Tuscany Travel Guide
Wine and art in the stunning scenery of Tuscany. In green Tuscany you can enjoy culture and art, the peace of the countryside and good food and wine. Located in central Italy, the province of Tuscany is one of Italy ’s most popular tourist areas, with tourist attractions of fascinating urban destinations and atmospheric countryside.
Tuscany has something for travelers of all kinds. Culture-hungry holidaymakers don’t get tired of art-infiltrating Florence, while food and drink enthusiasts enjoy the atmosphere of the wine regions.
Car holiday in stunning scenery
Stunning old villas and idyllic countryside are typical of Tuscany. Equally, tradition is represented by lively Florence with its museums, art galleries and luxury boutiques. The best thing about the area is that you can find varied landscapes and different experiences at short distances.
In addition to Florence, the most popular city destinations in Tuscany include Pisa and Siena. Other popular places to visit include the atmospheric towns of Arezzo and Lucca. Chianti, on the other hand, is one of the most famous wine regions in all of Italy and its lush landscapes and medieval castles make it definitely worth a visit.
Tuscany is a classic motoring destination – with its small villages and famous towns, there is plenty to see for all kinds of groups. Travelers in the area should not settle for just one destination, as the car window or the back of the bike offers great views as you move from place to place. Tuscany is also a great destination for a family holiday.
Plan your vacation in early summer or fall
The summer months are the peak of the tourist season in Tuscany, and especially during the holidays of Italians and other Europeans in August, the motorways may be clogged and hotels full. August is also the hottest month of the year, when temperatures can get awkward.
It is worth traveling to Tuscany in spring, early summer or autumn, when the temperatures are more pleasant and the number of tourists less. In winter, the area can be quite cold and many attractions have limited opening hours.
Florence is one of the most famous destinations in Tuscany.
Delicacy with food and wine
For many, the most important part of a trip to Tuscany is food and wine. Wine lovers will be pampered with red wines from the Chianti region, whose main grape variety is Sangiovese. Chianti is perfect for enjoying with many different delicacies.
Many Tuscan vineyards offer tasting tours to learn about the history and activities of the farms and to taste the wines they produce. Tours often have to be booked in advance and prices start at around twenty euros.
In addition to traditional Italian delicacies, the local cuisine has many specialties of its own. The pearls of Tuscan cuisine include, for example, bistecca alla Fiorentina, a thick steak made in the Florentine style, as well as ribollita and pappa al pomodoro soups. For sweet treats, you should try at least a castagnaccio cake made from chestnut flour.
FLIGHTS, ACCOMMODATION AND MOVEMENT IN TUSCANY
The Tuscany region is a great base for car holidays, with small towns and the countryside offering plenty to see.
By plane, train or car to Tuscany
Tuscany’s main airports are located in Florence and Pisa. There are no direct flights from Finland to Florence, but there are alternative connections via several European cities, such as Munich, Frankfurt and Paris. At its cheapest, you can get flights for just under 200 euros.
During the summer season, Pisa is served by Norwegian direct flights once a week. At its cheapest, direct flights are available for 150-200 euros. In other months, Pisa is most conveniently reached by a single change via Germany.
Tuscan destinations can be reached from all over Italy, such as Rome and Bologna, also by train or car. Renting a car makes sense especially if you plan to tour destinations around Tuscany.
Accommodation in Tuscany
The largest cities in the area offer both luxury and more modest accommodation such as hostels and well-known chain hotels. When driving in smaller villages, the accommodations are usually charming inns of the Pensione type.
A popular form of accommodation is a rented holiday home. Villa in Tuscany has already become a concept that many dream of. Renting a holiday home is especially suitable for families and large groups.
You can also try agritourism while touring the province. There are farms or villas in the countryside with a couple of rooms to rent. Accommodation and service are often excellent value for money.
Getting around in Tuscany
The best way to get around Tuscany is by car. With its small features and beautiful scenery, the area is like being created for a car trip – along the way you will see both bigger towns and small villages.
If you want to travel without a car in Tuscany, you should travel by train. Italy has a good rail network – trains are cheap, comfortable and usually on schedule. In Tuscany you can also go cycling. Slower travel means more time to admire the scenery.
ATTRACTIONS IN TUSCANY
The charming Siena is one of Tuscany’s fascinating city destinations.
The art treasures of Florence
Renaissance Florence is one of the most famous cities in Italy and the capital of the Tuscan region. Even an ordinary walk in the center of Florence may feel like moving in an open-air museum – the city is full of magnificent squares, cathedrals and landscapes. The Ponte Vecchio, the bridge over the Arno River that crosses Florence, is also one of the city’s landmarks.
Florence’s main museums include the Galleria dell’Accademia, home to Michelangelo’s famous sculpture of David, and the cradle of Renaissance art, the Gallerie degli Uffizi. A must-see is the Cathedral of Santa Maria dei Fiori, otherwise known only as the Duomo. The cathedral is known for its huge dome that rises above the rooftops of Florence.
If you are not interested in art and architecture, you can also dedicate a holiday in Florence to shopping and the Tuscan delicacies of the city’s numerous restaurants.
the leaning tower of Pisa
The city of Pisa is best known for its sloping tower, which is part of the holiday plan for most tourists. The unique building is located in the Roman-style square of Campo dei Miracoli, also known as Piazza del Duomo. In a half-hour tour, visitors get to ache from nearly 300 steps to the top of the tower.
The hometown of scientist Galileo Galilei, Pisa, is also a lively university town, with the bars and restaurants of the historic center filled in the evenings.
Charming Siena
Siena is a prime example of the picturesque Tuscan city. Small alleys, majestic squares and medieval towers form the center of Siena, but there are also rolling countryside nearby. Piazza del Campo’s handsome square is the city center, where you will also find the Palazzo Pubblico’s more than 300-meter bell tower.
In summer, Siena hosts two horse rides, known in the city as Palio di Siena or Il Palio . Riders ride horses without a saddle three times around Piazza del Campo and accidents are not always avoided. The Palio will be held on July 2 and August 16.
Chianti wine region
Chianti is Italy’s most famous wine-producing region, located between Siena and Florence. The rolling terrain of Chianti with its medieval castles and ancient villages is classic Tuscany – here many want to rent a holiday home.
The main part in Chianti is played by wine. Various wine tasting tours are a popular way to explore the area and its delicacies.
In the Chianti region, you can rent a bicycle and take leisurely excursions through the vineyards and the green hills of Tuscany. The day in Chianti of course ends with a delicious dinner with local wine.
THE BEST OF TUSCANY
In Tuscany, you should explore the region’s vineyards.
The best places to visit
- Discover Florence’s artistic and cultural heritage.
- Taste the wines in Chianti.
- Fall in love with Arezzo and Lucca.
- See the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
- Take a walk through the small alleys of Siena and experience the Palio horse rides.
