Highlights of Tuscany

Tuscany's many attractions include historic cities and art, great wine and food, medieval hill towns, beaches, and beautiful countryside. Here are a selection of our favourites...

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

The historic centres of Florence, Siena, Pienza and San Gimignano; the Medici Villas and gardens of Tuscany; the grand Piazza del Duomo in Pisa; and the Val d’Orcia

The Palio

This twice yearly (2nd July and 16th August) horse race takes place in Siena in the main square ‘Piazza del Campo’. A colourful medieval event that celebrates competition between neighbourhoods (contrade) to win the coveted painted silk banner ‘palio’

Medieval hilltop towns

Visit the charming towns of Montepulciano, Montalcino, Cortona, Rocca d’Orcia and Pienza, surrounded by the stunning bucolic Tuscan countryside

Quality Wines

Tuscany is home to some of the world’s most notable wine regions accounting for 33 DOC and 9 DOCG wines. The list includes Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Vernaccia di San Gimignano

Michelangelo’s David

No visit to Florence would be complete without a visit to the Galeria dell’Academia to witness Michelangelo’s most famous masterpiece. The statue, completed between 1501 and 1503, depicts David before his historic victory over Goliath.

Panforte

A traditional Italian dessert containing fruit and nuts, and which resembles fruitcake. Dating back to 13th century Siena, documents from 1205 show that panforte was paid to the monks and nuns of a local monastery as a tax.

Thermal Spas

There are three thermal spas near Mount Amiata: Bagni San Filippo, Bagno Vignoni and thermal springs flow endlessly from deep underground.

Lucca

The city of Lucca is famous for its intact Renaissance-era walls. The rectangular grid of its historic centre preserves the Roman street plan, and the Piazza San Michele occupies the site of the ancient forum. Traces of the amphitheatre can still be seen in the Piazza dell’Anfiteatro.

Mount Amiata

Situated in the province of Siena, facing the gentle landscape of the Val d’Orcia, Mount Amiata is the highest (1736m) dormant volcano in Italy. A great area for sports lovers and those who want to explore this beautiful territory by bike, on foot or simply visiting the historical hamlets.

Galleria degli Uffizi (Florence)

Houses great Renaissance works by the masters: Giotto’s ‘Ognissanti Maestà’, Botticelli’s ‘Birth of Venus’, Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘Annunciation’ and Michelangelo’s ‘Holy Family’. Thoroughly brain-draining but worth seeing.

Casa Puccini

A charming museum converted from the former childhood home of the great opera composer Giacomo Puccini. It contains personal letters, opera drafts and the piano on which he created his last opera, Turandot. The annual Puccini opera festival takes place in Torre del Lago (Jul-Aug).

Shopping

Valdichiana Outlet Village is located in one of the loveliest spots in Tuscany, between the provinces of Arezzo and Siena. The Village houses over 140 famous designer and brand shops that offer between 30 - 70% discounts all year round.

Parco Naturale della Maremma

A pristine rural landscape with an unspoilt Tuscan coastline. Stone pines, low hills, Mediterranean maquis, beach and sea span the coastal area between the town of Talamone and the Ombrone estuary.

Etruscan cities

Tuscany is considered to be the cradle of Etruscan civilization (9BC to 1AD). Ancient Etruria was centred on a confederation of twelve great Etruscan cities, which included Arezzo, Cortona, Chiusi, Populonia and Volterra and which bear witness to this extraordinary civilisation.