Tuscany is one of the most visited Italian regions, widely famous for its art cities, small villages, rolling hills covered with vineyards giving some of the best wines to the world, villas and farmhouses that you find at the end of of the paths lined with the slender cypresses.
There are really many things to see in Tuscany and probably the most difficult part in planning your vacation is choosing the destinations and attractions..
If you have only few days to go around Tuscany, you will surely see many cities and areas, especially if you decide to use luxury car service by Deluxe Limo Italy.
We would like to suggest an itinerary that can help you plan your vacation in Tuscany. Are you ready? So, let’s go!
Florence
Florence is often referred to as an “open-air museum” and indeed it is exactly like that: being rich in art and history, which can be seen and admired even just walking through its medieval streets, churches, palaces and monuments, make the city a real “pearl” of Italian culture. Florence is also the home for some of the most famous museums: art is everywhere here. Come to the Piazza del Duomo and you will see the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (the Duomo) with its beautiful brick dome designed by Brunelleschi in the fourteenth century, the Tower of Giotto and the Baptistery, with an octagonal plan dating back to the 12th century. Take a walk to splendid main city square to admire the breathtaking Palazzo Vecchio with its crenellated shape. In front of it you will see a copy of Michelangelo’s David while other marvelous statues are placed under the Loggia dei Lanzi.
Passing through the Piazza and going in the direction of the Arno river you will find the famous Ponte Vecchio, one of the symbols of Florence, built in 1300’s. To enjoy one of the most incredible panoramic views over the city, we suggest you go up to Piazzale Michelangelo. The sunsets are marvelous here!
If you love art and want to see some of the most important masterpieces by Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci and Sandro Botticelli, you should not miss the Uffizi Gallery and the Galleria dell’Accademia where the original marble statue of David by Michelangelo is located.
Pisa and Lucca
From Florence you can easily reach both Pisa and Lucca. And one of the best ways to enjoy these destinations is to book a Tuscany day tour.
Come to Pisa early morning to enjoy the famous Piazza dei Miracoli and the Leaning Tower in the mild morning light. Take some time to visit the Duomo, the Baptistery and Camposanto.
After a good lunch you can go to Lucca to spend the afternoon in this elegant city. Lucca is a small “Venice” without water, surrounded with the massive Renaissance walls that have become a beautiful park nowadays. Here you could hire a bicycle to explore and admire Lucca from every angle, going along the walls. Walking in the historic city center visit the Duomo, the particular oval shape Piazza dell’Anfiteatro and climb all the way up to the top of the Guinigi tower, recognizable thank to the trees placed on its top!
Siena and Monteriggioni
While Florence has an atmosphere and charm of the Renaissance, in Siena you will “travel back” to the Middle Ages. The city center is located on various hills, so expect a bit of ups and downs. Start your walk from Piazza del Campo, famous for its particular shell shape and for the Palio di Siena, a horse race that takes place twice in summer, on July 2nd and August 16th. The tower of Palazzo Comunale and the Torre del Mangia are worth climbing to enjoy the view over the city.
Head towards the Duomo, a precious example of Italian Romanesque-Gothic style, with its splendid paving (not always accessible unfortunately), then towards the Baptistery, the Crypt and the Opera Museum with its marvelous polyptych of the Majesty by Duccio Buoninsegna of the 14th century.
On your way back from Siena, don’t forget about Monteriggioni, a small castle that still has 15 towers along the walls (although some of them have been shortened over the centuries). You can climb and walk along its walls, from which you can admire a wonderful view of the countryside.
Chianti and San Gimignano
The area around Florence and Siena is the beautiful Chianti region, famous all over the world for its excellent red wines. The place is characterized by rolling hills covered with the vineyards alternating with the olive groves. The views are really stunning here!
You can stop in Greve in Chianti to visit this peculiar square with its cute shops. In Greve you can also go for a wine tasting paired with delicious cold cuts typical for this area. Continue to Panzano in Chianti, stopping to wander along the ancient streets of the village. Make the next stop in Castellina in Chianti, where you can enjoy a nice walk to admire its mighty walls.
From Castellina we suggest you head to San Gimignano, enjoying the incredible views of the countryside. Spend the rest of the day here, in the town of “medieval skyscrapers” leaving this beautiful place as soon as the sun goes down giving you the chance to take a quiet stroll through its streets with a somewhat magical atmosphere. And of course don’t miss an opportunity to taste some local specialties, such as Vernaccia di San Gimignano.
Art, stunning landscapes, marvelous food, top-quality wines and not only are waiting for you in Tuscany!