Hotel St James
A holiday in Tuscany is the perfect way to leave the hustle and bustle of daily life behind and immerse yourself in a world of beauty.
A road trip, a Vespa journey, a walking tour, a cycling adventure… whatever means you choose to explore this magnificent region of Central Italy, the time you spend here guarantees sweet vistas and plenty of peace. Art, landscapes, a slower pace of life and excellent cuisine all combine to create an atmosphere from another era that is hugely rejuvenating.
But where do you find the most beautiful things to see in Tuscany? It depends on what Tuscany means to you. Is it classic Tuscany, with its art cities, medieval villages and wineries? Or is it the wellness experience of the thermal spas? Beach holidays on the fashionable beaches of Versilia or the wild ones of Maremma? Or perhaps you’ve already been to Tuscany and want to discover new facets, such as mountain resorts or less-visited cities?
To help you plan an itinerary for a holiday or weekend that suits your taste and interests, we’ve selected the 15 most beautiful attractions in Tuscany. These are 15 starting points to help you fall under the spell of a region that, in our opinion, it’s not an exaggeration to call a masterpiece.
In a country like Italy with an exceptionally high concentration of artworks, Florence stands out as a top destination for architectural, pictorial and sculptural masterpieces. The cradle of the Italian Renaissance, it’s a city where the eyes feast on harmony and perfection: despite being thronged with tourists, Florence is poetry to the eye.
The iconic building of the Tuscan capital is its magnificent Cathedral, whilst the height of romanticism is reached by crossing the famous Ponte Vecchio with its splendid views over the Arno.
However, the crown jewel of cultural tourism in Florence is the Uffizi Gallery, one of the world’s most famous and most visited museums and a source of immense national pride. Here you can admire the masterpieces that shaped the history of Italian art, including the most celebrated works by Raphael, Michelangelo and Botticelli. The artistic tour continues with a visit to Palazzo Pitti, the Vasari Corridor and the Boboli Gardens.
And if instead of art you’re after shops, gastronomy and entertainment? Don’t worry, Florence is a dynamic and modern city, full of venues and with a rich calendar of events.
The magic of Piazza del Campo in Siena is indescribable. The moment the famous shell-shaped square comes into view, where Italy’s most celebrated Palio horse race is held, it’s impossible not to feel a flutter of the heart.
Take time to savour this unique moment, then turn your attention to the splendid palaces overlooking the square, particularly the Palazzo Pubblico, the Torre del Mangia, the Cappella di Piazza and Palazzo Sansedoni.
For many tourists, their visit to Siena ends here. Don’t be in a rush to leave: the city is full of museums, charming corners and viewpoints from which to admire the rolling hills of the surrounding countryside.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa is one of Italy’s most iconic attractions worldwide: an architectural marvel with an initial misfortune that has made it utterly unique.
In recent years it has been made safe using modern techniques, but not straightened: the Tower of Pisa will retain its characteristic lean forever. So you can still visit the interior and take the amusing photo pretending to hold up the Tower!
Next to the Tower, concentrated within Piazza dei Miracoli, stand Pisa’s other most famous attractions: the Cathedral, the Baptistry of San Giovanni and the Monumental Cemetery.
A less touristy area worth exploring is the Lungarni, a popular gathering place for locals, bustling both day and night. City life continues at Borgo Stretto, a porticoed street full of shops and restaurants.
Perfectly preserved city walls are not uncommon in Tuscany, but those of Lucca are special: they are the only defensive fortifications built in the modern age to have survived intact to the present day. Today they form a magnificent tree-lined boulevard where you can mingle with locals for a leisurely stroll or take part in an outdoor event.
After walking the walls, you can grab a coffee in Piazza dell’Anfiteatro, climb to the top of the Torre delle Ore or the Guinigi Tower, visit the house where Giacomo Puccini was born and explore other interesting museums.
Note: if you’re travelling in late October, the city is invaded by comic book fans and cosplayers for the hugely popular Lucca Comics and Games festival.
There’s a top Tuscan attraction that you don’t experience with your eyes but with your taste buds: Chianti, Tuscany’s most famous wine worldwide. Another symbol of Italy that Tuscany can boast of!
The Chianti hills are an ideal destination for a slow-paced holiday, made up of simple pleasures such as enjoying good food, relaxing in the garden of an agriturismo (farm stay) and wandering through the lanes of a medieval village.
The best way to explore the Chianti region is undoubtedly by car: only this means of transport gives you the freedom to stop whenever you want, perhaps to photograph a magnificent vista, visit a winery for a tasting, or pick up cured meats, cheeses, olive oil and other local products to take home.
The villages to include in a Chianti driving itinerary are Castelnuovo Berardenga, Greve in Chianti, Panzano in Chianti, Castellina in Chianti, Radda in Chianti and Gaiole in Chianti.
The Val d’Orcia is Tuscany’s calling card. Located in the heart of Siena province, it’s here that you’ll find the rolling Tuscan hills featured in every postcard, poster and souvenir, dotted with vineyards, isolated farmhouses and rows of cypress trees. Visit it in every season to enjoy its full spectrum of colours, from the green of fresh grass in spring to the intense yellow after harvest.
In Val d’Orcia, designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, you’ll discover charming medieval villages, such as Pienza (also a UNESCO World Heritage site), San Quirico d’Orcia, Castiglione d’Orcia and Radicofani. Don’t miss Montepulciano, located a short distance away, another essential attraction on a Tuscany tour.
To make the most of Val d’Orcia, hire a car and explore it thoroughly: every road is an attraction in itself, offering magnificent vistas. Choose whether to stay in one of the main towns or in the open countryside, as there are plenty of farm stays in Val d’Orcia, all very beautiful and often equipped with a pool and restaurant.
The Elsa river, which flows between Florence and Siena before joining the Arno, defines one of Tuscany’s most beautiful valleys. It’s the Val d’Elsa, traditionally divided into an “Upper” and “Lower” zone.
Upper Val d’Elsa is located in Siena province, and here you’ll find some interesting destinations to visit, such as Colle Val d’Elsa and Poggibonsi, but especially Monteriggioni, with its wonderful circle of medieval walls, and the remarkable San Gimignano, the city of towers and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Lower Val d’Elsa, meanwhile, is part of Florence province. Among the most important tourist destinations we should highlight Certaldo, especially worth visiting during the traditional Mercantia festival, when the historic centre transforms into an open-air theatre inspired by the Middle Ages, with singing, dancing, events and craft stalls.
The capital of Lower Val d’Elsa is Empoli, a city of almost 50,000 inhabitants, pleasant to visit and with all amenities. At the eastern edge of Lower Val d’Elsa, already in Pisa province, you’ll find San Miniato, with its charming historic village.
The Maremma is a very vast territory: apart from a small part in Lazio, it’s almost entirely in Tuscany in the provinces of Grosseto and Livorno, plus some areas in Pisa province.
The Maremma coast stretches across the whole of Grosseto province and a large part of Livorno province, so it’s only natural that it’s a perfect destination for a beach holiday. You’ll be spoiled for choice, with renowned resorts such as Rosignano Marittimo, Cecina, Bibbona, Bolgheri, San Vincenzo, Populonia and Piombino in Livorno province, and Follonica, Marina di Grosseto, the Argentario promontory, Punta Ala and Castiglione della Pescaia in Grosseto province.
But Maremma is perfect not just for a beach holiday: in the inland areas the landscape is striking, with hills and ridges, and typically Mediterranean vegetation with maritime pines and cypresses, interspersed with sunflower fields and kilometres of vineyards.
Strong traditions also thrive in Maremma. Once a land of outlaws, this area is rooted in folk music, typical gastronomy and the butteri, the famous horseman shepherds who often organise live demonstrations of their skills for tourists as well.
In the province of Lucca, among its most remote yet increasingly popular tourist destinations lies the Garfagnana. Located between the Apuan Alps and the Apennines, this region boasts a spectacular natural setting of valleys and peaks towering above 2,000 metres.
Garfagnana is therefore an ideal destination for a holiday away from the beaten path. As you explore its villages and hamlets, you’ll discover just how magnificent this corner of Tuscany truly is, with plenty of opportunities to unwind. For hiking enthusiasts, there are numerous trails waiting to be discovered.
Be sure to visit Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, the main town among the 15 municipalities in the area, complete with the impressive recently restored Rocca Ariostesca. Also highly worthwhile is San Pellegrino in Alpe, where the famous Giro del Diavolo trail begins – perfect for hiking or mountain biking and offering spectacular scenery at every turn. Other villages in Garfagnana well worth visiting include Sassi, Barga, Sillico, Vergemoli and Ceserana.
Among the walks to enjoy in Garfagnana, we recommend heading to Campocatino, the Orecchiella Park, Lake Gramolazzo and especially Isola Santa, a hamlet perched on an artificial lake. Nearby you’ll find the white marble quarries once worked by Michelangelo and the distinctive rock formations known as the Giants’ Potholes. If you prefer to venture underground, don’t miss the subterranean exploration of the Wind Cave at Fornovolasco.
The Val di Chiana, or Valdichiana, is a vast area spanning both Tuscany and Umbria. In Tuscany specifically, it covers parts of the provinces of Arezzo and Siena. Exploring this region gives you a genuine insight into local life, with stunning landscapes and charming medieval villages steeped in centuries-old traditions – culinary included.
The Arezzo section of Valdichiana, beyond part of Arezzo town itself, has as its main tourist destinations the towns of Cortona, Castiglion Fiorentino and Lucignano. On the Siena side, notable places include Chiusi, Chianciano Terme and Montepulciano, although the latter sits on the border with the Val d’Orcia.
The best way to explore Valdichiana is by car, allowing you to savour the beautiful roads and stop for photographs at every turn. Stay in traditional agriturismos (farm stays) in the area, immersing yourself completely in nature whilst enjoying outstanding local produce sourced from the surrounding countryside.
Finally, among the must-see attractions in Tuscany is Elba Island, Italy’s third largest island and the most important in the Tuscan archipelago. Elba is in Livorno province and is reached via a comfortable hour-long ferry crossing from Piombino. It’s one of the most popular holiday destinations for Tuscany residents, offering crystalline turquoise waters with stunning hues, magnificent coves and charming seaside villages.
The ferry docks at Portoferraio, the island’s largest town. Explore its historic centre and stroll along the marina, then head to some of the island’s loveliest spots, such as Porto Azzurro, Capoliveri or Lacona, which stretches along a beautiful bay lined with numerous campsites.
Don’t miss the chance to take in Elba from above – climb or take the cable car to the summit of Monte Capanne, where you’ll be rewarded with a spectacular 360-degree panorama. On clear days, you can even make out the outline of Corsica. Then relax on some of the island’s finest sandy beaches, including Marina di Campo, Biodola, Procchio, Cavoli and Fetovaia.
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