Tuscany: A History

Ever since the days of the Grand Tour Tuscany has cast its spell over the British. Attracted by the perfect combination of history art architecture superb natural beauty and weather - not to mention magnificent traditions of food and drink - British visitors and residents have been at times so numerous that the local word for foreigners was simply gli inglesi - the English. Currently over 10 000 Britons live there not to mention the huge numbers who travel there for holidays. What is it that makes this exquisite part of Italy so seductive? To answer this question Alistair Moffat embarks on a journey into Tuscanys past. From the flowering of the Etruscan civilization in the seventh century BC through the rise of the powerful medieval communes of Arezzo Luca Pisa and Florence and the role the area played as the birthplace of the Renaissance he underlines both the areas regional uniqueness as well as the vital role it has played in the history of the whole of Italy.Insightful readable and imbued with the authors own enthusiasm for Tuscany this book includes a wealth of information not found in tourist guides and is the only modern history of the area available in English.