City: Tuscany
Top Things to do in Tuscany
Top Hotels in Tuscany
10 Free Things to do in Tuscany That You Shouldn't Miss
Tuscany (/ˈtʌskəni/ TUSK-ə-nee; Italian: Toscana, pronounced [toˈskaːna]) is a region in central Italy with an area of about 23,000 square kilometres (8,900 square miles) and a population of about 3.8 million inhabitants (2013). The regional capital is Florence (Firenze).
Restaurants in Tuscany
1. Piazza del Campo
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 14,045 reviews
Siena's main square is the site of the famous Palio horse races that take place in July and August.
Reviewed By Y7972VAmichaelh
The vast bustling Piazza del Campo in Siena is famous for the Palio horse races which attract thousands of visitors each year and must be a truly awesome spectacle. This is a most interesting city to explore for the spiders-web of streets that circumnavigate the Piazza lead to quite unexpected places, shops, churches and beautiful vistas. A photographers dream where sunlight and shadow enhances the beauty of the architecture at all times throughout the day. Siena is a must, and don’t cut your visit short for there’s much to see and do.
2. Val d'Orcia
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 423 reviews
Reviewed By SJWilson - Rome, Italy
Here’s a nice, winding, country walk we did from Gallina to Montichiello in beautiful Val d’Orcia, which you can do if the Orcia is pretty dry and is easy to cross. There’s nothing much in Gallina, but you might be in an agriturismo nearby, you never know, there are so many. All references to Google maps! Right, so walk straight up Via del Colombaio with the local church there on your left. Keep going up, cross the road that curves back right towards the industrial area, and follow the country track round to your right, passing a ruined house to your left. Follow the track all the way up to a nice-looking agriturismo called Locanda in Tuscany and turn left there along the country road between fields, heading towards another agriturismo called La Rimbecca, passing the driveway in front of you up to agriturismo Poder Nuovo and turning right. Yes, lots of agriturismos round here! Walk up to Rimbecca, another nice looking place, head right towards the main gate, then cut left across the car park, where you’ll find a nice long, straight tree-arched alley running down left, probably once the original driveway, and walk straight down it towards the River Orcia. Follow the curve of the road left, passing what looks like an old mill on your right, and you’ll come to the river bank. We did the walk in summer, so there wasn’t much river, just a few large puddles. Climb down into the riverbed and head left, after about 200 metres on the opposite bank you should see an exit point. We had to paddle across one of the puddles, very refreshing on the toes. About 10 metres up this track you’ll find two paths heading left, both going in the direction you want, the first running closer to the river, the second skirting the trees. Take your pick! They meet up near the river, where you continue along the main path and at a certain point, on the right, you’ll find another long straight path heading up towards the main road, Strada Provincial 53 and, yes, another agriturismo/farm called Le Checche. Cross the road and head up past the farm, the road curving round right behind it, then curving back left as you follow it up towards Villa Il Tiglio and a lovely property called Casanova, with a beautiful plump blonde horse and his sheep mates in residence if you want to say hello and nobody objects. But the main road passes under these properties, with a small body of water on your left, following a really lovely country path, my favourite of the day. You’ll come to a bend with a driveway to a house on your right, follow the bend round left and you’ll see a road heading right that goes up past two very nice little properties, highly covetable. After the second of these, when we were there, the actual road seems to vanish into a field with a hedgerow on your right, and the path should continue up to the right of that hedgerow, on the other side. But we found it pretty overgrown, so carried on up the fields with the hedgerow to our right, to the road that passes Aurora Festival on the right, where a nice lady refilled our water flasks. Continue straight on, till you pass Agriturismo Fonte Senesi on your left. Take the second road on your left, which leads down towards the main road, Strada Provinciale 88. Then all you have to do is follow that up as it evolves into Viale Marino Cappelli, which curves round left and leads you up to the main gate into the lovely little town of Montichiello! It was a very very hot day when we walked there so we immediately stopped at the nice little garden bar on the right just before arriving at the gate and had some very welcome cold beer and ice-cream.
3. Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista
4. Eremo Le Celle
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,203 reviews
Reviewed By Borzov - Rijeka, Croatia
Hermitage of Le Celle, founded in the 13th century by Saint Francis and extended by his successor, Brother Elias, is a humble and simple monastery, built in a true spirit of the Franciscan order. The name “Celle” came from the small hermit houses built in the wholes of the mountain. It is a beautiful, calm and peaceful place, historical monument and a pleasant sight.
5. Foresta di Vallombrosa
6. Piazza del Duomo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 22,224 reviews
This large city square contains the Basilica of Santa Maria del Fiore, the third largest cathedral in the world after St. Peter's in Rome and St. Paul's in London.
Reviewed By andrewjA7047IT - Newark, United States
This was a simply breathtaking stop on our tour of northern Italy. I had seen pictures of the cathedral of Florence and knew a bit of the history, but nothing could have prepared me for seeing it in person. The structure is simply massive and incredibly ornate. The detail of marble on the outside is magnificent and the fresco on the grand dome on the inside is awe-inspiring. This is a must see!
7. Piazzale Michelangelo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 33,242 reviews
This 19th century piazza has undoubtedly the best panoramic view of Florence. The square is decorated with copies of Michelangelo's sculptures, but it's the view people come here to see.
Reviewed By 224lorie - Bonita Springs, United States
Many friends recommended that we get some food, a bottle of wine and go to the top of the Piazzale Michelangelo to watch the sunset and see the fantastic views of Florence as the sun sets and the lights of Florence go on. It did not disappoint. We walked there and found it to be a good walk but don't recommend walking it if you're not a walker. While it was very crowded, that did not take away from the experience. We are very happy we had this experience!
8. Historic Centre of the City of Pienza
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 683 reviews
Reviewed By 759elib - Sydney, Australia
This city is truly an exquisite showpiece that suffers over-popularity. Every fountain, piazza and painting is harmonious. Much of its symmetry lies in the cathedral square with a slightly listing Duomo adding to the charm.
9. Tempio di San Biagio
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 673 reviews
Reviewed By Toscoantico - Pisa, Italy
What I can say is that if you are visiting Val d'orcia and you know what you can expect, this church with its beauty, its Renaissance architecture, its harmony and its harmonious insertion into the landscape represents the Val d'Orcia at its best.
10. Cascate del Mulino
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5,183 reviews
Reviewed By Imaculate2006 - Northamptonshire, United Kingdom
This is one reason i want to go back to Italy every yeAr.It is just unbelievable and amazing how our earth was put in place for us to enjoy the beauty of every creation.Italy is such a a diverse and beAutiful country and very lucky to have spots like this one. My 5star rate is for the Cascate itself and not for the crowd and how the their system works there.Everywhere you look is just pure chaos.I get it that to go and experience this place is free but going to parking space is where every confusion starts.To all drivers please be aware that there is a traffic light before you can enter the parking area.The toilet and the shower area are in the same corner so ask what are you queueing for before getting in as you can’t use the shower without the token which you have to go in line again in the line where they order all the foods and drinks.Prepare €1 for this and for this amount ,the shower only last for 2-3minutes so just be careful you don’t put too much shampoo or conditioner on hair if you don’t have enough tokens and just be aware also that there is no changing rooms. And for the cascate itself, you will not enjoy this place much if you are very picky as there is no place to put your things as every space is occupied by visitors.The place is heaving and you have to ask one companion to look after your things before you go and have your soak. You can’t have a decent photograph of yourself as well so just photoshop everyone that’s blocking your pose????????. I think it is best to come very early in the morning or very late at night as it is open for 24hours. Anyway just go and block everything that is negative and be careful.Don’t forget your swimming shoes and don’t mind the wriggly worms,they are very friendly. Another off my bucketlist!
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