Experience La Dolce Vita by Vespa
With mouth-watering cuisine, heart-breakingly beautiful countryside, and perhaps the finest repository of art in the world, Tuscany is one of the few places that truly lives up to its picture postcard image. Lying in the heart of central Italy, it has an unrivalled landscape characterised by lush rolling farmlands, wooded Cyprus groves, crumbling hilltop villages and medieval bell towers. Amidst splendid natural beauty, it houses the enchanting cities of Florence, Siena, and Lucca that boast of the region’s rich Renaissance history and immense artistic heritage.

With such a wealth of high culture and world-famous museums, most visitors to Tuscany will descend on the region’s capital, Florence, and use this as a base for day-trip exploring. Whilst quick flits from the city will cover all the un-missable sites, beyond the jostling tourists there are so many enchanting artefacts and lesser known rural hotspots that can easily be missed. For this reason, there is no more exhilarating way to discover the extraordinary tapestry of culture and timeless beauty than by the nation’s iconic mode of transport-the Vespa.

As a medium –sized region that can be crossed in a few hours, the winding back roads of Tuscany are ideal for exploration by scooter. There are a number of itineraries that will allow you to take in all the main attractions whilst experiencing breath-taking views and natural highlights along the way. A week in this remarkable region should be plenty sufficient to encounter all treats Tuscany has to offer, so here is an overview of what to see and do in seven days.
No trip to Tuscany would be complete without a visit to its cultural gem, so begin your journey in the region’ capital, Florence. Two days should allow you a decent amount of time to marvel at one of the world’s most influential artistic centres and the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance. Head for the formidable galleries of Uffizi, Pitti and Accademia to see first-hand masterpieces from the likes of Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli, and Michelangelo, before continuing to the Ponte Vecchio (famous Old Bridge), Piazza Duomo, and Giotto's Bell Tower.

Moving on, make your way through curving pastures to the must-see towns of Pisa and Lucca. Two days will allow you to witness the world-famous architectural blunder that is the leaning tower, and delight at Venetian-esque medieval charm that the beautiful, historic city of Lucca hides behind its impressive Renaissance walls.
From here, enter into the fertile, undulating Chianti countryside that stretches between Florence and Siena. Famed for its excellent wines, you will find sloping vineyards, panoramic views and traditional off-the-beaten-track villages. Visit the ancient center of Panzano, and the castle at Gaiole, and don’t miss the chance to sample the region’s delicacies on a food and wine tasting tour. If you can, try to fit in a trip to the listed world heritage site of San Gimignano, whose high towers are its defining feature.
Arriving in Siena, you will be greeted by a majestic Gothic city brimming with captivating buildings and artistic treasures. It has its own fine world heritage site harbouring an abundance of museums and churches, but those travelling during July and August shouldn’t miss the city’s most loved spectacle, the Il Palio. Dating back to the Middle ages, it’s one of the few surviving displays of Medieval folk tradition in Italy.

Travelling through the countryside and cities of Tuscany by Vespa is a sure fire way to awe-inspiring views and unforgettable memories.  If you do decide to make the most of Italy this way, plan your route in advance and make sure you are fully covered before you set off. Companies such as AA Travel offer some great deals on travel insurance, so have a look to see how you can benefit.