Tuscany History and Culture
What you will find under the tuscan sun
It is difficult to say which is more overwhelming: accounting for Tuscany's beauty or its greatness. The magnificence emanating from Florence's Baptistery, Siena's Duomo, or San Gimignano's medieval skyline stops even the most non-keen observer in his tracks; equally profound an experience is strolling through Chianti's countryside and gazing out to its rolling vineyard-clad hills and unsuspectingly finding an ancient convent among its emerald-colored cypress trees. Similarly, when considering Tuscan culture, it is utterly amazing that the modern Italian language was inspired by the sweet and perfect lyrics that comprise Dante's Divine Comedy. Then there are the works of Michelangelo, which bear testimony to the fact Tuscany gave birth to a man who made art even more glorious than nature. While each of Italy's regions are uniquely stunning and culturally rich, there is no doubt that Italy is what it is today because of Tuscany. Indeed, its artistry even extends to the worlds of food and wine. With a mix of excellent seafood, vibrant vegetables and beans, and delicious meats, Tuscan chefs concoct dishes that rival the sublimity of Botticelli's "La Primavera." Lastly, no conversation about the world's top wine regions can take place without an in-depth discussion of the virtuosity of Tuscany's wines, from its fragrant Vernaccia to the lush Brunello.
Tuscany is Etruscan in origin, but was annexed by the Roman Empire in
351 BC. After centuries of peace and prosperity as a Roman province,
the Empire's collapse led to the invasion of Tuscany by several
Germanic tribes - the Odacer, Ostrogoths, and the Lombards - that came
to rule over Tuscany. During the reign of Charlemagne, Tuscany was
incorporated into the Holy Roman Empire. In 1030, the territory, or
margravate, fell to Boniface of the Canossa family. Boniface was also
the Duke of Spoleto, Count of Modena, Mantova, and Ferrara, making him
Italy's most powerful prince. By the high Middle Ages, these cities,
Tuscany's more prominent, had become very wealthy through trade,
banking, and textile manufacturing, which allowed them to dedicate
large sums of money to the arts, setting the beginnings of what would
be the Italian Renaissance in motion. Before Tuscany would arrive at
the peace and perfection of the Renaissance, however, it would fight a
bitter war with itself to resolve the age-old question of the Church's
role in the government. The two sides were the Guelphs and the
Ghibellines, who supported the Papacy and Holy Roman Empire,
respectively. Eventually Florence through the powerful Medici' family
would assuaged the conflict by first solving the issue inside their own
city, and then conquering and incorporating most of the region into
itself, thus creating the ideal environment for the intellectual and
artistic world to flourish.
Vacations you may enjoy in Tuscany:
|
|