10 Unforgettable Quotes About Tuscany: Beauty, Art, and Inspiration

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Positive messages about Tuscany in the words of celebrities

If in other articles we have highlighted many famous quotes about Tuscany, this time – at a time when the world is drowned by a large dose of negativity, between climate changes, wars and epidemics – we focus on positive messages that our region has inspired to famous people. Because this is what the Tuscany has always represented over the centuries, a beacon of beauty natural, architectural, and artistic heritage that illuminates hearts and minds. It is no coincidence that famous figures such as Dante, Giotto, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, just to name the first that come to mind. It is no coincidence that Tuscany was the first state on Earth to abolish the death penaltyDon't you find it emblematic? We do.

And so let's start with our roundup of positive messages about Tuscany, which we all desperately need.

Stendhal and the Stendhal Syndrome in Florence

We could not help but start with a very heartfelt message from a great writer, that Stendhal that in Florence, leaving the Basilica of Santa Croce, he even felt sick:

“I had reached that level of emotion where the celestial sensations of the arts and passionate feelings meet. Leaving Santa Croce, my heart skipped a beat; life had dried up for me, and I walked fearing I would fall.”.

But what had happened? In practice the great French author, during the Grand Tour which he did in 1817, and which he described in his book “Rome, Naples and Florence”, visited the Basilica of Santa Croce, in the Tuscan capital and, when he came out, he was struck by a dizziness due to too much emotion in having found himself in sacred place immortalized by Ugo Foscolo in “Dei sepolcri”. But nothing bad, on the contrary, the exact opposite, so much so that quite a few sensitive souls in the presence of works of art of extraordinary beauty they can experiment tachycardia, dizziness, dizziness, confusion and hallucinations, especially if the masterpieces are in limited spacesOr at least this is what the Florentine psychiatrist first noticed in 1977. Graziella Magherini, who narrated, and subsequently studied, some cases of foreign tourists visiting Florence affected by acute episodes of mental distress, of sudden onset and short duration, all curious syndromes very similar to that of Stendhal, so much so that it borrowed its name.

In short, in a few words, Stendhal and others lovers of beauty they can even feel sick in front of the superhuman power of art. Almost a sublimation of being. Almost an ecstasy. Almost a contact with God. I don't think there's any need to further explain the extreme positivity inherent in this message.

For further information:

Ugo Foscolo: Tuscany as a hymn to life

And since we mentioned him in relation to the Stendhal syndrome, among the giants who have transmitted positive messages about Tuscany full of culture and history there is certainly Ugo Foscolo, which in “Of the tombs”, a wonderful poem which has as its main object the tombs of great men and their ability to inspire posterity, by logical antithesis sings life like few others:

[…]Blessed are you, I cried, for the happy
Auras full of life, and for washing
That from its peaks the Apennines pour down to you!
Happy with your äer the Moon dresses
Your necks are of crystal clear light
For, festive harvest, and the valleys
Populated with houses and olive groves
A thousand flowers send incense to the sky: And you first, Florence, heard the song
Which cheered the fugitive Ghibelline's anger […]

You don't feel the seraphic on your skin Peace of Florence of times gone by, the slow flow of the Arno, the hills covered in white moonlight, the valleys populated with houses and olive groves celebrating the grape harvest and scented with flowers, that very city which first had the privilege of hearing the splendid rhymes of the Divine Comedy which made it less bitterDante's exile. It is not a description, besides being beautiful, even today extremely current?

Fernand Braudel: The Tuscan countryside, the most moving in the world

We continue with the French historian Fernand Braudel, who said:

“The hills of Tuscany, with their famous estates, villas, villages that are almost cities, in the most moving countryside that exists..”

Which needs no comment.

Albert Camus: A Pilgrimage to the Beauty of Siena 

Among the famous phrases about Tuscany, the beautiful lyrical images of the writer, philosopher, and Nobel Prize winner do not need any comments. Albert Camus:

“But at the end of my days I would like to walk again, with my backpack on my shoulder, the road from Monte San Savino to Siena, to walk along that countryside of olives and grapes whose smell I can still smell, and then see Siena rise in the sunset with its minarets, like a Constantinople of perfection..”

Ennio Flaiano: The Dream of Being Born in Florence

While I am sure that the aphorism of a sharp master of satire like this will draw many enthusiastic comments Ennio Flaiano:

“Many die in Florence because they were unable to be born there.”

What can I say? Hats off!

Tchaikovsky: Florence, a city that becomes home

Among the quotes about Tuscany, the unparalleled Russian composer he said:

“Of all the foreign cities, Florence has certainly become my favorite. The longer you live there, the more you realize you love it. There's something welcoming about it that makes me feel at home.”.

They may not be the most beautiful words ever spoken about Tuscany, but having made a person feel at home man of such greatness It is a source of great pride and honour for us.

While Pasolini leaves us indelible images of an ineffable Versilia:

Pier Paolo Pasolini and the nuances of Versilia

“The Versilia mountains, cheerful or gloomy? That's something you can never quite figure out. A little crazy in shape, and always painted with end-of-the-world hues, with that pink, those dry flashes of marble that seep through as if by chance..”

Curzio Malaparte: Tuscany, a magical landscape

Among the famous people in Tuscany the Curzio Malaparte from Prato, especially in his famous Damned Tuscans, has left many images of our region, not all of them positive, starting from ironic and significant title, that's why we chose this message is positive here it is:

“Tuscany is a magical landscape where everything around is gentle, everything is ancient and new.”

Oriana Fallaci: Finding Yourself in Tuscany

“If you feel tired of yourself and need to find yourself, get rid of doubts, there is no better place than Tuscany in autumn.”.

He said Oriana Fallaci.

While the geographer Henri Desplanques he wrote:

Henri Desplanques: Tuscany, a living work of art

The Tuscan countryside was built like a work of art by a refined people, the same people who commissioned paintings and frescoes from their painters in the 15th century: this is the characteristic, the main feature that has been incorporated over the centuries into the design of the fields and the architecture of Tuscan houses. It's incredible how these people have constructed their rural landscapes as if they had no other concern than beauty..”

Isn't that perhaps what more or less ruled theUNESCO when he elected the whole Val d'Orcia to World Heritage Site?

Where to stay to experience Tuscany at its best

And then, going into practical terms, if all these positive messages from great men about Tuscany have made you want to stay with us for a while, we are sure that the following luxury stays in Tuscany you might like:

The best charming relais in Tuscany

Adler Thermae SPA and Relax Resort: in San Quirico d'Orcia, a 5-star Spa Resort that stands out for its elegant mix of Mediterranean charm and international luxury.
Relais & Chateaux Il Falconiere & Spa 5 Stars: in Cortona, one of the most important wine resorts, not only in Tuscany, but in Europe, with a Michelin-starred restaurant and an excellent wellness center.
Borgo Scopeto Wine & Country Relais: In Vagliardi, near Siena, 58 rooms and suites, a restaurant, a wellness center, and two outdoor pools, all surrounded by a 17th-century garden.
Vicarello Castle: in Grosseto, a historic residence dating back to 1100, two swimming pools, 9 exclusive accommodations, and an excellent restaurant serving traditional local dishes.
Wolf House: in Torrita di Siena, a boutique hotel overlooking the splendor of the Val d'Orcia, with 12 rooms designed with attention to the smallest details and a 4-course dinner at the excellent restaurant.

And again:

Counts of San Bonifacio Wine Resort: in Gavorrano, nestled in the Maremma countryside, it offers a spectacular outdoor pool with 360-degree views, 7 high-end rooms, and a traditional yet creative restaurant.
Castello di Velona Resort, Thermal SPA and Winery: in Castelnuovo dell'Abate, a true medieval fortress from the year 1000 with a beautiful spa and an excellent restaurant.
Volpaia Castle: in Radda in Chianti, hospitality is spread throughout an entire small fortified village dating back to 1172, where great wines are produced.
Poggio Casciano – Ruffino Estates: in Bagno a Ripoli, near Florence, elegance, nature, and tradition, a splendid infinity pool overlooking the cru vineyards, and an excellent tasting menu.
Castello di Meleto Wine Resort: in Gaiole in Chianti, a structure dating back to 1256 where hospitality and good wine are the undisputed protagonists.

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About The Author

Vieri Tommasi Candidi

Writer, Ambassador of Tuscany