From Monteverdi to Tuscany’s art cities, islands and most famous landscapes.
Ideas for a day out
A day of wine
- Morning: tasting at Tenuta di Canneto
- Lunch in a Suvereto osteria
- Afternoon: Mario Botta’s Petra winery
- Sunset on the Bolgheri cypress avenue
Sea and Etruscans
- Morning: San Cerbone necropolis at Baratti
- Up to Populonia Alta and its fortress
- Afternoon on the beach in the Gulf of Baratti
Hot springs and forest
- Morning: Sterza waterfalls from La Pompa
- Lunch in Sassetta
- Afternoon at La Cerreta hot springs, evening back in Monteverdi
The steam of Larderello
- Morning: Geothermics Museum in Larderello
- Fumarole trail at Monterotondo Marittimo
- Afternoon in Volterra and the Guarnacci Museum
Towns & villages
Volterra
An Etruscan and medieval hilltop town: walls, alabaster and the Guarnacci Museum.
Suvereto
One of Italy’s loveliest medieval villages, with osterias and wineries. The wild boar festival runs in late November.
Bolgheri · Castagneto Carducci
The cypress avenue, Bolgheri DOC wine bars and the poet Carducci’s village.
Massa Marittima
San Cerbone cathedral, the Cassero Senese and a 700 m tour of mining galleries (about 12 °C). Crossbow festival in May and August.
San Gimignano
Fourteen medieval towers (UNESCO), Piazza della Cisterna and Vernaccia wine.
Pisa
Piazza dei Miracoli with the Tower, Cathedral and Baptistery. Book the Tower climb in advance.
Lucca
A walled city with 4 km of ramparts to cycle, the Guinigi Tower and Puccini’s birthplace.
Firenze
The Duomo, the Uffizi, David at the Accademia, Ponte Vecchio. Allow at least two days and book tickets.
Pienza · Montepulciano
The ideal Renaissance town and its pecorino; Montepulciano’s Vino Nobile and cellars under the old town (ZTL — park outside).
Livorno
The Venezia Nuova canals, the Mercato delle Vettovaglie and cacciucco fish stew. Come back along the Castiglioncello coast.
Arezzo
Piazza Grande and Piero della Francesca’s frescoes. Antiques fair on the first Sunday of the month and the Saturday before.
Islands
Elba
An hour’s drive to Piombino, then the ferry. Napoleon’s villas, the Monte Capanne cableway (1,019 m), Sansone, Fetovaia and Cavoli beaches. Best as two days with a car; book in summer.
Capraia
The Archipelago’s only volcanic island: Cala Rossa, Forte San Giorgio and walking trails.
Isola del Giglio
Giglio Porto, the walled village of Giglio Castello and Campese beach.
Pianosa · Montecristo
Protected islands with regulated access: Pianosa, a former prison island, and Montecristo, only on park-authorised trips.
Unique places
Larderello · Valle del Diavolo
Fumaroles, steam and geothermal pipelines: the world’s first geothermal electricity was made here in 1904. Geothermics Museum.
Giardino dei Tarocchi
Niki de Saint Phalle’s monumental sculptures, up to 15 m tall. Open 1 April – 15 October, limited tickets.
Carrara marble quarries
4×4 tours into the Fantiscritti and Ravaccione quarries, and lardo di Colonnata.
Antro del Corchia
One of Europe’s largest karst systems: a guided visit of about 2 hours at 7 °C.
Museo Piaggio – Vespa
The story of the Vespa, Gilera and Moto Guzzi. Free entry with online booking.
Treno Natura
Heritage trains, sometimes steam-hauled, on special days mainly in spring and autumn.
Landscapes
Val d’Orcia
The UNESCO cypress landscape between Pienza, San Quirico d’Orcia and Montalcino, with the Vitaleta chapel.
Parco della Maremma
The Uccellina hills, wild coast, watchtowers and the butteri cowboys — on foot, by bike or on horseback.
Monte Amiata
An extinct volcano with beech and chestnut forests, mountain villages and snow in winter.
Orrido di Botri
A narrow limestone gorge walked through water and over rocks; trekking shoes and a conditions check needed.
Food producers
Specialità Mucci e Staccioli
Wild boar prosciutto, salumi and aged pecorino from the village’s family shop.
Caseificio Busti
A family dairy since 1955: Pecorino Toscano DOP tastings and a tour of the ageing caves.
Podere Il Casale
An organic farm since 1991: raw-milk cheeses and Fossino aged in a pit.
Tenuta di Spannocchia
Cinta Senese DOP pig farm with a tour and tasting of about an hour and a half.
La Maremmana
A buffalo dairy: mozzarella, burrata and ricotta, with family-friendly guided visits.
Antica Macelleria Falorni
A butcher since 1806, home of Finocchiona IGP, with tasting boards on site.
Skiing
Monte Amiata
A small ski area around the summit, with beginner slopes.
Abetone – Val di Luce
Tuscany’s largest ski area: about 50 km of pistes and 17 lifts up to 1,950 m.
Corno alle Scale
About 36 km of pistes in the regional park — Alberto Tomba’s home slopes.
Outlets & shopping
Opening hours and prices change with the season — always check before you go.