About Tuscany | PlanningaTour.com

Charming Itineraries around Tuscany

Tuscany is certainly one of the most beautiful regions in Italy. There are many things to see and lots to do across the region, from visiting hilltop villages to the seaside, from the mountains to the beauty lanscapes of the Valdorcia. For this reason we’re suggesting an itinerary for what to see and do in Tuscany if you have 7 days, recommending the cities, towns and activities that you cannot miss during your holiday in Tuscany.

These are of course just general recommendations in order to help you plan your next vacation in Tuscany. Driving is definitely the best transportation to use to move around Tuscany, but it’s not the only one.

Florence Day 1 & 2

Florence has so many things to offer.

There are must museums and monuments that cannot be missed such as the Uffizi Gallery, Piazza della Signoria with Palazzo Vecchio, Ponte Vecchio (famous Old Bridge) and Piazza Duomo with the Cathedral, the Baptistery and Giotto’s Bell Tower.

If you are going to stay 2 days in Florence we have more detailed suggestions.

Pisa and Lucca Day 3

Pisa is certainly renowned for the famous Piazza dei Miracoli, home to the Leaning Tower and the large Duomo, baptistery and Camposanto.

Lucca is a small Venice without water, enclosed within its huge Renaissance walls which are fun to do on bike. The historical city center deserves a visit, inclusing its peculiar shaped oval-shaped Piazza dell’Anfiteatro.

Chianti and San Gimignano Day 4

In Chianti, visit Greve in Chianti and its particularly shaped square, Panzano and its ancient center, Castellina in Chianti and its scenic walls, Gaiole and its massive castle, Radda and its ancient walls. We have a more detailed itinerary in Chianti if you want more ideas.

Furthermore there are many wineries and farms that produce good Chianti wine. Known and esteemed worldwide, Chianti’s intense color and pronounces taste can be enjoyed at many small estates that do not export their excellent wines outside of Italy. Most wineries offer local products and wine tastings. They often organize tours of their wine cellar to let you discover the secrets of this ancient Tuscan tradition.

Siena and Monteriggioni Day 5

Siena is definitely another medieval city in Tuscany that deserves to be visited. The city center is gathered within the ancient walls and holds many beautiful monuments and museums. First of all the Piazza del Campo, famous for its particular shell-shape and for the Palio of Siena. The Palazzo Comunale and Torre del Mangia overlook the square.

The Duomo stands majestically, a precious example of Romanesque-Gothic style in Italy with its commesso’s marble floor, the Baptistery and the Church of San Domenico. View our itinerary for a day in Siena for more information.

Val D’Orcia and wine tastings Day 6

Val D’Orcia, or Valdorcia, is another famous region in Tuscany for its stunning landscapes and good wine.

Gentle hills, spotted by dark cypresses or yellow sunflowers, make this region the perfect postcard to send back to your friends and families. It offers plenty of cities and villages that merit a visit, starting from Montepulciano, Montalcino, Pienza, San Quirico D’Orcia as well as the small towns of Bagno Vignone, Buonconvento and Radicofani.

Cortona and Arezzo Day 7

The city of Cortona become very popular after the book and then film “Under the Tuscan Sun” came out. It is a small town whose origins go way back to the Etruscans. The center is built around the main square of Piazza della Repubblica, over which Palazzo Comunale looks over.

Here you should visit the Diocesan Museum (Museo Diocesano), that displays a beautiful Annunciation of Cortona by Beato Angelico, and MEAC (Museum of Etruscan Academy of Cortona) that holds important Etruscan and Roman findings.

Don’t miss the Basilica of Saint Francis with the stunning frescoes depicting the Legend of the True Cross by Piero della Francesca, the Church of San Domenico displaying the wooden Crucifix by Cimabue, the magnificent Loggias by Vasari in Piazza Grande and the Archaeological Museum Clinio Mecenate.

Tuscany of course is much more than this. These are just a few suggestions and ideas to get you started on planning your first visit to Tuscany.

How to move around Tuscany

Tuscany is a medium-sized region which can be crossed in a few hours. Generally the hardest part in getting from one place to the next depends on where you are headed: smaller villages are often only reachable by car or bus whose schedules might not be the most convenient. Aside from a few major roads and roadways that cross Tuscany (such as the A1, A11 and A12), most of the roads are state or provincial with a single lane in each direction. Also, as many parts of Tuscany have hills, many roads wind up, down and around these hills: if you’re driving, prepare to take your time and drive carefully.

Having said this, if you are planning on visiting only the main towns in Tuscany, the most convenient way to move around is with the train: the main station in each town is generally in the center so there is no need to worry about parking before finding the major sights. Train travel is also pretty affordable, in comparison to the costs of rental cars and gasoline these days.

If you already know you won’t be driving but would like to visit the smaller villages not reachable by train, make sure to check out bus schedules ahead of time. For example, San Gimignano is a medieval village which we highly recommend visiting, but be aware that if you’re not driving, you can get there only by taking the train to Poggibonsi and then a bus the rest of the way (about 13 km, or 20 minutes, away).

Gothic Cathedral in Siena

The Duomo in Siena lies in a piazza above the Piazza del Campo, a great Gothic building filled with treasures by Pisano, Donatello and Michelangelo as well as frescoes by Pinturicchio. The pavement is made up of 56 etched and inlaid marble panels designed by 40 of Siena’s leading artists between 1369 and 1547. Today, the mosaic panels in the nave and aisles are usually uncovered, but the most precious ones under the apse and in the transepts are protected by cardboard flooring and only uncovered in honor of the Palio (when admission to the cathedral is charged). The only floor panel usually visible in the Duomo’s center, in the left transept, is Matteo di Giovanni’s fantastic 1481 Massacre of the Innocents (a theme with which the painter was obsessed, leaving us disturbing paintings of it in the Palazzo Pubblico and Santa Maria dei Servi).

Opening hours for the Cathedral, including the Piccolomini Library

March 1 to May 31: Weekdays including Saturday: 10:30 am. – 7:30 p.m. Sundays and holidays: 1:30 – 5:30 p.m.
June 1 to August 31: Weekdays including Saturday: 10:30 am. – 8:00 p.m. Sundays and holidays: 1:30 – 6:00 p.m.
September 1 to November 1: Weekdays including Saturday: 10:30 am. – 7:30 p.m.; Sundays and holidays. 1:30 – 5:30 p.m.
November 2 to February 28: Weekdays and Saturdays: 10:30 am. – 6:30 p.m.; Sundays and holidays: 1:30 – 5:30 p.m

Keep in mind that there are special opening hours on holy days.

Florence all lit up for the celebration of Italy’ s 150 years of unification

Florence all lit up for the celebration of Italy’s 150 years of unification! Here you can see Palazzo Vecchio all lit up in green, white and red!

The tower had the Italian flag down its side, there were flags everywhere, lots of people in the square and music to accompany the festive air. Happy 150 years, Italy!

Rent a Villa in Tuscany – A Testimonial from a Sock Dog

My name is Otis the Sock Dog. I recommend to you Villa al Boschglia. I can tell you from personal experience why you should rent this spectacular villa. I was warmly welcomed with my family while staying at Villa al Boschiglia. It is a spectacular villa in the heart of Tuscany. Here you can live out your dream of life in a luxury villa. I am pleased to say that cats are not allowed in the villa, just sock dogs.

Why rent in Tuscany? Tuscany epitomizes the birth of the Renaissance. The region’s most prized art and historical relics reside in the larger cities, while hilltop medieval towns offer their own history. Tuscany offers breathtaking views of the undulating countryside with its rustic vineyards and olive groves and the majestic Appiennes Mountains. The blend of delicious foods and beautiful wine is classic Tuscany. Whether you come in search of pure relaxation and rural charm or an experience packed with local culture and tradition – you will fall in love with Tuscany! Why rent Villa al Boschiglia? Besides having me to answer any questions at otis.sockdog@gmail.com, here are just 12 of the reasons to rent this villa in Tuscany!

Why rent in Tuscany? Besides having me to answer your questions at otis.sockdog@gmail.com, here is the 1st of 12 reasons to rent Villa al Boschiglia!

1 – Location, Location, Location!

In a beautiful corner of Tuscany, near the medieval town of Lucca, the magnificent Villa al Boschiglia is for rent. Villa al Boschiglia rental was built in Tuscany in the middle of the 17th century. This central location allows you to explore the numerous well-known sites of Tuscany such as Carrara, Chianti, Florence, Lucca, Pisa, and Siena. It is also the ideal location from which to visit the lesser known, but worthy of exploration, places such as Fiesole, Montecatini Alto, Pistoia, San Gimignano, San Miniato, Vinci, Vicopisano, and Volterra.