Pitti Palace and Bargello.

You can also see sculptures, paintings and frescos in the array of churches and cathedrals – both large and small. These noteworthy sites include Pisa Cathedral, Siena Cathedral, Collegiata di San Gimignano and the Florence Cathedral.