Buying a Eurail Train pass is the perfect way to enjoy the summer in Italy. Italy has over 16,000km of railroad tracks across its beautiful landscape shows that your Eurail pass is more than just for transportation. When in Italy, the classical beauty of Tuscany can’t be missed, and the train ride through its gorgeous hills and vineyards will take you to another world. Here are some great tips for where to visit and some fantastic restaurants to try while in the Tuscany region.
The famous leaning Tower of Pisa is located in central Italy, 50 miles from Florence, is quite a site to see in real life. And it only takes an hour to get to Pisa from Florence by train. The greatest medieval town in Italy to see is Siena. Here you can just enjoy the culture by walking through alleyways and narrow streets. If you feel up to hiking up some stairs, you can always climb to the top of Siena's tall bell tower and take in some amazing views of the city and the Piazza Del Campo below. 3. The most popular place to taste wine is Chianti, which is very well known for its world-famous red wines. Here you can sip while enjoying the picture-perfect scenery.
Another popular place to visit to Tuscany is Lucca. Here you will find many churches and other medieval buildings that will amaze. The Roman amphitheater is located in Lucca and is over in 1900 years old. The town centre is completely enclosed by a brick wall built in the 16th century and you can take a walk along the top of the wall, which stretches 4km. Lucca is considered to have some the best food in the Tuscany region especially the tortelli lucchese.
Finally we have Florence, which will no doubt be one of the main highlights of your trip, needs a few days to fully explore. There are many different sights to see and you should be sure not to miss the Uffizi. The world-famous Uffiza Gallery is home to thousands of paintings and sculptures. Because of how popular it is you can wait up to 5 hours to get in so it is best to reserve a ticket in advance.
Tuscany houses over 2000 restaurants, and I’m sure none of them will disappoint. Here are a few suggestions for you.
Cantine Bernardini in Lucca is known as one of the best in the area and is stylishly designed a modern twist but with many references to 16th century Tuscany. The food here is not typically Tuscan, but what customers will be provided with are exquisitely cooked dishes which are flavored to a high standard and presented with a great deal of artistry.
For the ultimate dining experience in Tuscany, La Bucacciain Cortona is where you will be spoilt with gorgeous, gourmet food, a fantastic atmosphere and a stunning environment. Providing its customers with a great selection of Chef's specials and traditional Tuscan dishes; La Bucaccia serves only the freshest food, infused with fantastic flavor combinations. This is quite a small restaurant so provides a fantastic, intimate setting but you will never feel rushed here so you are free to thoroughly enjoy your meal and the hospitality.
Il Profeta in Florence offers a full mix of great food and hospitality. This is the best place for those who are big eaters or who simply wish to indulge in as much Tuscan cuisine as possible as the portions here are quite large - especially in terms of the steaks and pasta dishes.
In Pisa, the Hostaria Le Repubbliche Marinare is the best restaurant for those looking for a great balance between food, service, price and atmosphere. Perfect for those who want to try all of what Tuscany has to offer, without breaking the bank. With highlights such as beautifully made pizzas with prices starting at a low 6 Euros to decadent desserts such as tiramisu and cheesecake, this is great for those who are eager to try some new Italian foods or simply order some classics. There is a chance that you may need to make a booking here, but it is worth the wait.
For the perfect Tuscan pizza, Gusta Pizza in Florence is the ideal restaurant for you. With a simple menu of up to 7 pizzas, there are no wild or unusual pizzas to try here but what the restaurant lacks in choice it makes up for in flavors and quality. Gusta Pizza uses only the freshest ingredients, rolling all their pizza dough by hand and with this fresh, traditional method of making pizza, you are provided with intense and high quality flavors sure to rival any pizza you have eaten in the past. With prices that go no higher than 9 Euros for a large pizza, you’re in for a great deal.
Hope you have a chance to enjoy all these great spots and restaurants to visit while in touring Tuscany by Eurail train pass. Check out Rome by clicking here.
