Things to do in Tuscany

Tuscany is a region which begs to be explored slowly, strolling through vineyards and sunflower fields, stopping for a glass of local wine at a café overlooking a picturesque piazza, marvelling at the medieval towers of hilltop towns as you wander past centuries-old churches.

And, of course, that’s only the start when you’re considering the best places to visit in Tuscany, with the delights of Florence and Siena, as well as smaller cities including Pisa and Lucca, to add to your itinerary. So we’ve picked out the best things to do in Tuscany, from the well-known highlights to some of its more secret gems.

Known as the ‘cradle of the Renaissance’, a visit to Florence is a little like exploring an open-air museum. From the famous Duomo, the city’s cathedral, to the Ponte Vecchio and palazzi galore, it’s a treat even to see the wonderful architecture which lines Florence’s historic streets.

Florence Duomo, Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore

And once you’ve marvelled at the green and white marble façade of the Duomo and Brunelleschi’s famous dome, as well as the Basilica di Santa Croce and the Pizza della Signoria, there’s a wealth of actual museums and galleries to discover too.

You could easily spend a day admiring the collection of art in the Uffizi, including Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, and the Accademia, home to Michelangelo’s David. Or get a glimpse of how the powerful Medici family lived, with a visit to their former home at the Pitti Palace.

As eye-catchingly lovely as Florence, Siena can trace its history back to Etruscan times before becoming another of the most powerful cities in Tuscany during the Renaissance. Famous for its annual horse race, the Palio, you can explore the Piazza del Campo where it takes place; one of Europe’s greatest medieval squares, it’s lined with cafes and restaurants overlooking the historic fountains at its heart. You can even climb the 400 steps of the 87-metre tall medieval Torre del Mangia to gaze down onto the square and over the city.

Piazza del Campo, Siena

Siena’s cathedral rivals Florence’s too, a masterpiece of Gothic and Romanesque architecture. At certain times of the year, the mosaic pavement inside is uncovered so the public can see this intricate decoration, although there’s plenty to enjoy year-round, from the intricate exterior to the ornate golden ceilings inside.

Art lovers will also want to save time for the Pinoteca Nazionale, with its collection of Renaissance paintings, or save some time to learn about the city’s traditional contrade, the areas associated with different trades and occupations, as well as their animal symbols and long-standing rivalries.

Famous world-wide for its leaning tower, which began tilting almost as soon as it was completed in the 12th century, a visit to Pisa is one of the unmissable things to do in Tuscany, Italy.

You can’t leave without a glimpse of the bell tower, now stable at a 4 degree angle off its original position, but while many visitors simply pose for photos pretending to hold the tower, you can also climb to the top to look out across the city.

Leaning tower of Pisa

Don’t miss the other attractions in Pisa’s Miracle Square (or Campo dei Miracoli) too; the UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to the marble Romanesque cathedral and Italy’s biggest baptistery. Camposanto, the monumental cemetery, also features to some of the country’s most astonishing tombs and frescoes.

Unlike some other places in Tuscany which seem frozen in time, the university city is very firmly a vibrant, buzzing destination, a seat of learning since the 1400s. Soak up the atmosphere in a bar on one of the streets by the Arno river, before finding Pisa’s own medieval and Renaissance piazzas and palazzos away from the crowds.

Pretty little Lucca is home to some of Europe’s finest Romanesque buildings, and while it’s not as well-known as the area’s bigger cities, its historic centre and relaxed charms make it one of the best places to visit in Tuscany.

Perhaps the biggest highlight is the Renaissance walls wrapping around the city. Stretching for four kilometres, you can walk or even cycle around this tree-lined circuit, enjoying views out onto the streets and the surrounding countryside.

Lucca

For an even better panorama over the terracotta rooftops, head to Torre Guinigi, where 230 stone steps bring you to the viewpoint at the top, as well as a shady hanging garden.

Lucca’s compact centre is perfect for exploring on foot too. Start at the oval Piazza del Mercato, also called Piazza dell’Anfiteatro for the Roman amphitheatre which once stood on this spot, before ambling past cafes lining the cobbled streets nearby.

It seems that wherever you turn in Tuscany’s hills, you’ll spot one of the many attractive towns clinging to the hilltops, honey-coloured stone glowing in the sunshine and a carpet of cypress trees, olive groves and vineyards stretching out across the countryside below.

San Gimignano

It’s tempting to hop from one to the next, an enticing task which could pleasantly fill weeks, but if you have time only to explore one, it should be San Gimignano. This UNESCO-listed Tuscan town once had more than 70 towers reaching high above the hills, built by wealthy families to flaunt their power. Today 15 of the medieval towers still remain, helping to give the town its nickname, Delle Belle Torri.

Monteriggioni’s 14 watchtowers and fortified walls are another attractive alternative, a favourite location for filming, while Volterra is famous for its marble along with its winding streets, and Montepulciano is as well known for its wine as its beautiful architecture.

The Tuscan hills have been known for their healing thermal baths since Roman times, with both natural pools and more modern spas making use of the warm water throughout the region.

That includes Italy’s leading spa town, Montecatini Terme. One of Europe’s UNESCO-listed spa towns, the thermal water is used in treatments, as drinking water and in the town’s thermal centres where you can bathe. Look out for some of the Art Nouveau buildings, as well as Il Tettuccio, one of the first thermal centres in the town. Nearby, you can also explore the Grotta Giusti at Monsummano Terme, underground labyrinths with 36C water whose heat creates a sort of natural sauna.

Montecatini Terme

Elsewhere, at Bagni di Petriolo, the water temperature stays at 43C year-round, with a 15th century wall protecting the pools, while Saturnia’s thermal water gushes down the hill in gentle waterfalls and Rapolano Terme was founded by the Romans – to name just a few.

When you think of things to do in Tuscany, the coast isn’t usually the first area which comes to mind, but music lovers shouldn’t miss Torre del Lago, tucked between the Tyrrhenian Sea and Lago di Massaciuccoli, where Giacomo Puccini once lived.

Torre del Lago

The Art Nouveau villa’s setting by the tranquil lake helped to inspire some of the composer’s most famous works, including his operas La Boheme, Tosca and Madame Butterfly. Now the Villa Puccini Museum, you can learn more about his life and work, as well as visiting the chapel where the composer is buried.

The open-air theatre nearby hosts some of the biggest names in opera throughout the year, to complete a music-filled day.

The rolling hills of Chianti are one of the iconic sights of the region, and not merely for their beauty alone but as the location for one of the best things to do in Tuscany – discovering the area’s world-famous wine.

There are vineyards galore dotted through the hills, producing some of Italy’s finest wines thanks to the mild year-round climate. Visit during September and October and you can enjoy the vendemmia, as the grape harvest is known, with a chance to learn more about local wine-making traditions as well as enjoying some special harvest celebrations.

Wine tasting in Tuscany

The Ricasoli 1141 winery at the Castello di Brolio estate is Italy’s oldest operational winery, while Marchese Antinori isn’t far behind as the second oldest. Or head to Dievole, which combines its tastings with picnics in the vineyard as well as olive oil from trees in the estate. But you’ll find countless places to sample a few vintages, from small family-run wineries to award-winning wine estates.

As you’d expect from a holiday in Italy, Tuscany’s food is as mouth-watering as its wines. While you’re exploring Chianti, you’ll find olive oil tastings at many of the vineyards, with olive groves stretching off behind the vines in the hills.

Or there are truffles to be sniffed out in different areas too; San Miniato is one of the most famous, known for the biggest variety of this prized fungus. You’ll also find porcini mushrooms in season, not to mention a string of local cheeses, such as pecorino in Pienza.

Olive harvest

Meat-lovers won’t be disappointed either, with dishes featuring wild boar and traditional local offal recipes for the bravest gourmets. Lampredotto is a classic Florentine dish made from the fourth stomach of a cow, or look out for trippa a la Fiorentina, tripe in tomato sauce, topped with grated parmigiano-reggiano.

Legend says that when Venus emerged from the waves, seven previous gems fell from her tiara, creating the seven islands off the coast of Tuscany.

The largest and best-known is Elba; Napoleon may have been exiled to here but most visitors to the island find themselves wishing they could spend longer. Home to some of the region’s best beaches, there’s also wonderful hiking, with wilder unspoiled corners of the island to explore on foot.

Portoferraio, Island of Elba

Ferries from Piombino on the mainland travel out to Elba throughout the year, so it’s easy to visit for a day trip to snorkel in the clear water or eat fresh seafood by the waves, as well as to spend longer.

For somewhere even more secluded, Giglio is another of the easiest islands to reach in the Tuscan archipelago, with 21km of coast to explore, including translucently turquoise water off the beaches. Ferries also run from Livorno to Capraia, although visits to many of the other islands are restricted, including by limited transport and as protected reserves.

Chianti’s rolling hills aren’t the only option if you’re looking for the best places in Tuscany to get outside. The Maremma Natural Park, stretching along part of the Tuscan coast, is a slice of wild untamed countryside that’s far from the historic buildings and narrow streets of the cities.

Maremma Natural Park

The Uccellina mountains tower above the landscape, with the Tyrrhenian Sea at their foot, ruins of old watchtowers and a Cistercian abbey still dotted along the paths. The reserve is home to wildlife including roe deer, as well as marshland, pine forest and some beautiful sandy beaches.

Some of the shortest trails are little over a mile long, to introduce you to the area’s scenery, although there are longer and more challenging hikes for those looking for a more active Tuscan holiday.

One walking trail trail, the Via Francigena, was one of the final stretches on a pilgrim route running from Canterbury through France and northern Italy to Rome, a journey which took around 80 days from start to finish.

Via Francigena trail

This Tuscan section of the road is still preserved, although there are more tourists walking here than pilgrims today, enjoying the ‘white road’ – as the pale stone path is known – weaving through the fields, and connecting hamlets which would have stood when the pilgrim traffic was at its height in the Middle Ages.

While some sections are more demanding, it’s simple to combine one of the easier sections with your Tuscany holiday, such as stretches near Lucca, San Miniato, San Gimingnano and Siena among others. April to May and September to October are the best months to walk the Via Francigena, outside the soaring heat and crowds of summer.

Explore Tuscany for yourself on one of our escorted tours of Italy, or from the comfort of the Hotel Parma e Oriente in the Tuscan spa town of Montecatini Terme.