Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Tuscany Now
Tuscany has been a stronghold of the Italian left ever since rapid industrialisation post-
WWII. And regional elections in 2010 proved no exception. With much-loved incumbent
Regione Toscane president Claudio Martini choosing not to stand for a third term, fellow
centre-left candidate Enrico Rossi (b 1958) stormed into office with a landslide victory
over the centre-right. What made the red Tuscan politician's victory so poignant was the
fact that other like-minded, traditionally left regions in Italy fell to Berlusconi's governing
centre-right coalition - while famously red Tuscany stood firm.
Tuscans rapidly warmed to their new president, who tweets at @rossipresidente and uses
Facebook to converse and communicate key developments in Tuscany - such as the region-
wide switch to digital TV in 2011; Pisa being hailed as one of Italy's most wi-fi-connected
cities; and the opening of the first leg of the controversial, Rome-bound toll motorway that
will run from just south of Livorno to Civitavecchia, 206km further south, once completed
in 2016.
TIMELINE
9th century BC
Etruscans bring highly civilised wine, women and song to the hills of Tuscany - never has
life been so good. Unfortunately they fail to invite the Romans and war ensues.
265 BC
Etruria falls to Rome, but it remains unruly and conspires with Hannibal against Rome dur-
ing the Punic Wars.
59 BC
After emerging victorious from a corrupt election campaign for the position of Roman con-
sul, Julius Caesar establishes a soldier-retiree resort called Florentia.
570-774
The Lombards rule Italy as far south as Florence, and manage to turn the tiny duchy of Spo-
leto into a booming trade empire.
773-74
