City: Tuscany
Top Things to do in Tuscany
Top Hotels in Tuscany
The 10 Best Lookouts in Tuscany, Italy
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. Punta del Capel Rosso
2. Piazza Tarlati
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
3. Villa di Papiano
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 6 reviews
4. Basilica San Miniato al Monte
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5,337 reviews
Situated on a hill (monte) outside Florence with unsurpassed views of the city, this structure is one of the finest examples of Tuscan Romanesque architecture, built between the 11th and 13th centuries.
Reviewed By DJ-TA-11 - Perth Hills, Australia
A beautiful quiet (off the beaten track) Basilica that is well worth a visit. We combined it with our sunset visit to Piazzale Michelangelo. Infact we had planned to stay at Michelangelo for the sunset however we decided to travel further to San Miniato after reading positive reviews on TA, we are so very glad we did. Before sunset we were able to visit the Basilica and spend a good amount of time listening to the monks chanting. At sunset we enjoyed some snacks from one of the park benches whilst watching the sun set on the Florence skyline. It was magical and one of our most memorable nights in Florence. As oppose to the hundreds of people at Piazzale Michelangelo, there was probably only about 40 people at San Miniato watching the sunset with us. It was so quiet and peaceful . Even a couple of the monks came out to sit near the stairs with the people.
5. Volpaia
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 392 reviews
Reviewed By valerie210 - Atlanta, United States
I will return here. This is the idyllic Tuscan setting. A charming hilltop town complete with chapel, winery, wine bar, and Michelin star restaurant. Super private and very quiet. If you’re looking for a relaxing spot to have great food and wine, come here! Our driver Antonio brought us here in between our wine tasting at Fontodi and dinner at Dario Cecchini’s Officina della Bistecca. We didn’t know what to expect and were thrilled when we pulled up to hill to this sweet town. We walked up and got an impromptu wine tasting from Francesco. We tasted just about everything in their line up, except the sparkling, which we happily took chilled with us to dinner. We just had awesome tastings at San Felice and Fontodi and Volpaia’s wines stood up to the excellent offerings at these nearby spots. This is a wonderful place to get introduced to Chianti Classico. Next time we are in Tuscany I will definitely look at staying here. It’s absolutely beautiful and has everything you need!
6. Rocca della Verruca
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 10 reviews
Reviewed By Brun066 - Florence, Italy
The "Rocca della Verruca" takes its name from the peak on which it rises, precisely the Verruca, in the Monti Pisani group; in turn this peak has been so named since the early Middle Ages because its shape resembles that of a skin wart ("verruca" in Italian). In addition to its shape, the peak on which the Rocca stands is typical for the rock which forms it (and which played a role in shaping its particular shape). This is a conglomerate or "pudding" (ie gravel incorporated and cemented in a different rock), dating back to the upper Trias (ca 230-200 million years ago). The rock is called "verrucano" from the name of this peak in which it is located, and designates similar rocks, even if very far from Monte Pisano and from Tuscany, and even if of different geological eras. The "verrucano" was also used in the building the Rocca: the square blocks used for this purpose are easily recognizable. As historians tell us, the dominant position of the Verruca peak was soon exploited to build fortifications: the first are attested in 780 AD. But the current fortress dates from the thirteenth century. It is currently abandoned and ruined, and not recently, but since the 16th century, when the annexation of Pisa to the Republic of Florence, then to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, rendered what had become a border fortress in an internal one to the new state, so useless. From this point of view, its decline can be assimilated to that of the even more famous Monteriggioni. La Rocca is one of the most popular destinations for outdoor activities affecting the Pisan Mountains: in particular trekking and MTB. The most common ways to reach the Rocca are the paths marked as "00" (from San Giovanni alla Vena) or "143" (from Calci, or, from the south side, Lugnano). Instead we wanted to experiment a less obvious way: we walked to it coming from the Buti side (east of the Massif: a map of all these paths is available on the web at the "mappadeimontipisani" page). To undertake this itinerary, it is necessary to cross the whole town of Buti uphill and continue on the only existing road, the provincial # 56 one, climbing up almost to the ridge, to the crossing called "Passo Prato Ceragiola" (where there is inter alia a restaurant, even closed these days). Here you must leave your car and follow the marked path "00" towards south. This path, which is also very popular with MTBs, is part of the one that crosses the entire Monti Pisani massif, from Ripafratta to San Giovanni alla Vena, and in the stretch we walked it winds for several Kms by slight slopes in the shady woods. We pass, one after the other, through the spots called "Passo Prato a Giovo" and "Prato all 'Acqua" until we reach the viewpoint called "Lombardona", recognizable by the sweeping views that almost suddenly you can enjoy from here Here begins on the right a steep descent (which will be climbed, alas, on the way back), also called the "Lombardona"; but before walking on it, the view sweeps over the ihuge spur of Mount Verruca, which stands isolated, and right in front of you, with the fortress on top. This view, even on its own, well deserves the not short excursion that you are making (over 15 km between and back). But of course at this viewpoint point you can see much more: the view sweeps towards the east on the Bientina marshes, on the Cerbaie low hills, and further afield the taller Montalbano ones, up to the ridge of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines in the background. Towards south, the gaze dominates the lower Arno Valley, beyond which the Pisan Hills rise (not to be confused with the Pisan Mountains where you are): it isn't difficult to see further away Volterra on its ridge. Towards west, as you proceed, Pisa is visible (the airport runways are also clearly recognizable), and beyond the city the coastal pine forest, then the sea. At the end of the steep descent of the # 00 path, at the flat area called "Prato a Ceccottino", different paths branch out: the # 00 continues downhill to the San Giovanni alla Vena hamlet, but you don't have to follow it. You must instead focus - obviously - on the Rocca della Verruca, which you now contemplate closely and from below. To the right side of your path, at the bottom of the valley, you can now clearly see the Certosa di Calci. From here the Rocca can be reached after a steep but not long climb. Of course, variations to the route are possible. Eg, if you have two cars, one can be parked in Calci or in San Giovanni alla Vena, so you don't have to go back uphill. Overall, this path will give you a particular taste to your vision of the Rocca, and will fully fill your day.
7. Cipressi di San Quirico d'Orcia
8. Lungarno Annamaria Luisa de' Medici
9. Lungarni di Pisa
10. Porta del Cielo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6 reviews
Reviewed By westy54 - Sydney, Australia
The Porta del Cielo is a tour inside the roof of the Duomo that allows you to look through openings high up in the walls of the Duomo and gain close-up views of the ceiling and wall decorations as well as the marble mosaic floor from an elevated height. You are also allowed to go briefly outside onto a walkway on the Duomo's roof that gives you views of the Torre del Mangia, Panorama dal Facciatone (also part of the Duomo) plus other parts of Siena. The tour is for small groups (there were about 15 to 20 in our group), is included in one of the combined tickets for the different Duomo sights and must be pre-booked for a specific time. The combined ticket that we purchased cost EUR 20-00 per person which, apart from the Porta del Cielo, also allowed entry to the Duomo, the Piccolomimi Library, the Musee dell'Opera, the Panorama dal Facciatone, the Crypt, the Bapistero and the Oratory of San Bernadino (which is a fair distance away from the Duomo complex but well worth a visit). The combined tickets are valid for one entry to each attraction over a three day period so we arrived at the ticket office early and booked a time that suited us to go up into the roof of the Duomo the following day. We were required to assemble 10 minutes before the time on your ticket at the stairway entrance to the roof which was on the right hand side just inside the main Duomo entrance. The ascent via the spiral staircase had just over 100 stairs. There were further stairs to climb once inside the roof but in total there were only 127 stairs both up and down as you descended via the same spiral staircase. The visit is guided for safety reasons but there was no commentary. Importantly at no stage do you go into the dome but you do effectively walk around the rectangular structure of the Cathedral and at a couple of points walk across narrow walkways high above the Cathedral's floor where you are clearly able to look down upon the proceedings below. I am not keen on heights but was not concerned at all by this. In the roof cavities there are also various displays of tools etc used in the construction of the Duomo as well as a board displaying all of the different types of marble that were used in its construction. Highly recommended if you have sufficient time.
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