Travel planning ideas for a return visit to the Tuscany region in Italy, with focus on relatively lesser known smaller towns beyond Florence. A curated collection of sights and eats - enjoy!
*Save this list for a future trip!*
We visited Italy back in 2011, and we loved the historical sights in Rome! That said, we fell in love with the beauty, slower pace, and the dining in Florence.
We stayed at the Hotel Stendahl in Rome (recommend pizza and pasta at Ristorante Pizzeria da Michele), and our hotel in Florence was the Hotel Berchielli along the Arno River (a favorite memory was sunset at the Piazzale Michelangelo overlooking the city).
We had a lovely stay in this hotel. Great location next to the Piazza Barberini (and the Barberini metro stop) and within easy walking distance of the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps. Excellent continental buffet breakfast daily to fuel your sightseeing adventures, as well as a library and hotel bar.
Lovely location overlooking the Arno River, this hotel has been renovated since our stay. Only 76 rooms in the heart of Florence, an easy walk to the Ponte Vecchio and the main Santa Maria Novella train station, as well as the most visited tourist destinations of the city such as the Duomo.
In addition to an excellent breakfast buffet, the hotel offers a rooftop garden.
We booked the Deluxe Vista Arno room for a lovely view of the river.
The Chianti region is located between Florence and Siena, and is known for its award-winning vineyards and villas.
Renting a Car
If you have a valid driver’s license from your home country you should be able to drive in Italy as a tourist. However, some car rental agencies might prefer it if you have an “International Drivers License,” which you can easily get online or through your car insurance.
Many car rental agencies like Hertz and Enterprise have locations in Italy. There are also local chains like Europcar. The cost of renting a car can vary depending on the company you book with and the season, so plan to spend $50-$100 per day.
Tip: If you don’t know how to drive a manual stick shift, be extra sure you request an automatic transmission!
Nestled between Sienna and Colle Val d’Elsa, the City of Monteriggioni represents one of the most important walled castles in the territory. Its perfect circular perimeter makes one suppose it to be an artificial construction while in actuality it was created by just following the curves in the natural ground.
Between Seina and Montepulciano in southern Tuscany is the beautiful valley called Val d'Orcia. The tiny village of Pienza is located about 20 kilometers east of Montalcino and a few kilometers to the west of Montepulciano amidst gentle rolling hills and beautiful natural landscapes.
Dine at Case Nuove (Jessi & Allesio ate there) - Via Case Nuove, 7, 53026 Pienza SI, Italy
https://www.facebook.com/casenuovepienza/
Dessert at Buon Gusto gelateria nearby!
Saturnia Hot Springs can be found in the small town of Saturnia, which is located two hours south of Siena (by car), two hours north of Rome, & two hours & 30 minutes south of Florence.
Access to the hot springs is *free*!
The best way to get there is by renting a car, as there is no train station in Saturnia.
Website - https://lecascatedisaturnia.com/
Tips for Visiting Saturnia Hot Springs Tuscany Italy
- https://iheartitaly.co/saturnia-hot-springs-italy/
Nice to visit at different times during the day: mornings for a light breakfast of cappuccino and croissant, afternoons for aperitivo hour with Aperol Spritz (free snacks, usually peanuts and chips), or dinner. Lovely views and people watching!
Well worth a visit to this beautiful cathedral! You can buy tickets direct by going to their website - https://operaduomo.siena.it/la-cattedrale/.
Helpful tip: Scan the QR code for free audio guide - download via wifi prior to arrival as the Internet connection is weak on site.
Well worth the climb to the top for view of the entire Piazza del Campo from above as well as the Duomo di Siena and Tuscan hills.
Tickets are 10 euros and can be purchased on site - I went at 10am when they opened and had no problems getting a ticket to climb at 11:30am. My hubby waited for me at an eatery in the Piazza del Campo so he was able to get a picture of me (I texted him when I got to the platform at the midway point as well as the top)!
Jessi and Allesio say this is the best gelato in the world...try flavor Crema di Santa Fina (saffron) and Pistachio (pronounced with double K instead of a cc, as in Pinocchio).
Held annually in mid-June, the Fiere delle Messi is a historic Medieval Festival through San Gimignan’s town streets and squares with markets of medieval arts and crafts.
Storytellers, actors and musicians, medieval performances and competitions between the four contradas (town districts). During the Sunday afternoon: historical parade and horse tournament.
The entry is easy to miss at street level. Small door with attendant collecting the fee. Preserved wooden steps are intact and much less crowded than the more popular Torre Guinigi. (Tip: Climb this tower for views of Torre Guinigi, and time your visit near the top of the hour to experience the ringing bells - very loud!)
The Cathedral (and adjacent tower) are worth a visit. It also preserves the Holy Face, a wooden crucifix that according to tradition was made by Nicodemus based on the real face of Jesus. The large square in front of the church often hosts antique markets.
Volto Santo of Lucca, the Holy Face of Lucca: the large wooden crucifix inside the cathedral of San Martino, depicting the countenance of Jesus, is striking. His eyes, expressive and large, seem to follow the gaze of the beholder.
https://www.italia.it/en/italy/things-to-do/via-francigena-slow-tourism
It can be travelled on foot at an average of 20 km/day taking about one and a half months, or on hybrid or mtb bicycles, pedalling for about 60 km/day to complete the journey in a couple of weeks. In both cases, the itinerary is suitable for everyone.
The route is very well signposted and winds its way between cities and nature along mountain paths, mule tracks, country lanes, tree-lined roads and ancient paving. From the pastures in the Aosta Valley to the Po plains, the banks of the River Po and the Apennine forests, from Tuscan countryside to the lakes of Latium, passing by fields growing rice and wheat, as well as vineyards, walking in the embrace of nature accompanied by silence and peace.
There are reception facilities, restaurants and services for everyone travel along the route. They are accessed with the Credentials - a specific document issued by the European Association of the Vie Francigene (https://www.viefrancigene.org/en/) that is stamped progressively at each stage and also offers discounts to travellers. After covering the last 100 km on foot or 200 by bicycle, you also receive the Testimonium - the Pilgrimage Certificate.
Versilia is the area along the Tuscan coast in the northwestern edge of the province of Lucca. The coastal shelf along this part of the Tuscan coast is sandy and gradually slopes into the sea.
The many shops and restaurants (as well as hotels) along the seafront make Versilia a great place to spend time in the summer.
With public transportation, there is a train from Florence passing through Lucca, or take buses from Lucca; the beaches are then a short walk away (https://italy4real.com/best-beaches-in-tuscany/).
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I hope you'll find my tips and first-hand experiences helpful in planning your travel adventures! Thanks for visiting, and let’s keep exploring, sharing, and learning from and with one another. Wishing you safe and happy travels!
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