Romantic notions of Tuscany abound in the collective imagination: picture postcard images of idyllic farmhouses perched upon hilltops surrounded by vineyards with cypress tree-lined drives; medieval cities with impressive cathedrals, leaning towers and spacious piazzas; and art, in all its Renaissance glory. The great thing about Tuscany is these are not just romantic notions.

Florence is the regional capital but also, arguably, the most fascinating city in Italy. The historic centre is a World Heritage Site and has a wealth of architectural sights including the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, or Il Duomo, famed for its Brunelleschi dome, and the adjacent Campanile.

Florence also has one of the oldest art galleries in the world, the Uffizi, featuring masterpieces from Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Botticelli, all native Tuscans. The region has other World Heritage Sites including Pisa's Leaning Tower and the historic old towns of Siena, San Gimignano and Pienza.

However, it is in the Tuscan countryside that some of the best boutique hotels can be found. Isolated villas once belonging to Italian aristocracy have been converted into small luxury hotels: the peace, the vistas, the chance to sample regional cuisine washed down with a local Chianti make this Tuscany the subject of art, and daydreams.