If you have followed our travels for a while, you will know that we have absolutely everything about Italy! I had the chance to visit four times, and Dan twice! We spent three weeks there last year during our European summer,and during that time I fell in love with Tuscany! I first fell in love with Tuscany when I saw the film Under the Tuscan sun many years ago! On previous trips to Italy I had only visited Florence in this region and this time we took a few extra days to explore as much of beautiful Tuscany as possible and it is certainly a place where we plan to return and spend a few weeks whenever we have the opportunity! Many people also visit Tuscany on cruise ships when they dock in Livorno. From our past cruise experience, we recommend that you book your tour in Tuscany with local suppliers and not with the cruise ship in advance, as it will allow you to land the ship and travel on your tour of Livorno with local guides, which will also save you a lot of money! We share some of our favorite Tuscan villages to inspire you to live your own dreams under the Tuscan sun as you visit this incredible part of the world.
Girl Tuscany in Tuscany, San Gimignano in the background [spacer height=”10px”] undoubtedly one of the most beautiful regions of Italy and has an incredible history, beautiful landscapes, an abundance of art, the most beautiful villages, delicious food and great wines! There really is nothing better than going for a walk and admiring beautiful medieval Tuscan villages and stopping for wine, food or ice cream whenever we felt the need! Here are some of our favorites and some of the most beautiful villages in Tuscany…
SIENA
While Siena is probably considered a city rather than a village, it is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and charming cities in Italy. The historic center of Siena has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The heart of this charming medieval town is its central square known as Il Campo, famous all over the world for the famous Palio race, where horses and riders from every neighborhood of Siena race twice every summer for the square! In addition, Siena is famous for its cuisine, art, museums, universities, medieval urban landscape and its beautiful Tuscan surroundings.
SAN GIMIGNANO
San Gimignano is a small medieval walled town in Tuscany and was by far my favorite village in all of Tuscany! San Gimignano is known as the city of Beautiful towers, or, as our guide said, the “Manhattan of Italy” because of its medieval towers. The city is famous for its medieval architecture and the unique and unsurpassed preservation of a dozen of its towers! The towers, the city walls and the location on a hill create an unforgettable horizon and ensure that you will never forget your visit to San Gimignano! The city also has a gelateria, which has won the title of “the best gelato in the world” in an international competition, and we can tell you from personal experience that it was so good (oh, and the wine here, too)!
LUCCA
Beautiful Lucca is a Tuscan town on the river Serchio, at the foot of the Apuan Alps. Lucca is known for its well-preserved Renaissance walls around the historic city center, which are now a pedestrian area around the city. Most of the sights of Lucca today show its ancient history, including the traces of a Roman amphitheater and the various towers and villas dotted around. Unlike many Tuscan villages, it is not a mountain village and therefore it can be a good choice for anyone with mobility problems to visit!
MONTERIGGIONI
Monteriggioni is one of the most important medieval fortified castles in the region and dominates the surrounding countryside. It is incredibly preserved as an intact structure as if time had never passed. During the conflicts between Siena and Florence in the Middle Ages, the castle was built for defensive purposes as a guard for all the armies that approached Siena. He resisted many attacks of the Florentine and Volterra forces, but in 1554, in an act of reconciliation, the garrison of the city handed over the keys to the Medici, which was considered the greatest betrayal by the inhabitants of the city. Today you can walk the intact fortress wall and Walk between the 14 towers and two gates, one that faces Rome and the other that faces Florence.
VOLTERRA
Volterra is a charming fortified village on a mountain that dates back to before the 7th century BC and has structures dating back to the Etruscan, Roman and medieval eras. Volterra also attracts significantly fewer tourists than other villages and towns such as San Gimignano and Siena. One of the best views of San Gimignano and its iconic towers is actually Volterra! Volterra offers a rich selection of ruins, art and architecture from different historical periods, nice quiet streets and squares, and of course a wonderful Tuscan kitchen! Stroll through the ancient city walls and historic center before exploring the shops and perhaps buying a handmade alabaster souvenir that Volterra is famous for all over the world!