There are so many beautiful towns and villages throughout Tuscany that you simply cannot get to them all in a single visit. On our recent two week Tuscan holiday we were able to visit a mix of small and large cities. Having a car was essential as it is the only way to reach some of them. Today I am going to explore each of these lovely locations with you and by the end of this post you’ll be dreaming of a Tuscan getaway. While they say all roads lead to Rome, below are 9 other beautiful towns and villages in Tuscany that we enjoyed and I think you will too.
(Listed in the order in which we visited them)
Foiano della Chiana
Our first day exploring Tuscany brought us to a small village called Foiano della Chiana. It was a market day so the city was lively but not too crowded. While the market wasn’t what I was hoping for like those we found in Provence last summer, it was interesting to say the least. I recall being a bit surprised at the sight of live roosters and rabbits being sold. Thankfully Lola missed that part and we enjoyed taking some photos and having breakfast here. A cornetto stuffed with apricot preserves and a very nice sized cappuccino rounded out our excursion here.
Poppi
Poppi is a beautiful Tuscan village with a very well-preserved 13th century Medieval castle – the Conti Guidi Castle (or Castello di Poppi). Arriving in the morning was best to avoid crowds and we enjoyed having the castle mostly to ourselves. There are incredible views of the Casentino Valley from the castle’s tower. There is also a very impressive library and grand staircase. Dante Alighieri was hosted at the castle during his exile from Florence and is said to have written a portion of his Inferno here. After touring the castle we had cold drinks in a shaded garden cafe by the entrance. We spent the rest of the afternoon walking around the village, taking photos, and having lunch.
Siena
Siena is quite hot in the summer but worth a trip. There are plenty of shops and boutiques throughout town as you make your way to the Piazza del Campo. The historic center of Siena is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with buildings dating from the 13th and 14th centuries. Siena is also well known for its Palio, a horse race held twice a year in the Piazza del Campo. Ten riders representing different city wards race bareback in an event that has taken place since the 1600s. This was also a market day and it was a big one!
Certaldo
Take the funicular up to the old town and enjoy the peace and quiet of crowdless streets. I loved Certaldo for its beautifully unmarred ancient buildings. We enjoyed breakfast with a view in a lovely shaded hotel courtyard of the castello, and were visited by the resident turtles who were quite curious of each new visitor.
Arezzo
We spent an evening in Arezzo and enjoyed having dinner on the main piazza. Arezzo is known for its Saracen Joust, an ancient tournament of chivalry. These days a reenactment is held every year. Historically Arezzo has been home to artists and poets. You can see famous frescoes by Piero della Francesca in the Basilica of San Francesco here.
Cortona
Most people may know Cortona from Under The Tuscan Sun. We spent a morning here exploring and enjoying breakfast as the market was getting underway. I wasn’t expecting Cortona to be perched so high on a hill and the views all around are stunning. The town is beautiful and fun to just get lost in. Plenty of beautiful photo opportunities are here as well.
Montepulciano
Montepulciano is a beautiful Tuscan hill town from the medieval and Renaissance ages, perfect for wine lovers. It is known for its Vino Nobile red wine, a D.O.C.G. wine that is one of the main wines of the region along with Chianti Classico and Brunello di Montalcino. There are several parking areas outside of town available as many of the streets are car free. There are a number of shops, boutiques, and cafes lining the main street.
Panzano
We came to Panzano to eat at Dario’s (more on this in my future post about Tuscan restaurants and vineyards), but we discovered that Panzano is also a really pretty town with a great market. It was the best market we discovered the entire trip. Getting to Panzano we drove past numerous sunflower fields and vineyards. Located in the heart of Chianti, the area is a stunning Tuscan landscape. We will definitely be back to Panzano!
Florence
It’s hard to come to Tuscany and not make room for a visit to Florence. This is my husband’s favorite city in Europe, so we made an evening out of it. An Aperol spritz with a view of the Duomo just steps away made for a magical summer evening. To say that the Duomo is our favorite Duomo is an understatement. There’s just nothing like it anywhere else. Brunelleschi’s dome is an architectural marvel! I love the green and pink marble panels that adorn the outside. When the sun is setting it is just gorgeous. Florence is a pretty big tourist destination and is usually packed with people. We’ve been here before so we just enjoyed a relaxing stroll through the city, dinner on a terrace, drinks, and photos. To end the evening we took a cab back to the parking garage across the city. Even Lola was allowed to ride in the front seat with me as the driver aimed all the air conditioning vents at her. It was such a nice gesture!
I hope you find that these 9 beautiful towns and villages in Tuscany inspire you or help you plan your next Tuscan adventure!
As always, thank you for stopping by!
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xo – Erin
9 Beautiful Towns and Villages in Tuscany appeared first on CathedralsandCafes.com. If you see this content published anywhere else, please email cathedralsandcafes@gmail.com.
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