Towns & villages

1. Cycling in the city - or strolling along the ramparts. Lucca is full of lanes too narrow for cars, so the locals often get about by bicycle. Ringed by Renaissance walls, the city is made for leisure. The massive ramparts are now the place for...

1. Castello di Ama for contemporary art Castello di Ama, Lecchi’s most local `castle,’ is actually not a castle but a hilltop estate and villa restaurant, doubling as a centre of contemporary art. This leading Chianti Classico...

Castelnuovo Berardenga makes a mellow base for exploring Siena and the southern Chianti.  As well as driving to wine estates, you could visit others by bicycle. The Chiantigiana, the Chianti Way, is made for forays to charming Chianti hamlets...

1. Vineyards on a Vespa Tired of museums and madonnas? Head for the wine-producing hills on a Vespa. The rolling slopes are planted with olive groves that shimmer dark green and dusty silver. Spanning the hills between Florence and Siena,...

1. Dievole estate cycling, picnicking or wine-tasting tour Consider a cycle ride or a gourmet picnic in the vineyards around Vagliagli if you want more than a wine-tasting experience. A variety of tempting rural experiences can be booked through...

1. Piazza della Repubblica & Piazza Signorelli - to take the city pulse Cortona’s ancient city gateways lead to a self-indulgent stroll along medieval streets, monuments and bustling squares. Begin a walking tour in the heart of town,...

Orvieto is all about the mysterious mood, both above and below ground. Savour the slow pace of life, from medieval meanderings to wine-tasting in this Slow Food city. Orvieto also acts as a springboard to several gorgeous towns in Umbria and Lazio,...

Lido di Camaiore Lido di Camaiore spreads out for more than four km along a coast of fine sand. Since the beginning of the last Century, Lido di Camaiore has been one of the most renowned seaside resorts in Italy. Gabriele D'Annunzio was the...

From the unique lopsided main square where you can grab a coffee and watch the world go by to the plethora of churches to admire, there is plenty to do during a visit to Arezzo. The antiques market, at the start of each month, is also not to be...

1. Piazza del Duomo – the heart of town At the heart of Pistoia is the Piazza del Duomo, one of the most beautiful town centres in Tuscany. The star sites are clustered around the main square, making for a dizzying sense of artistic...

Grosseto is a small city with a long Roman and Etruscan past, which is still very much present today. From the well-preserved medieval walls to the Museo Archaeological e d’Arte della Maremma, one of the richest museums in the area, history...

1. Piazza IV Novembre - for city life Henry James called Perugia the “little city of infinite views” and this feels true of Piazza 1V Novembre, Perugia’s theatrical main square. This was where Roman and Etruscan civilisations...

When thinking of things to do in Pisa, the Leaning Tower often comes to most visitors' minds, but there is much more to explore than this iconic landmark.

Given Pienza’s overpopularity, being based in a villa away from the hordes is the perfect solution. Come into town for Renaissance architecture and then head off to explore local hamlets.

1. La Fortezza views Also known as La Rocca, this magnificent Sienese bastion finally fell to the Florentines in 1555. Today it’s a citadel that sums up Montalcino, from wine to wide vistas and freedom. Children can run around the ramparts...

The Cathedral of Saint Peter and Saint Paul Located within the ancient town walls, the origins of the Cathedral date back to the 10th Century although todays building is based on the 16th Century modernisation. Much restoration was needed...

Volterra makes for the archetypal Tuscan town – before tourism took over. Enjoy the relative tranquillity to explore the Etruscan, Roman and medieval heritage before shopping for locally-produced alabaster or dining in an Etruscan cellar.

1. Chianti country cycling The Chianti is a place for pottering, cycling and chance encounters, one of which is tiny Campi di San Gusmè, just north of Brolio. A short climb leads to a small tower, Romanesque church and views of tumbledown...

Rocca di Castellina and Archaeological Museum Castellina's historic centre is home to the ancient Rocca di Castellina, a large tower with a keep which offers visitors breathtaking panoramic views across the town. The castle has stood in...

Piazza Ferrucci A walk through the cobbled streets of Radda in Chianti will bring you to Piazza Ferrucci. The square is home to the historic Palazzo del Podestà, named after the renowned Francesco Ferrucci and the historic seat of the...

1. Take in Piazza Matteotti Although Greve is an unremarkable market town, its main square commands attention. The porticoed Piazza Matteotti is a lovely place for taking in the bustling atmosphere. Browse the market, potter under the porticoes...

Hilltop Gaiole makes a great stepping-stone to explorations of local inns, wine estates and ancient abbeys. From the fortified monastery of Badia di Coltibuono to Castello di Brolio. a former Florentine castle with its gaze firmly fixed on its...

Enjoy a meaty feast in Panzano, which is a restaurant hotspot, before embarking on wine trails in the Chianti hills nearby. Visit a Renaissance villa and gardens linked to Leonard da Vinci or fly over the Chianti in a hot-air balloon. More simply,...

Balance visits to galleries with wanderings in search of the perfect trattoria or the perfect view. Do buy a Firenze Card online. It’s somewhat pricey but after four visits pays for itself and means you can skip the queues and enter the top...

Il Campo The Il Campo, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is one of Italy's most remarkable piazzas in the heart of Siena. Its unique shell-shaped design has been a neutral ground for civic events since medieval times. The square, paved with red...

1. Visit Castello di Volpaia Castello di Volpaia is far more than a winery: it’s the hub of a sustainable community. Its success shows that medieval villages can be saved and repurposed for modern living. It’s done almost invisibly,...

Monteriggioni lies in the heart of Tuscany, convenient for a day trip to medieval Siena or even Florence. Monteriggioni can also be a stepping-stone to the countryside, especially to the Chianti, including gentle meandering through wine country...

These are our Top Ten Things to Do, from gentle drives to soporific spas, from strolls in moody hamlets to medieval abbeys and the vintage Nature Train – all set in Unesco-listed countryside.

This painterly hilltop town deserves leisurely exploration, with stops to take in the medieval and Renaissance architecture and to sample the famous Vino Nobile di Montepulciano wines.

1. Vineyards on a Vespa Tired of museums and madonnas? Head for the wine-producing hills on a Vespa. The rolling slopes are planted with olive groves that shimmer dark green and dusty silver. Spanning the hills between Florence and Siena,...

San Gimignano gained its fame through its towers, resulting from a rivalry between two economically powerful families living in the town building better and higher towers to show their economic stability and power. By the end of the Medieval period,...

These are our Top Ten Things to Do, from basking on beaches to dolphin-watching, from cycling the seafront to visiting coastal nature reserves. Unlike many destinations, in Tuscany you can combine culture and the beach. Just don’t attempt to...

1. Viareggio Promenade Commonly known as the “Passeggiata di Viareggio,” the seafront stroll is the best way to appreciate this faded but fun beach resort. Viareggio is big enough to be both a typical beach resort and a vibrant town...

1. Pottering in perfect countryside It’s a travesty to equate Tuscany with `Chiantishire’, a parody of an English country-house party transposed to Italy. It is also misleading to reduce the region to Renaissance art, Florentine...

Go to the beach Forte dei Marmi sits on a long stretch of beach, making it the perfect destination to sit and soak up the Tuscan sun. You will find that most of Forte dei Marmi's seafront is lined with private 'bagni'. These bagni are...

Colle di Val d'Elsa lies in the heart of Tuscany, close to Siena, Florence and Etruscan Volterra, making it a handy base for city-based day trips. Colle di Val d’Elsa can also be a stepping-stone to the countryside, especially to the...

1. San Miniato stroll As the most attractive hilltop town between Pisa and Florence, San Miniato is definitely worth exploring. The fate of the town has always been closely linked to its geographical position. San Miniato is pretty much...