Tuscany was where the Italian language was born. The official Italian language spoken today is based on the Tuscan dialect that dates back to the Renaissance period.

Pinocchio is from Tuscany. The Disney animated story about the marionette who just wanted to be a “real boy” was written by Carlo Collodi, who was born in Florence in 1826. Pinocchio means “pine eyes” in Italian.

Tuscany is known as a “nation within a nation.” This is because of its unique linguistic and cultural identity, which is distinct from other regions in the rest of the country.

Tuscany is home to some of the most precious artwork in the world. Botticelli’s famous painting, “The Birth of Venus,” is housed in the Uffizi Gallery and Michelangelo’s “David” is in Florence.

Tuscany is the birthplace of the Western musical tradition. In mid-16th century Florence, the Florence Camerata (a group of poets, musicians and intellectuals) got together and started experimenting with putting ancient Greek myths to music on the stage. This was the origin of the very first operas.

Many celebrities choose to holiday or live in Tuscany. Sting, Giorgio Armani, Andrea  Bocelli, Richard Gere, and Antonio Banderas all own property in Tuscany.

Tuscany was the first region to adopt pavements. In 1339, Florence was the first European city to pave their streets.