From Florence, Tuscany is at your doorstep and public transport to surrounding areas is excellent. For yet more art, Siena, Arezzo, Lucca and Pisa are all within an hour’s journey, though you’ll need to devote two days to Siena if you want to explore it properly (see p132). Wine lovers with a car should explore the beautiful Chianti region just south of Florence, a stunning area that’s dotted with wine-growing estates spread out around ancient castles. To escape the crowds, head into the green hills of the Mugello, north of the city, or to the adjacent and little-visited Casentino to the north-east.

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