Stunning landscapes, quaint roman villages, artists and wine will be among the first things to come to mind when thinking of Tuscany. As Italy's premier tourist region, Tuscany is a magnet for millions of tourists each year, who organise their travel insurance and come to visit such sites as the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Ponte Vecchio of Florence and the ancient city of San Gimignano. There are numerous other historic landmarks dotted all around the region and dozens of Roman villages built high up on landscaped hills surrounding vineyard covered valleys .

Tuscany is the most culturally rich area in Europe, with 6 UNESCO designated World Heritage Sites. These include the historic centres of Florence, Siena, San Gimignano, Pienza and the Val d'Orcia and Pisa's Cathedral Square (Piazza del Duomo). Tourists driving in large cities such as Florence will encounter very different driving to that normally found in Britain or America, so travel insurance is an important consideration before you can set off on your holiday to Tuscany. Tuscany is famous for its outstanding views - one of the most famous is the view from the Piazzala Michelangelo, up on a hill south of the River Arno. Here, the entire skyline of Florence can be witnessed from a large car park which leads onto a terrace. Another famous view is from the top of Florence's Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore (Duomo), which rises to 114.5 metres in height.

The region offers some of the finest restaurants and hotels in the world, with those situated in smaller towns and villages tending to be cheaper than in the larger towns and cities. In fact, an excellent base from which to explore the region is anywhere within a triangle connecting Florence, Pisa and San Gimignano, from which other towns and cities such as Monteriggioni, Volterra and Siena can be explored. There are also a number of seaside resorts located on the western coast. Some of the most notable are Livorno, Marina di Cecina and San Vincenzo. Viewing a Mediterranean sunset on a Tuscanian beach, drinking some Tuscanian wine on a summer picnic could not be a more relaxing way of spending a typical evening in this region. If you plan on engaging in any aquatic activities, do ensure that these are covered by your travel insurance.

For longer breaks it is also worth considering a day trip to Rome, where you can tour such famous sights as the Colosseum, Vatican City and the Trevi Fountain. A trip to the impressive waterfalls of Cascata delle Marmore near Terni or up to the great city of Milan, a mecca of fashion and culture are all worth the journey as well. Invest in a visit further along the Mediterranean coast in Liguria, to the stunning villages of Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare (known as the Cinque Terre). These villages are collectively a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the beautiful port of Portovenere and offer breathtaking coastal views along the many cliff walks. A train can be taken from Florence to the port of La Spezia, which operates a special service to the famous villages. Driving to the villages is also possible assuming you have decent travel insurance and a love of hairpin bends and very narrow roads p

The climate in Tuscany is typically Mediterranean, comprising generally mild winters and hot, dry summers. In the summer months expect persistent heat, long sunny days and high humidity in the coastal areas. In Florence the average July and August maximum temperature is about 31 degrees Celsius and in August 2009 the temperature reached 39 degrees Celsius in the city (the all time record being 42.6 degrees Celsius). Autumns are largely wet and warm until about the end of October and occasional short lived cold snaps can also occur in the winter. The best time to visit Tuscany is May and September when the weather is warm and the cities are not anywhere near as crowded as in June, July and August. It may also be possible to secure advantageous deals on both travel and travel insurance during the quieter season.

Consider hiring a car to make the most of your break in Tuscany. It is also worth noting that there are very few public transport services on a Sunday in Italy, which should be another incentive to invest in hiring a car. Arranging suitable travel insurance for your own safety and convenience should be a priority, should you be unlucky enough to encounter any problems during your stay.