Tuscany is a region that encompasses all that is loved about Italy, with images of the undulating, vine-covered hills of Chianti and the ancient, relic-filled piazzas of its capital city, Florence typically coming to mind. Perhaps less well known are its 250 miles of coastline, majestic cycling routes and the healing hot springs of the Maremma. Whether you’re planning a culinary odyssey, cultural pilgrimage or a more active trip, Tuscany offers an abundance of epic experiences, making it a challenge to decide where to start first. To help, here is our choice of some of the best things to do in Tuscany.
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1. Hunt for truffles
Perched on a hilltop between Pisa and Florence, the small medieval town of San Miniato can justly claim to be Tuscany’s truffle capital. Locals are expert at unearthing this highly seasonal product, descending on surrounding woodlands each October with dogs specially trained to sniff them out. Cap off your visit by sampling at least two truffle-rich courses at lunch — pasta dish tagliolini al tartufo is a perennial favourite. San Miniato is also a hub of the slow food movement, known for its goat’s milk cheese and Cinta Senese salami, made from an ancient pig breed unique to the region.
2. Explore by Vespa
From La Dolce Vita to The Talented Mr Ripley, cinema shot in Italy has helped establish our collective love-affair with the country’s moped brand — made in Tuscany at Piaggio’s plant in Pontedera, near Pisa. As well as being enduringly stylish, they are also surprisingly straightforward to drive and therefore popular for tours into the countryside. Riders receive training from an English-speaking instructor in Florence before setting out to cruise along quiet roads through rolling vineyards, stopping at boutique wineries and medieval churches before finishing with a slap-up lunch.
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3. Take a tour with a local
The best way to see any region is being guided by the people who know it best: the locals. Join forces with a friendly Italian and you’ll see the best that Tuscany has to offer, be it the neon wineries of Chianti, the colour-popping towns of Cinque Terre, or the striking walled city of Lucca — all while having the chance to learn about the country along the way. Tours By Locals make doing this a cinch; you’ll be transported in an air-conditioned vehicle, have a huge choice of customisable itineraries, and be paired with a guide who knows the best spots to visit, eat at and explore. Fancy shopping at a local market? Seeing how spaghetti is made at a pasta factory? Expect options for pretty much every desire.
4. Taste the cuisine
Famed for its delicious local produce, this Italian region offers a wealth of home-grown specialities. Top picks include the piquant olive oils made from dark Leccino olives, pungent porcini mushrooms and pecorino, a popular cheese made of sheep’s milk, sometimes aged under ashes or seasoned with truffles. Pane sciocco is Tuscany’s distinctive, salt-free bread, perfect for dipping into the region’s rich game stews and, when stale, made into the ubiquitous tomato soup, pappa al pomodoro. Also popular is bistecca alla fiorentina, produced from succulent Chianina beef bred in Val di Chiana, north of Arezzo.
5. Sample the wine
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Tuscany is perhaps best known for its excellent Chianti wines, produced in the vineyards near Florence, but other prestigious wines include Brunello di Montalcino, made near the region of Montalcino, south of Siena, and neighbouring Montepulciano, both made with Sangiovese grapes. The northwest region is known for its dessert wine, Vin Santo (“holy wine”) aged for at least three years before it’s ready to drink and traditionally consumed at wine tastings alongside cantucci — crunchy almond biscuits, originally from the Tuscan town of Prato.
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6. Head to the city
Treasure-filled cities packed with world-class art galleries and architectural gems make Tuscany a culture-lover’s heaven. Top pick is the region’s capital, Florence, dubbed the birthplace of the Renaissance, its historic centre a Unesco world heritage site. Siena, with its shell-shaped central square, and Pisa, with its famous leaning tower, also make for great day trips. Other towns and cities include the spectacularly beautiful hilltop city of Arezzo, and Cortona with its Etruscan remains — and don’t forget the medieval buildings of San Gimignano and Pienza.
7. Watch a world-famous horse race
Tuscan people know how to enjoy themselves, with a plethora of events taking place throughout the year. There are carnivals in February, processions at Easter, music festivals in the summer, and food fairs in the autumn months. Perhaps the most famous is Siena’s Palio horse race, held on July 2 and August 16 each year; and on the last Sunday of August, Montepulciano’s Bravio Delle Botti festival sees heavy wooden wine barrels pushed along the town’s narrow streets.
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8. Go on a bike ride
Empty roads and gently undulating landscapes make Tuscany an excellent choice for leisurely exploration on foot or by bicycle, especially in spring for the wildflowers or in autumn for balmy temperatures and golden sunshine. Ancient paths that bisect the region include the Via Francigena, the Cammino di Francesco, the Via Romea and the Via degli Dei — a historic 130km route connecting Florence to Bologna through the Apennines and hills of the Mugello Valley.
9. Relax with 250 miles of coastline
Although better known for its interior, this region also has around 250 miles of coastline lapped by the Tyrrhenian Sea — so it’s worth giving yourself time to explore the shore. To the north are popular sandy beaches, including Viareggio, where lines of deckchairs fill up with Italian holidaymakers in the summer, making it a great place to people-watch. For quieter beaches, head to the less-visited resorts in the southern area of the Maremma, where resorts are smaller and more remote. Marina di Alberese is one of the best in this region and the promontory of Monte Argentario has inviting rocky coves.
tuscany-villas.co.uk/to-tuscany/2018/localities/tuscan-coast/marina-di-alberese
10. Soak in a hot spring
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While stressed Italian urbanites flock to Terme di Saturnia every weekend, Tuscany’s thermal springs remain relatively undiscovered outside Italy. Situated in the under-visited Maremma region, the waters have been put to therapeutic use since Roman times. Home to a hotel of the same name, the resort also has a day spa where guests can bob about in pools of varied temperature and book in for a treatment in its enormous 53-room spa — many of which make use of Saturnia’s anti-oxidising mud. The bistro serves healthy lunches and sundowners — a unique opportunity to partake in aperitivo hour while wearing your bathrobe.
termedisaturnia.it
11. Get behind the wheel
Idyllic, rolling Tuscan countryside with a network of quiet, undulating roads criss-crossing a landscape of vineyards, cypresses and hilltop villages makes Tuscany ideal for relaxed touring by car. Whether a gentle potter through the wooded valleys to the east of Florence, a foray into the wilder countryside southwest of Siena, or a meander through the picturesque Val d’Orcia, there’s always an opportunity for an interesting detour. Plan a comprehensive itinerary taking in Tuscany’s top sights or simply take pot luck to chance upon a tiny Romanesque chapel, a bustling market town or a sleepy hilltop hamlet.
thediscoveriesof.com/italian-road-trip-travels-tuscany
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Inspired to visit Tuscany but yet to book your trip? Here are the best packages from Tui and Jet2 Holidays. These are the best tours of Tuscany from our trusted partners.
Additional reporting by Orla Thomas
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