"A patchwork quilt of verdant hillsides, golden wheat fields and dreamy stone cottages, Tuscany simply demands investigation."
Tuscany is arguably the prettiest region in Italy. Like the backdrop of a Renaissance painting, it's emblazoned with seemingly infinite colours and textures. We're talking scarlet poppy meadows and emerald green pastures. Ochre hillsides and orange-roofed villages. Every corner is worthy of a photograph. But away from this rustic scene you'll find some of Europe's most engaging cities, too. Take a trip out to Florence and stare transfixed at Michelangelo's David. Crane your neck sideways to gaze at the angle-defying Leaning Tower of Pisa. Or head to Siena and lose yourself in the rabbit's warren of Medieval lanes and alleys. Tuscany really is special. And what's really great about it is that you shift gear to suit your mood. One day you're strolling through fields with tall grasses tickling your legs and the next you're sipping a cappuccino in a bustling square. Wonderful.
Famous for its art, history and evocative landscape, Tuscany offers visitors beautiful countryside and tranquil villages. At every turn, you'll find fascinating places to visit such as the magical Tuscan and Umbrian hilltop towns - Volterra, Cortona, Montepulciano, Montalcino, and Assisi, to name but a few. Wander through the town of San Gimignano with its 13th century lookout towers which dominate the landscape for miles around. Explore the spectacular rocky heights of the Apuan Alps and tranquil villages in Northern Tuscany. Or stroll around walled cities and cultural jewels such as Pisa. Wherever you head, this stunning slice of Italy can't fail to charm you.
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Great Tuscany holidays
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Tuscany
Recommended resorts for Tuscany
Tuscany holiday resorts
Resorts in Tuscany include Arezzo, Artimino, Bagni Di Pisa, Barberino Val D'elsa, Candeli, Casole D'elsa, Castelfiorentino, Castelnuovo Berardenga, Coreglia Antelminelli, Cortona, Donnini, Gambassi Terme, Lucca, Monsummano Terme, Montaione, Montecatini, Montepulciano, Monteriggioni, Montespertoli, Pievescola, Pisa, Pomarance, Ponsacco, Radicondoli, San Casciano Val Di Pesa, San Gimignano, Sarteano, Siena, Vicchio, Villamagna and Vinci.
More Italy holiday destinations
Looking for holidays in Italy? Our Italy holiday destinations include Calabria, Italian Cities, Ligurian Riviera, Neapolitan Riviera, Puglia, Sardinia, Sicily, Tuscan Riviera, Tuscany, Umbria and Venetian Riviera.
Beaches
While Tuscany is best-known for its artistic treasures and glorious landscapes, its beautiful coastline shouldn't be overlooked. Offering up flat, sandy beaches, gently lapping waters and chic resorts, the Tuscan Riviera gives you all you could want from a Mediterranean holiday. Cosmopolitan Viareggio is the oldest and largest coastal town and has one of the widest stretches of golden sands in Italy. Nearby Forte dei Marmi is another fashionable resort, characterised by elegant bars, cafes and designer boutques.
Eating out
From elegant city restaurants to countryside trattorias, Tuscany simply overflows with tempting eateries. Tuscan cuisine tends to be quite simple, based on peasant cooking and relies heavily on tomatoes, olive oil and beans. Rather interestingly, risotto rice dishes and thick vegetable broths like ribollita often take the place of pasta. Try popular dish bistecca alla Fiorentina, steak grilled over an open fire accompanied by fresh lemon to squeeze and Tuscan olive oil. Tuck into fagioli all'uccelletto, a classic combination of flageolet beans cooked in a thick tomato sauce. Or savour pappardelle alla lepre, thick ribbons of pasta covered in a meat sauce. And if you're looking for a typical Tuscan antipasti, it has to be crostini, pieces of toast smeared with various toppings such as garlic, olive oil and chopped tomatoes and anchovy paste. Cheeses made from sheep's milk are common, too, especially well-matured pecorino and creamy ricotta. Oh, and the region's vineyards are among the best in the world with lots of tempting varieties, including the fruity red chianti classico.
Nightlife
Evenings out in Tuscany can be as lively or low-key as you like. If you're looking for peace and tranquillity, head up into the hills where you can enjoy a leisurely al fresco meal beneath the stars in an authentic trattoria. Tuscany's main town and cities are the place to head if you're looking for something a little more uptempo. Siena, Pisa and Florence all have a selection of laid-back bars, while the real party animals tend to gravitate towards Bologna's coast. During the summer months, the Tuscan Riviera is renowned for its bustling but sophisticated nightlife with bars and cafes lighting up its seafront promenades.
Shopping
While the region's many outlying towns and villages boast a variety of local handicrafts and specialities, such as hand-painted pottery and attractively bottled preserved vegetables, Florence dwarfs Tuscany when it comes to retail therapy. For a city of its size, it offers a wealth of stores and products. The shops of Via Dei Calzaiuoli invite visitors to wander around and treat themselves to elegant Italian couture and explore the streets around San Lorenzo market and Santa Croce, which are also ideal for shopping, enjoying delicious snacks or simply strolling around. Florence has a reputation as a top producer of leatherwork and is well known for its fashion accessories including handbags, shoes, belts and briefcases. The city is also well regarded for its jewellery - many of the workshops overhanging the Pontevecchio house expert goldsmiths – and its colourful marbled stationery and notepaper.
Transfer time
Driving times
Pisa to Florence: 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes
Pisa to Siena: 2 hours to 2 hours 15 minutes
Pisa to San Gimignano: 1 hour 15 minutes
Pisa to Artimino: 1 hour
Pisa to Montepulciano: 2 hours 30 minutes
Pisa to Lucca: 40 minutes
Pisa to Viareggio: 30 to 45 minutes
Pisa to Forte Dei Marmi: 40 to 50 minutes
Pisa to Tirrenia: 25 to 30 minutes
Florence to Artimino: 30 to 40 minutes
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