Tuscany

I

Introduction

Tuscany (Italian Toscana), region in northern Italy, formerly a sovereign grand duchy, bordered on the north by the regions of Liguria and Emilia-Romagna, on the east by Marche and Umbria, on the south by Latium (Lazio), and on the west by the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian seas. It is divided into the maritime provinces of Grosseto, Leghorn (Livorno), Lucca, and Pisa; the inland provinces of Arezzo, Florence, Pistoia, and Siena; and the province of Massa-Carrara, extending north from the sea between Liguria Region and the Apennines. Tuscany has a total land area of 22,993 sq km (8,878 sq mi).

II

Land and Resources

Tuscany is chiefly mountainous; in addition to the Apennines it has two mountain groups, the Apuane Alps, where marble is quarried, and a group in the south, the Colline Metallifere, where iron, magnesium, borax, and quicksilver are mined. The highest point is the Apennine peak of Monte Prato, which rises to a maximum elevation of 2,053 m (6,736 ft) above sea level in the north-west of the region, near the border with Emilia-Romagna. The rivers are the Arno, Cecina, Ombrone, and upper Tiber; all flow into the Tyrrhenian Sea. The island of Elba, famous as the site of the exile of Napoleon, lies just offshore; other Tuscan islands include Capraia, Giannutra, Giglio, Gorgona, Montecristo, and Pianosa. These seven islands were collectively designated as the Tuscan Archipelago National Park in 1989. Except in the Maremma, a marshy region in the south, the climate is mild.

III

Population

Tuscany has 3,598,269 inhabitants (2005 estimate); the average population density is 156 people per sq km (405 per sq mi). The regional capital and largest city is Florence (population, 2005 estimate, 368,059). Other important Tuscan cities include Prato (2001 estimate, 174,513); Leghorn (2001, 156,274); Arezzo (1997 estimate, 90,819); Pisa (2001, 89,694); Pistoia (1997 estimate, 86,156); Lucca (2001, 81,862); Carrara (2001, 65,034); Viareggio (1996, 57,514); Siena (2001, 52,625); and Volterra (1997 estimate, 30,205).

Institutions of higher education in Tuscany include the University of Siena (1240), the University of Pisa (1343), and the University of Florence (1923). Thousands of documents recording the history of the region are preserved in the State Archives in Florence; the city also contains one of the greatest libraries in Italy, the Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale. Florence is home to several notable museums and famous landmarks, including the Uffizi Gallery, the 13th-century Church of Santa Croce; and Florence Cathedral (also known as the Duomo); the city became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982. Pisa is famous for its leaning tower, completed in the 14th century, which stands in the Piazza del Duomo (Cathedral Square) at the heart of the city, alongside a Gothic Battistero (baptistry) and a Romanesque cathedral. The square was designated a World Heritage Site in 1987. The historic city centres of San Gimignano, Siena, and Pienza were inscribed on the List in 1990, 1995, and 1996 respectively.

IV

Economy

Agricultural products are wheat, maize, olives, and tobacco. Winemaking is central to the region’s economy. Grapes have been cultivated there for nearly 3,000 years and Tuscan wines today include some of Italy’s best reds (in particular Chianti). The Arno valley, between Florence and Leghorn, is the site of most of the industry in Tuscany. The most important manufactured products are wool and cotton textiles—particularly in the northern city of Prato; chemicals; cigarettes; food products; machinery; glass; and ceramics. Leghorn is the region’s chief port and an important shipbuilding centre. The Italian naval academy, naval shipyards, and a naval arsenal are located in the city. Tourism is of major importance; the cultural cities of Florence, Pisa, and Siena are popular destinations for thousands of overseas visitors each year.