Travel Bucket List: Why Scenic Tuscany Is A Hotspot For Destination Weddings

Y Satyanarayana

Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma couldn't have chosen a better location to get married. No, it's not about the Rs. 13.5 lakh a night stay at a resort. It's the magic of Tuscany which makes it a very special destination. There are few places in the world which can match this region for sheer beauty which every visitor to this part of Italy, finds beguiling.

Tuscany's breathtaking landscape charms you as much as its capital, Florence's Renaissance art and architecture would. This beautiful region in central Italy, is about a quarter the size of Telangana, in terms of area. When you plan your trip to Florence, don't forget to take time off to drive into the countryside through the famous Apennine Mountains, visit olive groves and check out vineyards on a wine trail in the celebrated Chianti wine region.

Sample Tuscan cuisine in the scenic villages of the rolling hills, visit the fortress of Castellina and include a day-long visit to Siena. You will be swept away by the medieval brick buildings in the charming old town of Siena with its cathedral which casts a spell on you--the spectacular Basilica di San Domenico. Other sights here include, the Gothic town hall, and Torre del Mangia, a 14th-century tower with its impressive white crown, which offers a panoramic view of the place. Siena's 17 districts or “contrade” spread outward from the central square or piazza. Don't forget the Piazza del Campo or the central square, where Palio di Siena the bare-back horse race, started in the medieval period, is held to this day. The Palio is a major attraction which brings thousands of tourists to this enchanting old town.

And don't miss out on San Gimignano. A walled city between Florence and Siena, this World Heritage Site has a quaint character with its distinctive medieval stamp. The 14 tower-houses of the 72 which were originally built, mirror its medieval glory. Visit the Duomo, sample the saffron and white wine (Vernaccia di San Gimignano) here, walk around this beautiful town and absorb its enduring beauty.

Pisa is another big box which you might want to tick on your Tuscany tour. Apart from the world-famous leaning tower which draws tourists in huge numbers to this small Tuscan town, which is another World Heritage site in the region, other attractions here include the Pisa Baptistry, Campo Santo (literally "holy field" or monumental cemetery) and Duomo di Pisa, the medieval Roman Catholic cathedral.

Where to stay in Tuscany:

The Tuscan countryside offers you a wide range of options depending on your budget, if you're looking at a farm stay--one of the big attractions in many parts of Tuscany is agriturismo. Then of course, there are villas, apartments, hotels and luxury resorts of the kind that Virushka had chosen for their special day.