Thinking of visiting the beautiful Italian destination of
Tuscany? We've outlined 10 of top things you can do whilst spending
time in this beautiful region of Italy. With a trip to Tuscany,
it's guaranteed that there's something for everyone to
enjoy.
1. Visit Florence
You will probably want to come back for a weekend trip but
a trip to Tuscany without visiting Florence would be
disappointing.
Soak up a day of
architecture and fine art with a visit to Florence's Accademia
Gallery, home to Michelangelo's masterpiece, 'David.', visit the
Duomo, have a tour of the Uffizi Gallery and marvel at the Ponte
Vecchio and endless piazzas and monuments. An absolutely stunning
City.
2. Hit the beach
Tuscany may not be thought of as a beach destination but it
would be a real shame to visit the region and miss the coast. Tuscany offers
around 250 miles of coastline and a real blend of opportunities;
Viareggio, Forte dei Marmi and the other Versilia
resorts to the north around Pisa are more traditional
deckchair and lido Italian beaches apart from the Migliarino-San
Rossore nature reserve east of Pisa.
However if you
travel further south you will find a completely different picture.
The southern Tuscan coastal region of the Maremma offers a great blend of
uncrowded beaches, relatively unspoiled scenery and good places to
eat and drink. The island of Elba is beautiful with pretty ports,
quaint beaches and is full of history. Monte Argentario, a rocky
island offers similar coastal picture-perfect landscapes to those
found in Sardinia.
3. Visit a
vineyard
Some of Italy's
finest wines are produced in the well-known vineyards between Florence and Siena. This region is the
epitome of perfect wine country, boasting some of Italy's most
famous wines including Brunello di Montalcino, Chianti Classico and
Nobile di Montepulciano. Wine touring here is not about a
five-minute tasting but a full on experience - you will learn about
history and innovations behind the wine.
The chianti region is an
amazing place to visit a vineyard; undulating landscape,
picture-perfect hill-towns, a great climate and some serious wine
tasting. You can find half-day and full day tours or just
drive through the countryside and stop at a winery along the
way.
4. Discover the mediveal towns
You will be spoilt for choice in terms of medieval gems
but if you head to central Tuscany from Florence you will really
have a great opportunity to see some of the most beautiful hill
towns in the region. Marvel over the medieval castle of
Monteriggioni; explore the architectural wonders of
historic Siena, which is one of our
favourite towns in Tuscany and a must as well as a visit to the
striking hilltop town of San
Gimignano.
Other must-see locations are the gorgeous walled
City of Lucca and Cortona, the location of
the much-loved novel and film 'under the Tuscan
sun'.
RELATED ARTICLE:
'Everything you need to know about a holiday to Tuscany,
Italy'
5. Play golf
You may not think about golf when you think of Tuscany but it's a great region
for the sport and a perfect opportunity for a day away from
sightseeing or the pool. There are 30 golf clubs in Tuscany, which
demonstrate why Tuscany has emerged as a golf holiday destination
with considerable added value.
In terms of clubs you will be spoilt for choice, try Ugolino Golf
Club south of Florence, Punta Ala Golf Club in grosetto, Casentino
Golf Club in Arezzo, Montecatini Golf Club and Circolo Golf
L'Abbadia and Royal Golf La Bagnaia in Siena.
6. Try horse riding
You may be surprised to know that you can horse ride close
to most villas in Tuscany, especially in central and southern
Tuscany. There are a wide range of riding centres throughout
the region all of whom can provide mounts and guides for excursions
to suit all levels of ability. A day horse riding is a fun
activity for all the family - the beautiful unspoiled Chianti
region between Florence and Siena is the perfect
setting for rides through the lovely countryside of rolling,
forested hills, vineyards, picturesque villages and ancient
castles.
In the Maremma in the
south, which is often referred to as the wild west of Tuscany, you
can ride along Mediterranean paths, hills, rivers and even the
beach.
7. Go fishing
Fishing is a popular activity amongst the locals
in Tuscany and you will find
fishing shops in most towns. In the Arezzo area, you will find the
river Alto Tevere which is a great place to fish. The Serchio is
well-known for its fly fishing - this is located in the beautiful
Garfagnana area which is north of Lucca. You can even fish
further south - try Lago di Chiusi and Lago di Montepulciano in the
district of
Siena.
If fishing isn't your thing, then a lot of the restaurants
in these areas will offer a great selection of fresh fish on the
menu - buon apetitito!
8. Hit a trail on foot or bike
If you are looking for an active day away from the pool, Tuscany is well-known for its
hiking opportunities. The Alpi Apuane in northern Tuscany offer
beech and chestnut forests, great walking paths and stunning
scenery with hundreds of species of birds to spot. Gargagnana,
north of Lucca is perfect for hiking
with remote towns and villages and fantastic backdrops.
For an easy-to-moderate trek, the local un-surfaced roads in
central Tuscany offer a perfect day
of walking through vineyards and olive groves, along cypress-lined
roads and through oak, beech and chestnut forests with pretty
hamlets. Cycling in this area is also a joy!
9. Go to the spa or springs
Tuscany has some of the best spa towns in Italy - Bagno Vignioni
offers natural hot springs in a beautiful village setting with a
pretty piazza. If you travel north of Lucca, you will find the
beautiful spa town of Bagni di Lucca which runs along the banks of
the river Serchio and dotted around the hills are thermal springs
whose healing properties have been been known since Roman
times.
Italian spas offer a blend of therapeutic and medicinal treatments
- a massage with scented oils is a perfect treat during a holiday
in Italy and a visit to a spa town will give you a real insight
into an Italy of the past. Try the wilderness pool in Petriolo
south of Siena, Saturnia south of Grosetto and Montecatini Terme
spa town east of
Lucca.
10. Book a cookery class
You don't need to go on a cooking holiday these days as Tuscany is the perfect
region to get a day's course in. Expect to visit food markets
and peruse stalls with the region's freshest ingredients, including
cured meats, olives, cheeses, balsamic vinegar, sun-dried tomatoes
and other Tuscan delicacies. You normally will get the opportunity
to select the ingredients before heading to a rustic farmhouse for
the cooking class.
Under the guidance of an expert chef, most good courses will help
you to prepare a full Tuscan meal and discover some of the culinary
secrets behind famous Tuscan dishes. Most courses end with a group
meal where you get the opportunity to feast on your dishes with
wine in a fantastic rural location.
At Holiday Homes in Italy, we offer a wide range of apartments,
villas and farmhouses to rent in Tuscany. If you haven't already
found accomodation for your holiday to Tuscany, browse our great selection of villas
and apartments.
If you need any guidance finding your dream Italian villa,
contact us at info@holidayhomesinitaly.co.uk and
one of our Italy specialists will be more than happy to help!
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