While Tuscany has the attractions of bigger cities, Umbria -- the "green heart of Italy" -- is an adventure traveler's dream, where walking, rafting, hang-gliding, caving, and other off-the-beaten-path adventures await.

Ciao Bambino has gathered together some of the most useful online resources for Tuscany and Umbria travel. Find Florence tours and Umbria outdoor adventures in the Tuscany and Umbria guidebook. Or take a look at some of Pisa's architectural sites in Tuscany's official tourism page. There's a wealth of Tuscany vacation tips in the pages below.

Italy Travel Guidebooks for Tuscany and Umbria
Free online Italy Guidebook: Google Books has an excellent travel guide available free online, appropriately entitled: "Tuscany and Umbria"
http://books.google.com/books?id=8tKUyygkvjsC&printsec=frontcover#PPA11,M1

Touring Italian Architecture
Two-thirds of the world's architectural heritage is located in Italy, and Tuscany is at the center of it all. Pisa may hold the famous Leaning Tower, but it also contains a large collection of resplendent buildings that date far back to the Etruscan age. The entire region is dotted with ancient buildings that all contain a rich architectural history. A great way to take in the Tuscan heritage is on bicycle. Iron Donkey Tours has an excellent list of sights to see by bike.
http://www.irondonkey.com/selfguidedtours-tuscany-umbria-attractions.php

The Tuscan Archipelago
One of Italy's most untouched landscapes is the chain of islands in Italy's Tuscan Archipelago National Park. Elba and Montecristo are some of the most well-known islands, but Capraia, Gorgona, Pianosa, Giglio and Giannutri each have their own charm. Some islands are only accessible by special permit, and some still serve as active penal colonies. Find out more at the National Park's home page.
http://www.islepark.it/inglese/

Tourism in Tuscany
This web resource put together by the Tuscany Tourism Agency contains some excellent information on adventure travel and family trips in the region. It covers all aspects of the Tuscan landscape, and is the perfect starting point for information on family travel in Tuscany.
http://www.turismo.toscana.it/new/sitoinglese/apet.htm

Tourism in Umbria
Some of the top sites in Umbria include Assisi, Orvieto, Todi, and Spoleto. This page describes each of these destinations in detail
http://neuropetravel.suite101.com/article.cfm/umbria_the_green_heart_of_italy

Traveling by Train through Tuscany and Umbria
About.com has put together a great map of rail travel in Tuscany. Check out the rail map and distance calculator.
http://goitaly.about.com/library/bl_tuscany_rail_maps.htm;

Eating Out: The Top Restaurants
Montepulciano is a city in Southern Tuscany. Chances are, if you're traveling between Tuscany and Umbria, you'll end up in Montepulciano en-route. Here is a list of the top restaurants in the area; phone numbers are conveniently included with each listing.
http://www.caam.rice.edu/~awesome1/Travel/Restaurants.htm