Things to do in Florence & Tuscany

In a single day, you can look Michelangelo’s David in the eyes, fall under the seductive sway of Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, and climb the modern world’s first dome, which still dominates the skyline. Of course, Florentine art goes beyond paintings and statues — enjoy the food, fashion, and street markets.

Take one of our wine tours in Florence or enjoy a food experience on a walking tour in Florence.

It is difficult to recount the city of Dante Alighieri in a few lines, but a stop in the cradle of Italian culture should definitely not be missed on your trip to Tuscany.

You’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to art, but Florence’s best-known museum by far is the Uffizi Gallery, near one of the city’s most famous squares, Piazza della Signoria. Here you will also find one of Florence’s iconic monuments, Palazzo Vecchio.

The symbol of the city is the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, with the Baptistery and Giotto’s Bell Tower. Here you will be able to admire many works by some of the people who have defined Western art, in addition to Giotto, of course, Brunelleschi, Ghiberti, Donatello but also many others.

Strolling along the banks of the Arno, then, you’ll come to Ponte Vecchio, the covered bridge famous for its goldsmith stores.

There are also parks in Florence, the best known being that of the Pitti Palace, the Boboli Gardens: a typical example of an Italian garden, it is full of grottos, fountains, statues and so on.

Siena is certainly among the most beautiful cities you will ever see in Tuscany and also one of the most important medieval cities in Italy. The Palio, the traditional horse race that has been a fundamental part of the city’s culture for several centuries, takes place here. Each year the contrade into which the city is divided compete in front of a huge audience.

The heart of Siena is Piazza del Campo, with its characteristic shell shape and bordered by some of the city’s most important medieval buildings. Palazzo Pubblico, for example, now home to the Museo Civico where you will find masterpieces by artists such as Lorenzetti and Simone Martini. Palazzo Sansedoni, the Loggia della Mercanzia and Fonte Gaia, the marble fountain created by Jacopo della Quercia, are some of the other monuments that have made this square unique.

A visit to Siena, however, would not be complete without its Duomo, an extraordinary work of architecture where Romanesque and Florentine Gothic meet. Some of the treasures this church holds are signed by artists such as Donatello, Pinturicchio, Pisano and Michelangelo. Also, famous is the polychrome marble floor, unique for the richness and complexity of its decoration.

Piazza del Campo, the Palio, Ambrogio Lorenzetti are the most common reasons to visit the city of Siena. In addition to these, you have dozens of reasons to visit, including, of course, its ancient culinary heritage.

Sienese cuisine offers typical Tuscan dishes (such as ribollita, arista, and fagioli all’uccelletto) enriched by conspicuous use of garlic and herbs such as tarragon and rosemary. But in addition there are uniquenesses, peculiarities specific to the area, to be discovered and tasted during one of our food tours Siena.

The Val d’Orcia is an authentic and genuine land, like the excellence to which it gives life. Among the hills dotted with cypress trees and farmhouses, it is possible to immerse oneself in a world of traditional flavors and recipes that speak of seasonality, passion, and respect for the land.

The landscape, with long expanses of rows of vines where the grapes ripen in summer, anticipates the experience of taste: it is here that red wines famous all over the planet are born, such as Brunello di Montalcino DOCG and DOC Orcia, the latter defined as “the most beautiful wine in the world.”

It is located almost on the border with Umbria, this valley where you can admire the hills, the meadows, the long rows of cypress trees and all those magnificent landscapes that have made Tuscany famous throughout the world.

The beauty of the Val d’Orcia often inspired Renaissance painters, and in 2004 this valley became a UNESCO heritage site precisely because of its spectacular nature and immense cultural heritage.

Castiglione d’Orcia, Pienza and San Quirico d’Orcia are just some of the wonderful villages found here. Not forgetting Montalcino, another beautiful village, known especially for being the home of one of the most famous wines in the world, Brunello di Montalcino.

Throughout the Val d’Orcia, in fact, you will be able to taste a plethora of delicacies, such as truffles, mushrooms, cured meats and a very high quality extra-virgin olive oil.

Staying in an ‘agriturismo’ — rural guesthouse — is a beautiful way to experience the heart of the Italian countryside, especially in Tuscany. And, of course, to combine it with a Montalcino walking tour, food tours in Tuscany, or self-guided walks in Italy.

Would you like a glass of wine? Wine in Italy flows almost more than water, but ordering a glass with all the different labels and varieties offered can be daunting. Look for DOC (Controlled Designation of Origin) or DOCG (Controlled and Guaranteed Designation of Origin) designations, which protect the quality of Italian wine. DOCG is the highest classification, so you will know you are tasting a premium product.

This region of hills, timeless little villages, and expanses of sunflowers lies between Florence and Siena.

In addition to its beauty, Chianti is also famous for its cuisine, for its cured meats, cheeses, and olive oil in particular, but even more famous are its wines. Right here lies one of Italy’s most beloved Wine Routes, created to promote the wine that bears the same name as the region.

Along the two main arteries that cross Chianti, the Via Chiantigiana and the Via Cassia, you will have the opportunity to visit many castles, such as that of Volpaia or Meleto, or tiny villages of medieval origin, such as Montefioraia, Vertine, Fioralle and many others.

Chianti is also crisscrossed by a section of the Via Francigena, the ancient pilgrims’ road, now a popular route for cyclists and trekkers.

Wine tasting Chianti is a must-do when you are in the area. Join one of our wine tours in Chianti to explore the best the area could offer.

Red wine of Chianti is easily recognizable by the Black Rooster on the bottle. Its connection with the territory has a very ancient origin: a Black Rooster on a gold background was in fact chosen as the emblem of the Lega del Chianti, a politico-military created by the Republic of Florence to control the Chianti territory in the late 1300s.

The choice is yours: travel on foot or by bicycle? You can follow in the footsteps of Sigerico on the Via Francigena or find yourself riding other trails that will take you to historic places and breathtaking landscapes.

The Via Francigena is an ancient pilgrimage route from Canterbury to Rome via Tuscany. There are 15 Tuscan sections covering a total of 220 miles, starting from the northern end of the region at the Cisa Pass and heading south through some of Tuscany’s most iconic places. Lucca, San Gimignano, Siena, Monteriggioni and the rolling hills that characterize much of this beautiful region are all landmarks along the route.

Trails vary from mule tracks to quiet lanes to narrow forest paths, but all are well marked and suitable for hikers, cyclists and horseback riders. Overnight stays are often fabulous, in small towns with wonderful views and even better food. This is a route that dates back to the Middle Ages, but still has much to recommend it today, including fantastic views!

There are potentially dozens of places to base yourself for hiking in Tuscany, but to narrow it down, consider where you plan to do most of your hiking. If you plan to focus your trekking on the Apuan Alps or the northern Apennines, then Castelnuovo di Garfagnana or Barga would be good bases. For the Renaissance Ring or the Path of the Gods, Florence is the obvious starting or finishing point.

The many walks in the Casentino Forest National Park are easily reached from the historic city of Arezzo, while sections of the Via Francigena can be reached from the medieval towns of San Gimignano, Siena, or Lucca.

For walks in the Chianti region, base yourself in one of the four main towns in the area-Greve, Gaiole, Radda, or Castellina.

Trekking in Tuscany is an unforgettable experience!