Hidden Tuscany sounds like an oxymoron – surely British tourists have penetrated every square inch of this Italian favourite?
Not so. Just a few kilometres from the attractions of Florence, Pisa and Lucca lies Pistoia, a lesser-visited province with all the traditional Tuscan qualities – cypress trees, rolling hills, olive groves – but lower prices. Thomson and Cresta both feature hotels in the Pistoia region.
Situated between Florence and Pisa, and their respective airports, it’s easy to access and close enough to some of the bigger-name Tuscan attractions for comfortable day trips. However, visitors will enjoy spending some of their time in the area itself, enjoying a slow vacation away from the crowds.
Art and architecture lovers should head for the historic cities of Pistoia and Pescia, packed with medieval, renaissance and baroque churches, palaces and paintings, or the beautiful villages in the Montalbano area.
The towns of Montecatini and Monsummano are the sites of thermal geysers, and have developed into spa centres, with spa resorts and day spas where visitors can enjoy treatments and bask in the waters which are said to aid problem skin, intestinal troubles and even cellulite.
For golfers, there are two courses, Golf Quarrata and Montecatini Golf.
