14 Exceptional Cities in Tuscany, Italy

Tuscany is one in every of Italy’s most lovely areas. Centered across the capital of Florence, Tuscany is house to rolling hills, Renaissance structure, and conventional Italian hospitality. It’s an iconic place to go to in Italy, and everybody ought to expertise Tuscan residing. Whereas Florence is actually essentially the most well-known metropolis in Tuscany, there are lovely villages and cities in Tuscany that you could set to discover as nicely.

Greatest cities in Tuscany

Once we traveled to Tuscany, we rented a automotive to discover and located it to be the easiest way to essentially discover the much less frequented Tuscany villages and points of interest. You may examine automotive rental costs right here. Be certain to ebook a room in an genuine Tuscan villa to essentially expertise the wonder and tradition of Tuscany to the fullest. You may learn extra about our expertise right here.

Tuscany can also be house to a few of Italy’s most lovely cities. You’ll discover superbly situated small cities in Tuscany surrounded by rolling hills and vineyards lined with Cypress bushes. Many medieval cities nonetheless have previous Roman partitions and buildings courting again to the Center Ages. Exploring Tuscany is dreamy; Tuscany villages are each romantic and photogenic. You may additionally like 15 Most Stunning Cities in Italy for Vacationers

So, which Tuscan cities do you have to go to? This information will cowl all the very best cities in Tuscany. From tiny cities with slender cobbled streets and medieval buildings to scenic spots within the Chianti wine area, these are the very best small cities to go to.

Florence

1. San Gimignano

San Gimignano is on our checklist 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 ‘City of High-quality Towers” this city is a superb selection. The city is so spectacular that it’s acknowledged as a UNESCO World Heritage Web site.

You may ebook day journeys from Florence to San Gimignano. This extremely rated tour consists of highlights to among the greatest cities together with Pisa, Siena, and tasting wine within the Chianti Area.

This medieval city might be visited in half a day, though an extended go to is all the time higher when you have extra time. San Gimignano has two fundamental squares, the central piazza, Piazza del Duomo, which is surrounded by the towers that give San Gimignano its namesake.

You may seize a espresso (or a gelato when you have a candy tooth) and sit al fresco at one of many little cafes across the sq.. Piazza Della Cisterna is the second fundamental sq. in San Gimignano and is an uncommon triangle form surrounded by Thirteenth-century buildings.

So, what do you have to do in San Gimignano?

The opposite fundamental highlights embody sampling Vernaccia di San Gimignano, a white Italian wine produced in and round its surrounding valley. Wine lovers can simply arrange a go to to one of many native wineries when visiting San Gimignano. You may also go to the Etruscan Academy Museum, which is devoted to preserving the historical past of the Etruscan civilization.

San Gimignano is the proper vacation spot for these wanting an attractive, historic vacation spot. And for wine lovers, it is among the greatest wine cities in Tuscany, due to its Vernaccia di San Gimignano vineyards.

2. Cortona

Cortona is among the greatest hill cities in Tuscany. Cortona has discovered a spot on this information due to its medieval structure and scenic hilltop locale, which gives sweeping views of the Tuscan countryside beneath and a few spectacular sunsets. For these wanting a quiet countryside expertise, Cortona is a improbable choice.

It’s additionally price mentioning that Cortona was the setting for the film ‘Below the Tuscan Solar’ – so it’s fairly sufficient to be a focus for film administrators.

If you’re staying in Florence, you may ebook a day tour to Cortona that features a cease in Assisi as nicely. Moreover exploring Cortona, you’ll see the place Below The Tuscan Solar was set, and expertise one in every of Umbria’s most lovely cities, Assisi. Watch the film on Prime or hire it right here.

The gorgeous hilltop city is surrounded by Roman partitions. Cortona is small, however it is filled with museums. Enable a number of hours if you wish to discover and admire the city on foot, pausing to understand any countryside views. However if you wish to go to all of the museums, plan to spend a day in Cortona.

Issues to do in Cortona

Cortona’s fundamental highlights are the Girifalco Fortress, Santa Margherita Sanctuary, and Diocesan Museum. Girifalco Fortress is an historic Etruscan fortification that you may tour and study extra about Cortona’s historic historical past. Santa Margherita Sanctuary is a neo-gothic Roman Catholic church with putting structure. Lastly, 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 ultimate if you wish to expertise one of many area’s countryside cities. The city is filled with museums and exquisite pure views.

Set the temper to your Tuscany go to by studying the ebook Below the Tuscan Solar

3. Suvereto

Suvereto could 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 checklist. Suvereto is considerably of a hidden gem, sandwiched between the Etruscan Coast and Tuscan hills.

The village has an idyllic ambiance, surrounded by olive groves, coastal woodland, and filled with medieval homes related 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 measurement makes it a breeze to discover on foot. It has a extra distant, laidback ambiance than the remainder of the cities and villages on this information – greatest suited to these desirous to get off the overwhelmed observe.

So, what do you have to do in Suvereto?

The perfect issues to do in Suvereto embody visiting Rocca Aldobrandesca, a surprising viewpoint situated on a hilltop outdoors town partitions. It affords a picturesque view of the village and its previous medieval format. Visiting Suvereto’s church buildings can also be a should.

• From Florence, you may ebook this dreamy non-public day tour that takes you again in time as you experience a horse carriage between the vines, for a personal 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 preferred. You may also use Suvereto as a base to discover the close by Montioni Pure 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 situated 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 Murderer Creed saga.

Monteriggioni is a good place to get pleasure from strolling historic medieval streets and visiting small museums and historic points of interest just like the Church of Santa Maria Assunta. Should you go to originally of July, there’s additionally the Monteriggioni Medieval Competition.

In the course of 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 the very best city to have an immersive expertise of medievalism.

So, what do you have to do in Monteriggioni?

Not visiting in July? No drawback. There’s nonetheless a lot to do in Monteriggioni. You may drop by the Armory Museum for a historical past lesson on Medieval and Renaissance weaponry and armor. Strolling the partitions is all the time enjoyable; at only a few euros, it’s also a budget-friendly exercise. If you’re a wine lover, Monteriggioni can also be an amazing base to go wine tasting within the wine-renowned Chianti area.

Monteriggioni is a wonderful selection if you’d like a normal style of a Tuscan city and a tried-and-tested vacationer vacation spot.

This extremely rated tour from Tuscany consists of among the prime stops within the area. You’ll style wines in favorite area in Tuscany, Chianti.

5. Montepulciano

Montepulciano is one other one in every of Tuscany’s unbelievable hill cities. The quaint city is attractive 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 the most effective wine cities in Tuscany. Its surrounding countryside is filled with wineries – most notably producing Nobile. For vineyards, valley views, and chic environment, Montepulciano is a improbable 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 ambiance. Go to in August, although, and also you’ll discover festivities in full circulate. In August, Montepulciano hosts the barrel-racing Bravio Delle Botti competitors. Bravio Delle Botti includes groups of two runners trying to be the primary to roll an 80kg wine barrel by means of the city’s streets. Piazza Grande acts because the all-important end line.

So, what do you have to do in Montepulciano?

Aside from its annual barrel race, there are many issues to do all 12 months spherical in Montepulciano. You may take a guided strolling tour, go to the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, climb the tower of the Metropolis Corridor, and cease by the Fortress of Montepulciano.

Be certain to go away time to go on a wine tour as nicely, because the regional vino nobile pink wine is scrumptious. You may cease by one of many wine bars within the metropolis, similar to Contucci Vineyard or La Dolce Vita – a few of which have an underground wine cellar. Alternatively, tour one of many vineyards simply outdoors town to pattern native wine.

Montepulciano is a good city to combine wine and historical past. You may go to a Thirteenth-century fortress within the morning and pattern velvety pink wines within the afternoon, all inside strolling distance. If you need a wine break with loads of further issues to do, Montepulciano is improbable.

6. Collodi

Collodi is one other of Tuscany’s greatest small cities. The city has a novel format, with buildings operating in a slender line down a steep hill, nearly obscured by woodland. Collodi was constructed on the stays of an historic medieval fort. Nonetheless, it lacks the standard walled format of most cities in Tuscany. Collodi is an thrilling, uncommon spot to go to – ultimate for these wanting a extra distinctive expertise of a Tuscan city.

On the base of the hill, Collodi has an enormous fortress. Collodi additionally has an ‘previous city’, the place the buildings date again to the top of the twelfth century. Should you like historic 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 fort, the view from the Church of San Bartolomeo, colourful wildlife on the Butterfly Home, and Villa Garzoni and its Italian Backyard. Villa Garzoni is most famously identified for its magnificence, however it was additionally the office of the creator of Pinocchio’s father. It’s mentioned that Carlo Collodi took inspiration from Collodi whereas creating the novel.

Collodi is a stand-out vacation spot in Tuscany and a superb place to embrace a extra uncommon instance of Italian historical past.

7. Certaldo

Certaldo is an attractive medieval village in Tuscany. It is filled 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. Aside from its magnificence, Certaldo is filled with tradition, and it is a wonderful vacation spot for any lovers of Italian literature.

Certaldo’s cultural draw booms throughout July, when the Mercantia Competition is in full circulate. The Mercantia Competition is an attractive avenue artwork competition, with dwell artwork performances and shows that whir into motion at dusk. As you admire the art work, performers in costumes wander the road – often sporting stilts and dressed as clouds.

So, what do you have to do in Certaldo?

Should-do actions in Certaldo embody visiting the Giovanni Boccaccio Museum, which is located in his previous home and homes uncommon artifacts that after belonged to the author. The Palazzo Pretorio is one other sensible attraction, and the previous palace dates again to the twelfth century. Lastly, artwork lovers will love the Museum of Sacred Artwork, 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 Competition. The village is a good 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. Nonetheless, 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 kinds of merchandise created from wooden, textiles, and even ceramics.

The slender, cobbled streets are lined by store after store – good for window purchasing and enjoyable wandering. Neglect about memento purchasing; Anghiari is someplace you may supply the whole lot to redecorate a home.

So, what do you have to do in Anghiari?

Once you aren’t purchasing, you may go to the totally different palaces in Anghiari. As a Renaissance city, the structure is putting, and the gothic particulars on the palaces are lovely to admire. After all, artwork lovers may also want to go to the city’s artwork museum, the Fashionable Custom Museum. The museum homes all art work, 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’s a purchasing haven for retail lovers and a cultural scorching spot for artwork and structure. To not point out that it’s beautiful and straightforward to discover on foot as nicely.

9. Pienza

Searching for a historic previous city with loads of attraction? Pienza is a captivating city, and its historic city middle is a chosen UNESCO World Heritage Web site. Pienza is nicknamed by many the best metropolis of the Renaissance, and it was additionally the birthplace of Pope Pius II.

Pope Pius II turned a notable humanist and aided with the transformation of Pienza within the Renaissance interval. He needed 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. On the subject of discovering issues to do, you actually gained’t be caught for choices. You may go to the Romanesque church Pieve di Corsignano. You may also pattern the city’s specialty Pecorino cheese and admire the Cathedral of Assunta.

If you’re within 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 checklist.

10. Casale Marittimo

File courtesy Wikimedia

Prepare so as to add one other hilltop city to your checklist. Casale Marittimo is scenically perched on a small hill overlooking the Cecina River Valley and Etruscan Coast. It’s best identified for its historic fort ruins and is one other previous city overflowing with historical past.

Casale Marittimo’s authentic fort 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 perfect issues to do in and round Casale Marittimo are to discover the fort ruins, go to the Church of Sant’Andrea, and take a day journey to the necropolis of Casa Nocera. After all, you’ll be located proper in the midst of the Tuscan countryside, too, so that you’ll have mountaineering and images alternatives galore.

Casale Marittimo is greatest for these with an curiosity in archaeology. Strolling across the half-modern city, half-ancient ruins feels a bit like a big puzzle – which archaeology and historical past lovers will adore. Plus, you’re 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 Center Ages, and also you’ll discover a historic middle and historic, conventional metropolis partitions. Like Casale Marittimo, Volterra is sort of a residing, 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 may wander Volterra window purchasing for the proper alabaster memento or cease by one in every of its historic points of interest.

So, what do you have to do in Volterra?

As you will have guessed, Volterra has a protracted checklist of points of interest and highlights for guests. The city particularly has quite a lot of historic points of interest. You may cease by the Roman Theater, the Acropolis, or stroll across the previous metropolis partitions.

Volterra is a wonderful vacation spot for anybody inquisitive about historical past and open to dabbling in a little bit of window purchasing or precise memento purchasing. The city has loads of points of interest 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 an attractive backdrop. It’s the most well-known city close to Pisa. Pisa

It’s ideally situated to get pleasure from quiet, genuine residing and journey into Pisa if you wish to. After all, Pisa has main points of interest just like the Leaning Tower of Pisa, so being close by is all the time a plus. Yow will discover our prime 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 checklist.

So, what do you have to do in Lucca?

The perfect 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 greatest for these wanting a fairly place to go to in Tuscany, with numerous putting structure and exquisite surroundings. Given its location, Lucca can also be well-combined with a go to to Pisa’s historic metropolis middle. It’s proof that you may (and will) detour to small cities in Tuscany moderately than simply staying in a serious metropolis.

13. Monte San Savino

Do you know that Tuscany has been influenced by a longstanding previous Jewish neighborhood? Monte San Savino is an efficient selection for these inquisitive about particularly Jewish historical past or simply social historical past basically. Whereas Jewish historical past in Tuscany is longstanding, you’ll in all probability battle to seek out Jewish points of interest and historical past overtly displayed. Monte San Savino is the reply to this, and it nonetheless contains a synagogue and ghetto.

Other than 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 out and in of Florentine rule. Monte San Savino is an attractive small Tuscan city with many tales.

So, what do you have to do in Monte San Savino?

Among the finest issues to do on this small city is to go to the Cassero Museum, which pays tribute to the city’s historic ceramic traditions. You’ll additionally discover the Sanctuary of Santa Maria Delle Vertighe and plenty of lovely church buildings. Monte San Savino has a powerful inventive and spiritual affect. Due to this, it’s best suited to these inquisitive about Judaism, Christianity, or social historical past.

14. Forte dei Marmi

Picture courtesy of Crima66, CC BY-SA 4.0 through Wikimedia Commons

Hilltop cities tucked away in rolling hills and mountains are dreamy. However what about beachfront cities in Tuscany? Are you able to mix a historic city middle with a seashore vacation? The reply is sure, and Forte Dei Marmi is the place to take action. This coastal city is understood for its seashores. When you can nonetheless see the Apuan Alps on the horizon, Forte Dei Marmi is a city related to seashore residing.

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. However when you’ve had a seashore day or two, there are many different issues to do. You may stroll the Pontile, a protracted pier that sandwiches you between the ocean and the city, with views of the Apuan Alps behind you.

Should you get pleasure from purchasing, 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’s the good match for anybody wanting high-end wining, eating, and purchasing. Plus, you’ve got the fixed bonus of simple seashore entry.

Siena – Bonus Historic Outdated City

Do you know that there are 7 UNESCO World Heritage Websites in Tuscany? Moreover the websites in Pisa and Florence, one other to not miss Tuscan Metropolis is Siena. Siena’s historic middle by itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Web site and is price visiting. WHile not precisely one of many small cities in Tuscany, its fundamental sq. is to not be missed.

It’s right here that we missed a flip and drove proper downtown to its historic previous city by mistake. Once we returned to Canada so the ethical of the story is to control visitors indicators.

To Conclude

Tuscany is just not in need of lovely cities, as you now positively know. We’ve coated the very best of the very best, from small cities to busy cities and even a number of Tuscan villages. These are essentially the most lovely Tuscany villages and greatest cities to go to – which one caught your eye essentially the most?

Don’t neglect 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 greatest issues to do in Italy. Have an amazing go to to Tuscany.

Get to Tuscany

Tuscany is sort of simple to get to with highways linking the area to main cities in Europe. It has a superb prepare system and my airports are close by. You may fly into Rome, Pisa, Forli, Bologna, and Florence Airports and both hire a automotive or take the prepare.

From the airport, be certain to ebook a switch upfront to make your travels simpler.

We’ve got taken the prepare to Pisa, Florence, and Siena when visiting Tuscany.