Car Hire Tuscany: touring
Car Hire
Quote
Tuscany is famous for the variety of its
countryside. You’ll find rolling plains in coastal and riverside
locations, with gentle hills, deep valleys and awe-inspiring
mountains forming the bulk of the region’s centre. The Tuscan
Apennines cross the northern part of the area and boast the Futa
Pass, an excellent high road of Roman origin running directly from
Florence to Bologna.
Take the Pass over the mountains from the capital and you’ll be driving on one of Italy’s greatest touring roads. Long and winding, with sweeping turns, it was part of the legendary Mille Miglia race from 1927 to 1957. Early birds may be rewarded by the sight of a Lamborghini or Ducati test driver putting new machines through their paces, while the weekend driver will undoubtedly encounter packs of Italy’s motoring glitterati: expensive sports and touring cars or gatherings of performance bikes. And as if the view on the road ahead wasn’t enough, you’ve got the landscape itself to marvel at – the rocky glory of Italy’s backbone, its valleys and escarpments dotted with popular summertime retreats.
Tuscany is also home to the Val D’Orcia, a UNESCO-protected example of the typical Italian landscape. Its lush hills, fields, vineyards and cypress groves can make you feel as though you are driving through a painting. Which you almost are: the Val D’Orcia was cultivated during the 14th and 15th centuries specifically to create a pleasing picture. If you have ever seen a “classical” image of the Italian countryside – broad fields, simple lines of trees, neat grapevines – chances are it was taken, or painted, here.
Take the Via Cassia southwest from Siena and you’ll drive through 45km of living art to the village of San Quirico D’Orcia. Its ancient buildings, classical Italian gardens and almost complete 15th century wall harmonise perfectly with the country around you. Visit the bimonthly market for a piece of truly local colour or head over to the Collegiata di Osenna to lose yourself in the history of a building nearly 1000 years old.
Driving in the Tuscan country is an experience in itself, as rewarding as your destinations. Whether you opt for the high passes of the mountains, the seasonal pictures of its agricultural landscape, or make for the land around the coast, one thing is guaranteed: in Tuscany, you’ll remember as much from the travelling as you do from arriving.
Take the Pass over the mountains from the capital and you’ll be driving on one of Italy’s greatest touring roads. Long and winding, with sweeping turns, it was part of the legendary Mille Miglia race from 1927 to 1957. Early birds may be rewarded by the sight of a Lamborghini or Ducati test driver putting new machines through their paces, while the weekend driver will undoubtedly encounter packs of Italy’s motoring glitterati: expensive sports and touring cars or gatherings of performance bikes. And as if the view on the road ahead wasn’t enough, you’ve got the landscape itself to marvel at – the rocky glory of Italy’s backbone, its valleys and escarpments dotted with popular summertime retreats.
Tuscany is also home to the Val D’Orcia, a UNESCO-protected example of the typical Italian landscape. Its lush hills, fields, vineyards and cypress groves can make you feel as though you are driving through a painting. Which you almost are: the Val D’Orcia was cultivated during the 14th and 15th centuries specifically to create a pleasing picture. If you have ever seen a “classical” image of the Italian countryside – broad fields, simple lines of trees, neat grapevines – chances are it was taken, or painted, here.
Take the Via Cassia southwest from Siena and you’ll drive through 45km of living art to the village of San Quirico D’Orcia. Its ancient buildings, classical Italian gardens and almost complete 15th century wall harmonise perfectly with the country around you. Visit the bimonthly market for a piece of truly local colour or head over to the Collegiata di Osenna to lose yourself in the history of a building nearly 1000 years old.
Driving in the Tuscan country is an experience in itself, as rewarding as your destinations. Whether you opt for the high passes of the mountains, the seasonal pictures of its agricultural landscape, or make for the land around the coast, one thing is guaranteed: in Tuscany, you’ll remember as much from the travelling as you do from arriving.
