Society and Culture

This section collects some of the main sites which cover culture in Tuscany and its society. You will thus find general information on today's Tuscan culture and on cultural initiatives promoted by the regional government, as well as detailed studies on the society and traditions, characters and themes important during the history of Tuscany.

Sites

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	Tuscany Pictures & Photos - www.tuscanypictures.com - Photo gallery of pictures about Tuscany: landscapes, cities, attractions. Part of the Discover Tuscany.com network.
	The Galileo Project - galileo.rice.edu - A very complete collection of resources on the life and works of Galileo Galilei, maintained and worked on by Rice University in Houston, Texas.
	The World of Dante - www.worldofdante.org - A multimedia research tool intended to facilitate the study of the "Divine Comedy". An encoded Italian text allows structured searches, plus an English translation, interactive maps, diagrams, music, timeline and gallery of illustrations help make the Dante's Inferno, Purgatory and Paradise come to life.
	Viareggio Carnival - www.viareggio.ilcarnevale.com - Site of the Carnival of Viareggio, one of the most important carnival celebrations in Italy and Europe, presents the history of the event, with details on the characteristics that make it particular. Dates and theme of the current year's carnival are listed, with information on purchasing tickets. Finally, the Carnival Citadel Museum is described, with history and details of visiting hours. The Italian version contains a large photographic gallery, as well as an archive section and useful information for visiting Viareggio.
	Fototoscana - www.fototoscana.it - Images of cities, landscapes and monuments of Tuscany. A rich archive, with informational notes on some images and a section with panoramic images. Also offers wallpapers for desktop, virtual postcards and maps.
	Great Dante - www.greatdante.net - Site entirely dedicated to Dante Alighieri, with biography and downloads(in various formats) of the poet's works. Lots of interesting information on the poet as well as on the historical period in which he lived and on current works and events dedicated to the poet.
	Kyoto Observatory - www.osservatoriokyoto.it - The project "Kyoto Observatory" is a collaboration between the Region of Tuscany and the Biometeorology Institute of the CNR (National Research Council). The site presents the goals and activities tied to the project, designed to both keep track of local carbon dioxide emissions in Tuscany as well as inform the general public and local administrative bodies on the necessity to reduce emissions as per the Kyoto Protocol.
	Leonardo da Vinci's Machines - www.mostredileonardo.com - Dedicated to the two permanent exhibitions in Florence and San Gimignano that host reconstructions of many of the machines designed by Leonardo da Vinci. The site illustrates and describes the main machines, with details on the museum-exhibits which are places where visitors can touch and handle the machines to see how they work.
	Mysterious Etruscans - www.mysteriousetruscans.com - Site dedicated to the Etruscans, a civilization predating Roman times, which thrived on the Italian peninsula in the region of Etruria and roughly coincides with today's Tuscany and Lazio regions. The site has a lot of information on the history, culture, religion and tombs of the Etruscans, including many photographs of artifacts.
	Tuscany-Europe - www.toscana-europa.it - The site for Toscana-Europa highlights contributions Tuscany has made to Europe, particularly during the Lorraine period (1737-1859). The site describes numerous itineraries in Tuscany, with information on the region's towns and cities, points of interest and important people from the period. A clickable map of Tuscany offers the possibility to view the itineraries and places described in the sections. A final section includes information on the many European cities where illustrious Tuscans have left their mark between the 15th and 19th centuries.
	Accademia dei Georgofili - www.georgofili.it - The Academy has long been dedicated to the protection of the enviroment and progress in the sciences, particularly as applied to agriculture, since its creation in 1753. The site includes news on the Academy, its history, academic board and members. Among its services, the site provides an online catalog of publications by the Academy and a catalog of resources found in its library, with instructions for consulting the material. The site also includes details on the Academy's activities and events.
	Assessorato Toscano Cultura e Sport - www.cultura.toscana.it - Official site for Tuscany's Sport and Culture Authority presents the regional events and initiatives. The site contains news on the museums, libraries, archives, architecture, places of art and entertainment of the region. A section contains information on the region's historical and artistic works of art, and photographical and topographical archives of the territory, while another is dedicated to sport activities in the region, with details on structures, initiatives and famous local athletes.
	Dante Online - www.danteonline.it - Website dedicated to Dante Alighieri, with detailed information on the life, written works and manuscripts of the celebrated poet. The various written works are described and the unabridged text is available online, both in Italian and in English. The site also includes various manuscripts by other authors whose copies of the Divine Comedy contributed to its diffusion, with photographs and transcripts of the texts today conserved in libraries throughout the world.
	Francesco Redi - www.francescoredi.it - Site dedicated to the scientist Francesco Redi, born in 1626 in Arezzo. The site describes his life, work and studies in the fields of science, medicine, art and literature. A section details the initiatives and projects tied to Redi and the text of some of his studies and work. There are news and biographies of illustrious people who knew Redi and corresponded with him, including the Medici family and other scientists.
	Museo Ideale di Leonardo - www.museoleonardo.it - The Ideal Museum is dedicated to the life, work and inventions of Leonardo da Vinci. Located in Leonardo's hometown of Vinci, the museum presents its various activities, sections, themes, events and the open-air garden exhibit.