Book excerpt: Practical travel guide to Tuscany & Umbria featuring points-of-interest structured lists of all sights and off-the-beaten-track treasures, with detailed colour-coded maps, practical details about what to see and to do in Tuscany & Umbria, how to get there and around, pre-departure information, as well as top time-saving tips, like a visual list of things not to miss in Tuscany & Umbria, expert author picks and itineraries to help you plan your trip. The Rough Guide to Tuscany & Umbria covers: Florence, around Florence, Lucca and Northern Tuscany, Pisa, the Central Coast and Elba, the Maremma, Siena, the Sienese hill towns, Southern Tuscany, Arezzo Province, Perugia and Northern Umbria, Assisi and the Vale of Spoleto, Spoleto and the Valnerina, and Orvieto and Southern Umbria Inside this travel guide you'll find: RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EVERY TYPE OF TRAVELLER Experiences selected for every kind of trip to Tuscany & Umbria, from off-the-beaten-track adventures in Perguia and Northern Umbria to family activities in child-friendly places, like Pisa or chilled-out breaks in popular tourist areas, like Florence. PRACTICAL TRAVEL TIPS Essential pre-departure information including Tuscany & Umbria entry requirements, getting around, health information, travelling with children, sports and outdoor activities, food and drink, festivals, culture and etiquette, shopping, tips for travellers with disabilities and more. TIME-SAVING ITINERARIES Carefully planned routes covering the best of Tuscany & Umbria give a taste of the richness and diversity of the destination, and have been created for different time frames or types of trip. DETAILED REGIONAL COVERAGE Clear structure within each sightseeing chapter includes regional highlights, brief history, detailed sights and places ordered geographically, recommended restaurants, hotels, bars, clubs and major shops or entertainment options. INSIGHTS INTO GETTING AROUND LIKE A LOCAL Tips on how to beat the crowds, save time and money and find the best local spots for sightseeing, wine tasting and eating out. HIGHLIGHTS OF THINGS NOT TO MISS Rough Guides' rundown of Lucca, the Maremma, Siena, and the Arezzo Province's best sights and top experiences helps to make the most of each trip to Tuscany & Umbria, even in a short time. HONEST AND INDEPENDENT REVIEWS Written by Rough Guides' expert authors with a trademark blend of humour, honesty and expertise, to help to find the best places in Tuscany & Umbria, matching different needs. BACKGROUND INFORMATION Comprehensive 'Contexts' chapter features fascinating insights into Tuscany & Umbria, with coverage of history, religion, ethnic groups, environment, wildlife and books, plus a handy language section and glossary. FABULOUS FULL COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHY Features inspirational colour photography, including the stunning Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and the spectacular leaning tower of Pisa. COLOUR-CODED MAPPING Practical full-colour maps, with clearly numbered, colour-coded keys for quick orientation in Assisi and the Vale of Spoleto, Orvieto and Southern Umbria and many more locations in Tuscany & Umbria, reduce need to go online. USER-FRIENDLY LAYOUT With helpful icons, and organised by neighbourhood to help you pick the best spots to spend your time.