Top 7 things to do (and visit) on your Tuscany vacation

The most beautiful places to visit during a vacation in Tuscany

Tuscany is commonly considered the jewel of Italy. Located on the west coast of Italy, next to the Tyrrhenian Sea, it is the most popular and beautiful vacation destination for those who decide to travel to Italy and discover Italian beauty.

Tuscany is known all over the world for its unique rural landscapes, the Tuscan hills with their unique cypress trees. In Tuscany, you can also taste authentic Italian food and discover one of the most famous wines in the world – Chianti.

Tuscany is also rich in art and history, and masterpieces of architecture can be discovered in every Tuscan city. The provinces of Siena and Lucca are full of medieval villages, where you can also find many fortresses and castles. Florence and Pisa are rich in history and Renaissance monuments, with the most beautiful churches in Italy: the Duomo of Florence and the Duomo of Pisa, famous for its leaning tower.

Tourists have a lot to see and do in Tuscany, but there is not enough time to do them all. To make the most of your vacation in Italy, we will list the top 7 things to visit and do during your vacation in Tuscany.

1) Visit Pisa and discover the city (and its Leaning Tower)

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is probably the most famous (and most photographed) Italian monument, after the Colosseum in Rome. But Pisa is more than its leaning tower. Pisa is an international city, well organized to receive tourists from all over the world. Pisa is very well communicated with the rest of the Tuscan cities, with local means of transport and private transfer, and with the rest of the world, thanks to its International Airport, so this town is probably the best option if you are looking for a town to stay. . for your vacations.

The historic center of Pisa is also rich in monuments and history, which you can easily discover with a guided walking tour in Pisa that ends with a visit to the Piazza dei Miracoli (Miracle Square) where you can admire the Duomo of Pisa, with its leaning tower and the impressive Baptistery of San Juan.

2) Wine tasting in the Chianti region

The trendiest place to have an exclusive wine tasting experience is undoubtedly the Chianti area, which is very famous for its world-famous red wines.

A wine tour in the Chianti area will allow you to discover beautiful villages surrounded by vineyards and olive trees. In these villages, you can taste Tuscan and Super Tuscan wines directly from the local wineries. Here you can find real Italian wines that you cannot find anywhere else because local productions are limited in quantities and you can only taste them by going there.

In summer, wine tastings are organized directly in the vineyards, under the Tuscan sun.

3) Visit Lucca: a jump back in the history of Tuscany

Lucca is another popular place to visit in Tuscany. Here you can see medieval buildings and many churches that are just amazing. The Roman amphitheater located in Lucca is approximately 1900 years old and is obviously worth a visit. The city center is completely surrounded by a brick wall that was erected in the 16th century, and you can take a walk along the top of the wall, which is about 4 km away. Lucca is believed to have some of the best food in Tuscany, such as the Tortelli Lucchesi. Tortelli Lucchesi is a handmade pasta that is filled with seasoned meat and a very meat-laden ragout that is extremely rich in flavor.

4) Discover Siena, the city of the Palio.

Siena is one of the most popular and visited cities in Tuscany, a place extremely rich in medieval art and history. It is famous for its Palio di Siena which takes place twice every summer in the famous Piazza del Campo. The historic center of Siena, also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is built around this square, which was conceived as a work of art in perfect harmony with the surrounding hillside.

Siena is also famous for its characteristic narrow avenues and alleys, flanked by brick buildings. If you are fit and healthy enough, then it is a good idea to climb to the top of Siena’s tall bell tower and have some extraordinary views of the city. and the Piazza del Campo below. The people of Siena are very welcoming and in this city you can breathe the authentic Italian atmosphere.

During a tour of Siena, you cannot miss the opportunity to visit a small nearby town: San Gimignano, also known as the “Manhattan of the Renaissance” for its 13 medieval towers.

5) Discovering Montalcino, the birth town of Brunello wine

The medieval town of Montalcino has become famous all over the world for its famous wine, the “Brunello di Montalcino”.

Montalcino is built on the top of a hill, and above the city, there is a medieval fortress that has pentagonal design walls designed by the Sienese architects Mono Foresi and Domenico di Feo.

Walking through the narrow cobbled streets of its city center, you can see a lot of “enoteca” (wine warehouse) and local wineries, indicating that this is the hometown of Tuscan wines.

Obviously, you can’t visit Montalcino without a wine tasting experience, which should also include tasting local foods like cheeses and salumi. An expert local guide can grant you the chance to visit only the best wineries in town.

6) Discover Volterra, one of the most interesting cities in Tuscany

Volterra is a vibrant city located in the Pisa region, not far from Siena, Florence and also from the coast. Volterra is well known for its Etruscan origins and also for the many ruins that belong to that period, such as the wonderful Roman Theater. At the top of the city, you can admire the Medical Fortress, a true masterpiece of medieval architecture. The mysterious atmosphere of Volterra has inspired the writer Stephanie Meyerthe in her famous novel “New Moon”, which became the film of the famous “Twilight” saga.

Volterra is also famous for its alabaster production, in fact on the way to town you can admire those clay hills where there are many alabaster quarries. Alabaster is used primarily by local artisans to make beautiful handcrafted artifacts.

If you are looking for a rare tour in Tuscany, you probably have to visit Volterra and discover all its beauties.

7) Visit Florence, the heart of Tuscany

Last but not least, we have Florence, which is one of the highlights of your visit to Tuscany.

You will need to spend at least several days touring the sights of Florence. There are many things to see and do in the Tuscan capital.

In this city you can find Art, Museums, Churches and also food, wines and Bella Vita (shopping streets, restaurants, cafes, discos). Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1982, it is the best expression of Tuscan art, culture and lifestyle.

A guided tour in Florence can allow you to visit the most important places without wasting time. You can discover the historic center, the unique Ponte Vecchio on the other side of the Arno river, you can visit the Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia Gallery, where the original statue of David by Michelangelo is preserved.

Every day trip in Florence should include a visit to the Duomo of Florence, named after Santa Maria del Fiore.

A Florence vacation is also a great opportunity to enjoy a hands-on cooking class, with a wine tasting experience, while staying in a comfortable villa in the heart of Florence.

Please note that all of the Tuscan destinations listed above can be reached with a private shore excursion from the Livorno cruise port