Tuscany is certainly one of Italy’s most lovely areas. Centered across the capital of Florence, Tuscany is residence to rolling hills, Renaissance structure, and conventional Italian hospitality. It is an iconic place to go to in Italy, and everybody ought to expertise Tuscan dwelling. While Florence is actually essentially the most well-known metropolis in Tuscany, there are lovely villages and cities in Tuscany that it’s essential to set to discover as nicely.
Best cities in Tuscany
When we traveled to Tuscany, we rented a automobile to discover and located it to be one of the simplest ways to actually discover the much less frequented Tuscany villages and sights. You can evaluate automobile rental costs right here. Make positive to e-book a room in an genuine Tuscan villa to actually expertise the wonder and tradition of Tuscany to the fullest. You can learn extra about our expertise right here.
Tuscany can also be residence to a few of Italy’s most lovely cities. You’ll discover superbly positioned small cities in Tuscany surrounded by rolling hills and vineyards lined with Cypress bushes. Many medieval cities nonetheless have outdated Roman partitions and buildings relationship again to the Middle Ages. Exploring Tuscany is dreamy; Tuscany villages are each romantic and photogenic. You can also like 15 Most Beautiful Cities in Italy for Travelers
So, which Tuscan cities do you have to go to? This information will cowl all one of the best cities in Tuscany. From tiny cities with slim cobbled streets and medieval buildings to scenic spots in the Chianti wine area, these are one of the best small cities to go to.
Florence
Chances are you’ll make a base in Florence when visiting Tuscany. We have a number of articles devoted to Florence which you can learn listed beneath. We are going to give attention to the lesser identified cities and villages however no journey to Tuscany can be full with no cease in Florence.
Make positive to plan your go to to the number one attraction in Tuscany and e-book your timed entrance to see David
1. San Gimignano
San Gimignano is on our listing due to its dashing beauty. The city is enclosed in medieval partitions that date again to the Thirteenth century and is filled with medieval structure. Nicknamed the ‘Town of Fine Towers” this town is a brilliant choice. The town is so impressive that it is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
You can book day trips from Florence to San Gimignano. This highly rated tour includes highlights to some of the best towns including Pisa, Siena, and tasting wine in the Chianti Region.
This medieval town can be visited in half a day, although a longer visit is always better if you have more time. San Gimignano has two main squares, the central piazza, Piazza del Duomo, which is surrounded by the towers that give San Gimignano its namesake.
You can grab a coffee (or a gelato if you have a sweet tooth) and sit al fresco at one of the little cafes around the square. Piazza Della Cisterna is the second main square in San Gimignano and is an unusual triangle shape surrounded by 13th-century buildings.
So, what should you do in San Gimignano?
The other main highlights include sampling Vernaccia di San Gimignano, a white Italian wine produced in and around its surrounding valley. Wine lovers can easily organize a visit to one of the local wineries when visiting San Gimignano. You can also visit the Etruscan Academy Museum, which is dedicated to preserving the history of the Etruscan civilization.
San Gimignano is the perfect destination for those wanting a beautiful, historical destination. And for wine lovers, it is one of the best wine towns in Tuscany, thanks to its Vernaccia di San Gimignano vineyards.
2. Cortona
Cortona is one of the best hill towns in Tuscany. Cortona has found a place in this guide because of its medieval architecture and scenic hilltop locale, which provides sweeping views of the Tuscan countryside below and some impressive sunsets. For those wanting a quiet countryside experience, Cortona is a fantastic option.
It’s additionally price mentioning that Cortona was the setting for the film ‘Under the Tuscan Sun’ – so it’s fairly sufficient to be a magnet for film administrators.
If you might be staying in Florence, you may e-book a day tour to Cortona that features a cease in Assisi as nicely. Besides exploring Cortona, you’ll see the place Under The Tuscan Sun was set, and expertise certainly one of Umbria’s most lovely cities, Assisi. Watch the film on Prime or lease it right here.
The lovely hilltop city is surrounded by Roman partitions. Cortona is small, but it surely is stuffed with museums. Allow a couple of hours if you wish to discover and admire the city on foot, pausing to understand any countryside views. But if you wish to go to all of the museums, plan to spend a day in Cortona.
Things to do in Cortona
Cortona’s major highlights are the Girifalco Fortress, Santa Margherita Sanctuary, and Diocesan Museum. Girifalco Fortress is an historical Etruscan fortification which you can tour and study extra about Cortona’s historical historical past. Santa Margherita Sanctuary is a neo-gothic Roman Catholic church with placing structure. Finally, Diocesan Museum is an artwork museum that features works by Luca Signorelli, a famend native artist.
Cortona is a fairly hill city in Tuscany and best if you wish to expertise one of many area’s countryside cities. The city is stuffed with museums and exquisite pure views.
Set the temper on your Tuscany go to by studying the e-book Under the Tuscan Sun
3. Suvereto
Suvereto is likely to be a bit too small to be thought-about a city, however it’s so lovely that it simply needed to have a spot on our listing. Suvereto is considerably of a hidden gem, sandwiched between the Etruscan Coast and Tuscan hills.
The village has an idyllic environment, surrounded by olive groves, coastal woodland, and stuffed with medieval homes linked by a community of cobbled streets. The seaside location signifies that Suvereto is a peaceable spot, by no means removed from an ocean view or the scent of Mediterranean shrubs.
Like most Tuscany cities, the village is protected by medieval partitions, and Suvereto can also be full of gorgeous church buildings and historic buildings. Suvereto’s dimension makes it a breeze to discover on foot. It has a extra distant, laidback environment than the remainder of the cities and villages in this information – finest suited to these desirous to get off the crushed observe.
So, what do you have to do in Suvereto?
The finest issues to do in Suvereto embody visiting Rocca Aldobrandesca, a surprising viewpoint positioned on a hilltop exterior town partitions. It presents a picturesque view of the village and its outdated medieval format. Visiting Suvereto’s church buildings can also be a should.
From Florence, you may e-book this dreamy non-public day tour that takes you again in time as you experience a horse carriage between the vines, for a non-public wine tasting adopted by strolling the historic streets of Suvereto.
The Romanesque Church of San Giusto and the Church of the Madonna di Spora la Porta are the most well-liked. You may use Suvereto as a base to discover the close by Montioni Natural Park, the place you’ll discover wildlife like wild boar and roe deer.
4. Monteriggioni
Monteriggioni is among the most lovely cities in Tuscany and is positioned in its Chianti area. The fortified Tuscan small city is about on barely greater floor overlooking the encircling valley and vineyards. Monteriggioni is among the extra well-known cities in Tuscany. The medieval city even functioned because the setting for the Assassin Creed saga.
Monteriggioni is a superb place to take pleasure in strolling historical medieval streets and visiting small museums and historic sights just like the Church of Santa Maria Assunta. If you go to initially of July, there’s additionally the Monteriggioni Medieval Festival.
During the competition, the city steps again in time, with locals sporting medieval costumes and sporting conventional video games. Out of all of the cities, Monteriggioni is one of the best city to have an immersive expertise of medievalism.
So, what do you have to do in Monteriggioni?
Not visiting in July? No downside. There continues to be a lot to do in Monteriggioni. You can drop by the Armory Museum for a historical past lesson on Medieval and Renaissance weaponry and armor. Walking the partitions is all the time enjoyable; at only a few euros, it is usually a budget-friendly exercise. If you’re a wine lover, Monteriggioni can also be an excellent base to go wine tasting in the wine-renowned Chianti area.
Monteriggioni is a superb alternative if you’d like a basic style of a Tuscan city and a tried-and-tested vacationer vacation spot.
This extremely rated tour from Tuscany contains among the high stops in the area. You’ll style wines in favorite area in Tuscany, Chianti.
5. Montepulciano
Montepulciano is one other certainly one of Tuscany’s unimaginable hill cities. The quaint city is beautiful with elegant palaces and dramatic structure to admire. Pack your digital camera; Montepulciano is understood for the fantastic thing about its historic city middle. That isn’t all, although, as Montepulciano has a number of strings to its belts.
Montepulciano can also be probably the greatest wine cities in Tuscany. Its surrounding countryside is stuffed with wineries – most notably producing Nobile. For vineyards, valley views, and chic environment, Montepulciano is a unbelievable place to go to.
The city is centered round Piazza Grande, a monumental sq. ignored by the large clock tower of the city corridor. Piazza Grande has a stately environment. Visit in August, although, and also you’ll discover festivities in full circulation. In August, Montepulciano hosts the barrel-racing Bravio Delle Botti competitors. Bravio Delle Botti includes groups of two runners making an attempt to be the primary to roll an 80kg wine barrel via the city’s streets. Piazza Grande acts because the all-important end line.
So, what do you have to do in Montepulciano?
Apart from its annual barrel race, there are many issues to do all 12 months spherical in Montepulciano. You can take a guided strolling tour, go to the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, climb the tower of the City Hall, and cease by the Fortress of Montepulciano.
Make positive to go away time to go on a wine tour as nicely, because the regional vino nobile crimson wine is scrumptious. You can cease by one of many wine bars in town, comparable to Contucci Winery or La Dolce Vita – a few of which have an underground wine cellar. Alternatively, tour one of many vineyards simply exterior town to pattern native wine.
Montepulciano is a superb city to combine wine and historical past. You can go to a Thirteenth-century fortress in the morning and pattern velvety crimson wines in the afternoon, all inside strolling distance. If you desire a wine break with loads of further issues to do, Montepulciano is unbelievable.
6. Collodi
Collodi is one other of Tuscany’s finest small cities. The city has a singular format, with buildings working in a slim line down a steep hill, virtually obscured by woodland. Collodi was constructed on the stays of an historical medieval citadel. However, it lacks the standard walled format of most cities in Tuscany. Collodi is an thrilling, uncommon spot to go to – best for these wanting a extra distinctive expertise of a Tuscan city.
At the bottom of the hill, Collodi has a large fortress. Collodi additionally has an ‘old town’, the place the buildings date again to the tip of the twelfth century. If you want historical structure and historical past, it’s an thrilling spot to discover on foot and study extra about. Collodi’s distinctive format is linked to its historical past. It acted as a tactical place the place locals would flock to the highest of the hill when attacked, leaving the attackers weak on the backside.
So, what do you have to do in Collodi?
The highlights of a go to to Collodi are the citadel, the view from the Church of San Bartolomeo, colourful wildlife on the Butterfly House, and Villa Garzoni and its Italian Garden. Villa Garzoni is most famously identified for its magnificence, but it surely was additionally the office of the creator of Pinocchio’s father. It is claimed that Carlo Collodi took inspiration from Collodi whereas creating the novel.
Collodi is a stand-out vacation spot in Tuscany and an excellent place to embrace a extra uncommon instance of Italian historical past.
7. Certaldo
Certaldo is a fantastic medieval village in Tuscany. It is stuffed with character and one of many prettiest Tuscan villages to go to. Certaldo is most well-known for being the birthplace of the well-known author Giovanni Boccaccio, thought-about one of many fathers of literature and the creator of the Decameron. Apart from its magnificence, Certaldo is stuffed with tradition, and it is a superb vacation spot for any lovers of Italian literature.
Certaldo’s cultural draw booms throughout July, when the Mercantia Festival is in full circulation. The Mercantia Festival is a fantastic road artwork competition, with reside artwork performances and shows that whir into motion at dusk. As you admire the paintings, performers in costumes wander the road – normally sporting stilts and dressed as clouds.
So, what do you have to do in Certaldo?
Must-do actions in Certaldo embody visiting the Giovanni Boccaccio Museum, which is located in his outdated home and homes uncommon artifacts that when belonged to the author. The Palazzo Pretorio is one other good attraction, and the previous palace dates again to the twelfth century. Finally, artwork lovers will love the Museum of Sacred Art, which shows numerous artwork varieties.
Certaldo is the place to go to for tradition – whether or not you need to study literary historical past or attend the Mercantia Festival. The village is a superb spot to understand conventional medieval structure and the tradition and humanities that accompany it.
8. Anghiari
Anghiari is one other lovely Tuscan city bursting with tradition. However, Anghiari is famed for its artisan studios and vintage retailers as a substitute of literature. The city has been identified for its merchants and artisans for hundreds of years. You’ll discover all types of merchandise created from wooden, textiles, and even ceramics.
The slim, cobbled streets are lined by store after store – excellent for window buying and stress-free wandering. Forget about memento buying; Anghiari is someplace you may supply all the pieces to redecorate a home.
So, what do you have to do in Anghiari?
When you aren’t buying, you may go to the completely different palaces in Anghiari. As a Renaissance city, the structure is placing, and the gothic particulars on the palaces are lovely to admire. Of course, artwork lovers may also want to go to the city’s artwork museum, the Popular Tradition Museum. The museum homes all paintings, from frescos taken from native church buildings to sculptures and secular monuments.
Anghiari is the place to go to if you wish to buy groceries and love searching artisan merchandise. It is a buying haven for retail lovers and a cultural sizzling spot for artwork and structure. Not to say that it’s beautiful and straightforward to discover on foot as nicely.
9. Pienza
Looking for a historic outdated city with loads of allure? Pienza is a captivating city, and its historic city middle is a delegated UNESCO World Heritage Site. Pienza is nicknamed by many the perfect metropolis of the Renaissance, and it was additionally the birthplace of Pope Pius II.
Pope Pius II grew to become a notable humanist and aided with the transformation of Pienza in the Renaissance interval. He wished a Utopian metropolis, and now, guests flock to see the city centuries later.
So, what do you have to do in Pienza?
Pienza is among the most lovely cities in Tuscany for its structure. Palazzo Piccolomini was even used for scenes in Romeo and Juliet. When it involves discovering issues to do, you actually received’t be caught for choices. You can go to the Romanesque church Pieve di Corsignano. You may pattern the city’s specialty Pecorino cheese and admire the Cathedral of Assunta.
If you have an interest in the Catholic church’s historical past, Pienza’s hyperlinks to a previous pope are very intriguing. Pienza is atmospheric sufficient to warrant a go to and a spot on our listing.
10. Casale Marittimo
File courtesy Wikimedia
Get prepared so as to add one other hilltop city to your listing. Casale Marittimo is scenically perched on a small hill overlooking the Cecina River Valley and Etruscan Coast. It is finest identified for its historical citadel ruins and is one other outdated city overflowing with historical past.
Casale Marittimo’s authentic citadel nonetheless peeps out of the fashionable metropolis in fragmented sections. The city is enclosed by simply half a remaining metropolis wall. Casale Marittimo’s medieval structure is dilapidated but preserved sufficient to make wandering the city really feel like visiting an immersive museum.
So, what do you have to do in Casale Marittimo?
The finest issues to do in and round Casale Marittimo are to discover the citadel ruins, go to the Church of Sant’Andrea, and take a day journey to the necropolis of Casa Nocera. Of course, you’ll be located proper in the center of the Tuscan countryside, too, so that you’ll have climbing and pictures alternatives galore.
Casale Marittimo is finest for these with an curiosity in archaeology. Walking across the half-modern city, half-ancient ruins feels a bit like a huge puzzle – which archaeology and historical past lovers will adore. Plus, you might be by no means too removed from the shoreline and beautiful seashores.
11. Volterra
Volterra is among the most well-known cities in Tuscany and one of many oldest. The medieval city dates again to the Middle Ages, and also you’ll discover a historic middle and historical, conventional metropolis partitions. Like Casale Marittimo, Volterra is sort of a dwelling, respiratory archaeology website.
Volterra can also be particularly identified for alabaster artisan merchandise. Alabaster is a sometimes white type of gypsum or calcite, popularly used to create ornaments. You can wander Volterra window looking for the right alabaster memento or cease by certainly one of its historic sights.
So, what do you have to do in Volterra?
As you could have guessed, Volterra has a protracted listing of sights and highlights for guests. The city particularly has loads of historic sights. You can cease by the Roman Theater, the Acropolis, or stroll across the outdated metropolis partitions.
Volterra is a superb vacation spot for anybody in historical past and open to dabbling in a little bit of window buying or precise memento buying. The city has loads of sights and native retailers to maintain you entertained.
12. Lucca
Lucca is a Renaissance city with well-preserved Renaissance partitions and people cobbled streets that make you swoon. The Italian city sits alongside the Serchio River and on the foot of the dramatic Apuan Alps, which makes for a fantastic backdrop. It is essentially the most well-known city close to Pisa. Pisa
It is ideally positioned to take pleasure in quiet, genuine dwelling and journey into Pisa if you wish to. Of course, Pisa has main sights just like the Leaning Tower of Pisa, so being close by is all the time a plus. You can discover our high tips about visiting the Leaning Tower of Pisa right here.
And as for Lucca, its location and beauty have earned it a spot on this listing.
So, what do you have to do in Lucca?
The finest issues to do in Lucca are to stroll the city partitions, admire Lucca Cathedral, scale Guinigi Tower, and go to the Roman Amphitheater. Lucca’s structure is beautiful, and town format is ideal for exploring on foot.
The city is finest for these wanting a fairly place to go to in Tuscany, with numerous placing structure and exquisite surroundings. Given its location, Lucca can also be well-combined with a go to to Pisa’s historic metropolis middle. It is proof which you can (and may) detour to small cities in Tuscany slightly than simply staying in a serious metropolis.
13. Monte San Savino
Did you recognize that Tuscany has been influenced by a longstanding outdated Jewish neighborhood? Monte San Savino is an effective alternative for these in particularly Jewish historical past or simply social historical past in basic. While Jewish historical past in Tuscany is longstanding, you’ll most likely wrestle to search out Jewish sights and historical past overtly displayed. Monte San Savino is the reply to this, and it nonetheless contains a synagogue and ghetto.
Aside from its Jewish historical past, Monte San Savino has loads of different historical past to uncover. The city has seen clashes between the Guelphs and Ghibellines and has fallen in and out of Florentine rule. Monte San Savino is a fantastic small Tuscan city with many tales.
So, what do you have to do in Monte San Savino?
One of one of the best issues to do in this small city is to go to the Cassero Museum, which pays tribute to the city’s historical ceramic traditions. You’ll additionally discover the Sanctuary of Santa Maria Delle Vertighe and plenty of lovely church buildings. Monte San Savino has a robust inventive and non secular affect. Because of this, it’s best suited to these in Judaism, Christianity, or social historical past.
14. Forte dei Marmi
Photo courtesy of Crima66, CC BY-SA 4.0 by way of Wikimedia Commons
Hilltop cities tucked away in rolling hills and mountains are dreamy. But what about beachfront cities in Tuscany? Can you mix a historic city middle with a seaside vacation? The reply is sure, and Forte Dei Marmi is the place to take action. This coastal city is understood for its seashores. While you may nonetheless see the Apuan Alps on the horizon, Forte Dei Marmi is a city related to seaside dwelling.
So, what do you have to do in Forte dei Marmi?
When in Forte Dei Marmi, it is best to (in fact) make use of the seashores. But when you’ve had a seaside day or two, there are many different issues to do. You can stroll the Pontile, a protracted pier that sandwiches you between the ocean and the city, with views of the Apuan Alps behind you.
If you take pleasure in buying, you may head downtown to some high-end luxurious shops like Louis Vuitton and Versace. And to splurge, much more, you may take a look at one of many city’s 5 Michelin eating places.
Forte Dei Marmi is a luxurious city to go to in Tuscany. It is the right match for anybody wanting high-end wining, eating, and buying. Plus, you may have the fixed bonus of straightforward seaside entry.
Siena – Bonus Historic Old Town
Did you recognize that there are 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Tuscany? Besides the websites in Pisa and Florence, one other to not miss Tuscan City is Siena. Siena’s historic middle by itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is price visiting. WHile not precisely one of many small cities in Tuscany, its major sq. is to not be missed.
It is right here that we missed a flip and drove proper downtown to its historic outdated city by mistake. When we returned to Canada so the ethical of the story is to regulate site visitors indicators.
To Conclude
Tuscany is just not wanting lovely cities, as you now positively know. We’ve lined one of the best of one of the best, from small cities to busy cities and even a couple of Tuscan villages. These are essentially the most lovely Tuscany villages and finest cities to go to – which one caught your eye essentially the most?
Don’t overlook to take a look at Florence’s capital after exploring Tuscany’s cities. The capital is filled with issues to do, and spending a day in Florence is among the finest issues to do in Italy. Have an excellent go to to Tuscany.
How to Get to Tuscany
Tuscany is kind of straightforward to get to with highways linking the area to main cities in Europe. It has a superb practice system and my airports are close by. You can fly into Rome, Pisa, Forli, Bologna, and Florence Airports and both lease a automobile or take the practice.
From the airport, ensure to e-book a switch in advance to make your travels simpler.
We have taken the practice to Pisa, Florence, and Siena when visiting Tuscany.