Things to do in Tuscany
There is no doubt that there are plenty of things to do in Tuscany. This fantastic region harbours the classic landscapes of Italy, offering magical views from the mountains down to the sea. The medieval hill towns, rows of slender citrus trees, vineyards and artfully sited villas and farmhouses have long been held as an irresistible attraction.
Tuscany also has an abundance of towns with museums, cathedrals, and historical buildings and streets in towns like Florence, Siena, and Pisa. But it also hides simpler pleasures in and around the towns and cities of Tuscany that can enrich your stay.
Assisi
If you have a day to spend in Assisi, leave your visit to the Basilica until the afternoon. Get up early and spend the morning hiking in the wooded mountains that surround the town. Here you'll find yourself contemplating with the monks who are often to be found wandering the parkland.
The Basilica is the main attraction of Assisi and pilgrims and art lovers alike usually make straight for it, and it is open most of the day, including lunchtime, but the Basilica is not the only place in Assisi worth a visit.
If you head back into town you will soon see the remains of the 15th century Oratorio dei Pellegrini, which is the hospice for pilgrims and is frescoed inside and out by local artists. It is modest but appealing, though it is quite often out of bounds due to praying Nuns. If you want a break from the myriad of Franciscan connections, Assisi has the usual wonderful backstreets, churches, Roman remains and other miscellaneous odds and ends that characterise most Italian towns of a similar age.
Pisa
Pisa is the home of the most gorgeous piazza in the whole of Italy, Campo Dei Miracoli. Nothing could be more relaxing than sitting on the small triangle of grass in front of the famous leaning Tower having a slice of pizza as the Sun bears down on you.
The centrepiece of the city is, obviously, the leaning Tower, but visiting this can hardly be seen as a gentle reflective experience. More often than not you will find yourself in the middle of tour groups walking up and down and photographers getting in the way trying to get that all-important picture. Thankfully, the rest of the city centre allows for some fine, and much less hectic, wandering through the alleys that have largely retained their medieval appearance. The eastern quarter of the city is an area where a few tourists penetrate. It is full of fine squares and arcaded streets with Romanesque churches along the river bank. This area has a large student population, and it is a lively place, especially during the summer festivals and the monthly market. This is when the streets on either side of the river become one continuous bazaar.
Florence
If you are up to the challenge of lowering the best price for your souvenirs there is no better place than the street markets that surround the daily food markets in Florence. Here you can haggle with the stallholders, and they will enjoy the competition.
But for the more traditional holidays in Florence there can be no doubt why Florence has been described by many as the most beautiful city in Italy with its delightful streets and indescribable charms.
The city is dominated by the magnificent cathedral dome, and if you manage to see it close-up it is even more breathtaking. From there, a walk down towards the River Arno and the attraction of the city still holds true. The river is spanned by the medieval shop lined bridge with the gorgeous church of Santa Miniato al Monte glistening from the hill behind it. Once you have seen these sites you could easily have a sense of disappointment, as much of Florence is a city of narrow streets and Palazzi that show only iron clad windows and massive doors to the outside world.
The fact is that the best of Florence is to be seen inside through the pictures and sculptures in the many galleries that adorn the city. But if you do decide to visit the galleries and museums note that a lot of them will only open during the mornings, and the ones that are open in the afternoon usually close in the middle of the day. If you will have the opportunity, it is better to pre-book such visits.
Lucca
Lucca is built within 16th century city walls that are so thick that they have been adapted to form a park with a tree-lined cycleway of nearly 3 miles in length. Spend some time walking or cycling this pathway and you will see the best of the town and its people.
Lucca is a delightful place to spend some time simply to wander through the centre, which is free from traffic, with the exception that you have to keep an eye out for cyclists weaving through the crowds. Just to the north of the historical heart of the town, and once the site of the Roman Forum, is a lively square, fringed with shops and cafes. It plays host to a daily market. Most of the buildings date from the 12th century and the composer Puccini was born close to here.
Maremma
Have you ever visited an open-air cave tunnel? If not consider visiting the caves on display at Maremma. Nobody is quite sure why these tunnels were carved by the forefathers of the town, however, some have survived over a thousand years and can be explored.
Festivals
Whatever the time of year the Tuscans will find an excuse to have a festival. Some of them are bizarre, whereas others are relaxing, if not thoughtful, but they all will be memorable. Siena holds a bareback horserace through the dirt streets of the town, which is held at breakneck speed, concluding with a big feast. But the festival in Prato is more sedate with the Virginís girdle paraded through the piazza accompanied by high pomp and drum rolls.
Wine
In the vineyards between Florence and Sienna you will find the vineyards that produce the highest quality Chianti. However, along the coast in the Livorno region you will be among the vineyards that produce Merlot which is a wine more commonly associated with France.
But having mentioned parts of the alternate Tuscany, you can not pass through this area without visiting the castles, fortresses, watch-towers and town walls that appear everywhere that are a testimony to the Italy of the Middle Ages.
For more information, read our guide to holidays in Tuscany or browse our range of Tuscany holiday rentals today.
