It is often said that Athens is the cradle of Western Civilization.  That claim is arguable. But, if there is any runner up, it surely must be Tuscany, the land of the Tuscans. With a history and culture which predates that of Rome, Tuscany has uniquely contributed to the law, commerce, religion and art of the  world, to say nothing of the more mundane pleasures of food and wine. At the intersection of ancient trade routes, the rich past of the Tuscans is reflected in the surviving architecture of medieval walled towns, renaissance churches, castles and abbeys, and works of art preserved in museums of monumental elegance. The past is carved into a landscape of such compelling beauty, (green hills as far as the eye can see, graced by ancient vineyards and olive groves separated by hand laid stone walls and cypress trees.) that both the naturalist and historian will find here a mine of limitless treasures.