Tuscany holidays

Tuscany isn't satisfied with just hosting iconic cities, it’s got some of the country’s best beaches under its belt, too. The coast here stretches for more than 400 miles and offers up a pick 'n' mix of sandy stretches, rocky coves and pebble-coated seafronts.

Forte de Marmi is one of Tuscany’s best-known beach resorts, and it’s no stranger to a celeb-spotting or two. The lottery-winner's lifestyle is yours for the taking here, where exclusive beach clubs come with big price tags and Bali beds.

The pint-sized islands that surround Sardinia are a great option for peaceful beach days. Giglio Island's beach count stands at four, and Caldane Beach is the smallest of the bunch – you can only reach it with a boat, or via a coastal hiking path which takes around 30 minutes from Cannelle.

The stalls at Mercato Centrale in Florence stack everything from olives and cheeses to fresh fish and locally made wine. It’s pitched a stone’s throw from the cathedral and its doors are open seven days a week.

Siena’s a good starting point for shoppers, where Italian brands and boutique shops line the Medieval-time streets. Meanwhile, over in Pisa’s Corso Italia, there’s a host of high-street names and local brands to splash some cash in.

Forte dei Marmi’s a natural habitat for big spenders. The boutiques here are full of designer labels like Gucci, Prada and Armani. Aim for the streets around Piazza Garibaldi and you can’t go wrong. The designer mall in Florence – AKA The Mall – should be on your radar for top-end Tuscan buys, too.

Enotecas are your ticket to a laidback evening. These watering holes are more than just bars – they’re wine libraries designed to let you sample regional wines. You’ll find a few on Viale del Tirreno in Tirrenia and Via Giuseppe Zanardelli in Viareggio. In Forte dei Marmi, you don’t have to go far to find a good restaurant. Viale della Reppubblica alone could keep you wined and dined for a week.

Gucci dresses and Jimmy Choos form the uniform of clubbers in Forte dei Marmi. Beach clubs along this stretch host live DJ sets after sunset, and when you’re not up dancing by the pool you can sip fizz from a sea-view terrace. Viareggio has its own share of after-dark action, too – head to the streets surrounding Corso Giuseppe Garibaldi and you’ll have loads of choice when it comes to big nights out.

The basic ingredients of this popular stew dish are fish of the day, white wine, carrots, celery and tomatoes. The finished product is given a spicy kick with a generous sprinkling of paprika.

This is the Tuscan coast’s take on ravioli. The pasta dough is made with flour, salt, water and eggs, and it’s filled with a pre-cooked mixture of veal, pork, beef, cheese, egg and cloves. It’s usually served with a ragu sauce.

Family recipes for the sauce in this pasta dish are as closely guarded as the crown jewels. Generally, it’s made from hare, red wine, parsley, porcini mushrooms and tomatoes. The ribbons of home-made pappardelle are stirred into the sauce once it’s cooked.

The Florentine steak is a high quality t-bone that’s barely been shown the pan. It’s served with a simple seasoning of olive oil, salt and pepper. The best Florentine steaks come from the meat of huge, white, Chianina cattle.

Tuscany is famous for its wines, including Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino, but a bottle of Chianti stored in a straw basket has become a Tuscan emblem. More than eight million cases of the ruby coloured wine are produced in Tuscan vineyards every year. With its cherry aroma and nutty flavour, the wine pairs perfectly with pasta, pizza and veal dishes.