These Are the Best Places to Go in Tuscany (2024)

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Florence

Florence, in the heart of Tuscany, is one of Italy's top cities to visit. Florence is an important Renaissance architecture and art center with several excellentmuseums. Florence's cathedral, or Duomo, with its famous dome and its Baptistery, are architectural wonders that are not to be missed.

Many visitors use Florence as their base for winery tours or day trips to other towns in the region. Visit the Museo Galileo or the Palazzo Strozzi to get a feel for the history and culture of the area.

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Siena

Siena is a classic medieval hill town in Tuscany famous for its sizeable fan-shaped piazza, thePiazza del Campo, dominated by its bell tower, the Torre del Mangia.

Siena's annual summer horse race, Il Palio, is about as different from the Kentucky Derby as one can imagine: Bareback riders race the horses along the city's cobblestone streets, keeping with medieval tradition.

Siena's medieval streets are lined with shops and rustic trattoria serving traditional Tuscan cuisine off the main piazza. Find a cozy spot, preferably one filled with Italians, and sample local fare paired with a nice bottle of regional wine.

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Pisa

Pisa, in northern Tuscany, is famous for its leaning tower, which all visitors must climb and take an excellent touristy photo with. You'll be in the Piazza Dei Miracoli, where you can admire the cathedral and the baptistery, which date back to the Italian Renaissance.

Besides its tower, Pisa has much more to do and see. To visit its historic Piazza Dei Cavalieri, take a stroll along the Arno River. And before you leave Pisa, try the local delicacy, a chickpea flour bread called cecina.

If you visit Pisa in June, you're in for a treat. That's when the city holds a festival to honor its patron saint San Ranieri during its annual Giugno Pisano.

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Lucca

Lucca is famous for its Renaissance-era wall, which encircles the city, and its cobblestone streets. Walking and bicycling paths and gardens sit atop the wall, allowing visitors to walk entirely around Lucca's historic center.

In addition to being home to several historic cathedrals, Lucca has several well-preserved towers that provide fabulous views of the city and beyond.

Be sure to check out the home of the famous opera composer Giacomo Puccini, which is a popular museum in Lucca. And for authentic regional dishes liketortelliluccheseor zuppa di farro all lucchese,visit one of Lucca's excellent restaurants, such as Buralli orLa Buca di Sant'Antonio.

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Cortona

Cortona is the Tuscan hill town made famous by Francis Mayes in her book "Under the Tuscan Sun." Surrounded by 3,000-year-old Etruscan walls, Cortona retains much of its history through its layers of architecture.

Cortona's stately buildings include the AbbaziaFarneta and the Chiesa San Francesco.This area has a large American expatriate community, so tourists from the States will find plenty of English speakers.

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San Gimignano

San Gimignano, known as the City of Beautiful Towers, is a classic medieval walled hill town famous for its 14 surviving medieval towers. These create a distinctive skyline visible from the surrounding countryside.

Be sure to visit the Museo Estrusco and the historicCollegiata di Santa Maria Assunta. For local flavor, try one of the manycinghiale(wild boar) dishes at Cum Quibus or Ristorante San Martino.

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Chianti Classico Wine Region

The Chianti Classico wine region lies between the larger cities of Florence and Siena and is a fascinating area to visit. The Chianti region has picturesque villages like Greve and, of course, many fine wineries. Start your wine tasting at ​Barone Ricasoli Winery and Brolio Castle.

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Montepulciano

Montepulciano is yet another walled city in Tuscany, built on a sloping and narrow limestone ridge. Montepulciano has one of the most impressive main squares in Tuscany and has many beautiful Renaissance buildings, including the Chiesa di Sant'Agostino.Visit the Avignonesi or Gattavecchi vineyards or any of Montepulciano's many wineries for a taste of the famedVino Nobiledi Montipulciano. There are also several cantinas in town offering wine tastings and sales and local culinary products.

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Pienza and Val D'Orcia

Pienza, designed to be the ideal city, is a pretty Renaissance town in the Val D'Orcia of Tuscany. Pienza is famous for its pecorino cheese, Piccolomini Palace, and balcony overlooking the beautiful Val D'Orcia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Montecatini Terme

Montecatini Terme, known for its thermal waters, is one of Italy's top spa towns. It has several historic spas and spas with modern equipment for beauty and wellness treatments. Terme Tettuccio is a lavish classic spa with music performances daily during the season, worth a visit to see the Liberty-style architecture.

The town itself is pleasant and relaxed and makes a good base for visiting central and northern Tuscany. A historic funicular railway takes visitors up the hill to the old town of Montecatini Alto.