Tuscany is one of the 20 Regions of Italy. The capital is Florence, and it has an area of 22,990 km² and about 3.6 million inhabitants. Known for its landscapes and its artistic legacy, Tuscany is considered by some to be the most beautiful region in Italy. Six Tuscan localities have been made UNESCO protected sites: the historical center of Florence (1982), the historical center of Siena (1995), the square of the Cathedral of Pisa (1987), the historical center of San Gimignano (1990), the historical center of Pienza (1996) and the Val d' Orcia (2004). Geography

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Tuscany is a region of Central Italy, bordering Emilia-Romagna north, Liguria to the north-west, and Tyrrhenian Sea to the west, Umbria and Marche to east, Lazio to the south-east. The territory is two thirds hilly and one fourth mountainous. The remainder is constituted by plains that form the valley of the Arno River.

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Tuscany is known for its wine and the most famous are: Chianti is Italy's most famous red wine. Sangiovese grapes are the most famous as the main component of the Chianti blend in Tuscany It used to be easily identified by its squat bottle enclosed in a straw basket, called fiasco ("flask"). (The fiasco is only used by a few makers of the wine now; most Chianti is bottled in traditionally shaped wine bottles.) Low-end Chianti is generally fairly inexpensive, with basic Chianti running less than US$10 for a bottle. More sophisticated Chiantis, however, are made and sold at substantially higher price points.

Morellino di Scansano DOC is an Italian red wine made in the hilly environs of the village of Scansano (GR), not far from the Maremma coast in southern Tuscany. Morellino is a local strain of (or simply a local name for) the Sangiovese grape varietal.

Brunello di Montalcino is a red wine produced in the vineyards surrounding the town of Montalcino. Brunello is a local name for Sangiovese in Italian, and is one of the best-known (and expensive) wines of Italy. Well-made Brunellos are capable of aging for long periods of time, given their high tannin content.

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Brunello must be made from 100% Brunello clone of the Sangiovese (a range of clones of the Sangiovese Grosso). It is released no sooner than the fifth year after harvest (i.e. 2001 Brunello is released in early 2006). Brunello currently must be aged in wood for 2 years and at least 4 months in a bottle before release. Traditionally, the wines are aged 3 years or so in large oak casks that impart little oak flavor but allow for the controlled softening of the wine.

Other agricultural products include Chianina cattle (particularly the famous "Fiorentina" steak) and the production of olive oil, principally in Lucca and the surrounding hills. The industry comprises factories producing Piaggio cars, motorcycles, scooters and aero planes, the textile industrial district of Prato, the petrochemical plants of Leghorn and the steel factories of Piombino.

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Tourism is the economic backbone of the so-called "Cities of Art" (Florence, Lucca, Pisa, Siena, San Gimignano), as well as on the coast and in the isles (Elba). Marble is quarried in Versilia (Massa and Carrara), Garfagnana and in the Alpi Apuane.