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Where Is Tuscany ?
... Tuscany is a large region of Central Italy, washed by the Tyrrhenian Sea to the west and made up of 6 provinces, which include the ones of Florence and Pisa.
Milan
3-Hour drive, North
Rome
3-Hour drive, South
What's So Special About It ?
Picture-perfect Italy
When you look at the classic Italian postcard, you normally see rolling hills topped by farmhouses, cypress trees lined up on the horizon, dirt roads under blue skies or even the sheep grazing in the grass. With most chances, it’s a photograph of Tuscany!
Wine Heaven
Tuscany houses some of the most sought-after Italian wines, like Chianti and Bolgheri – These are mostly produced in World Heritage Sites, awarded for their beautiful landscapes, so if you’re looking for true wine heaven, you have come to the right place!
REASONS TO VISIT
THE SWORD IN THE ROCK
The True Story Of Excalibur Is Hidden In The Heart Of Tuscany
Where To Find It
The Sword In The Rock can be found inside the “Eremo di Montesiepi” Chapel, just minutes away from the town of Monticiano, Siena.
Not so long ago, in an attempt to extract the Sword from the rock, a self-proclaimed “Heir of King Arthur” actually broke its handle, so the Artifact is now protected by a see-through dome to prevent random vandals or fanatics from further damage.
As you enter the Chapel, you’ll see the theca right before the Altar.
For the Drivers
You can get to the Chapel of Montesiepi from Siena, by following these directions:
- Get on the “Strada Provinciale 73 bis” toward Roccastrada and Monticiano
- Once you reach the small hamlet of Frosini, keep driving for another 5 Kilometers (5 minutes) and keep heading for Roccastrada and Monticiano, to you get to a turn on the right that indicates “San Galgano 2”.
- Take the turn and drive for another 2 kilometers to you get to another turn indicating again “San Galgano” – this is a road lined with cypress trees.
- Take the road and go straight on until you see the parking lots on the left and park your car.
- Walk to the Eremo di Montesiepi ( 5-minute walk)
PIAZZALE MICHELANGELO
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Arguably The Most Romantic Viewpoint On The Planet
FACT
Visitors to Piazzale Michelangelo gather before sunset and take a seat on the steps to enjoy the amazing view while sipping a drink, just like they would if they were at the cinema watching a blockbuster movie.
Beware
Parking at Piazzale Michelangelo is a good idea, but the pedestrian’s route to get to the site is much more rewarding, as it leads through the ancient walls of Florence and to the “Giardino delle Rose”, a gorgeous rose garden, free to visit.
Where is Piazzale Michelangelo located?
Piazzale Michelangelo is located in the Florence district of “Oltrarno” , minutes away from historical Gate “Porta San Miniato”.
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Things to see around Piazzale Michelangelo:
There are many attractions (lots of which are Gardens and Villas) that one can visit before soaking in the view from Piazzale Michelangelo.
Here’s a few :
Giardino dell’Iris
Giardino delle Rose
Giardino di Boboli
THE LEANING TOWER
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A Popular Bell Tower That Defies The Laws Of Physics Since 1173 AD
How to visit the monument:
For safety reasons, the Leaning Tower of Pisa can be visited by groups of 30 people at a time.
Each group is given half an hour to visit the tower and get back.
At any given time, there are 4 different crowds at the entrance.
Crowd A is the one in the tower (30 people).
Crowd B is the one waiting for its turn to visit the tower (30 people) During the wait, a guide provides insight to Crowd B on the history of the monument.
Crowd C is everyone in the square who’s waiting to “become” Crowd B
Crowd D is all of those who are just there to take a quick selfie because they either gave up or because they’re ok not to visit the inside of the tower at all.
If you visit during the main hours of the day, you will need to block out about 3/4 hours to visit the tower, since that’s when most visitors go.
Beware
There are 251 steps to climb to get to the top.
Since the steps aren’t level and it feels like going downhill while going up, the climb can either be fun or challenging, depending on each individual.The Leaning Tower is one of three monuments that make up the complex in Piazzale dei Miracoli.
The ticket for the tower will also give you entry to the others.
Travel hacks:
To avoid the crowds, either go early in the morning, or just before the gates close ( final round of the day).
Purchase a priority tour of the tower and that will allow you to visit the Tower when it’s closed to the general public.
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How to get to the Site:
The Leaning Tower is located in Piazzale dei Miracoli, minutes away from the Pisa historic center and around 20-30 minutes by foot from the Pisa train station.
On foot, from the Pisa-Centrale Train Station:
1) As you exit the station, walk north to
“Piazza Vittorio Emanuele” square
2) Leave the square behind you and keep walking north until you get to the river Arno.
3) Cross the river and keep walking north until you reach the next square, “Piazza dei Cavalieri.”
4) Walk north until you get to a large avenue called “Via Cardinale Pietro Maffi.”
5) From “Via Cardinale Pietro Maffi,” you can see “Piazza Dei Miracoli” and the Leaning Tower where the road finishes.
6) Walk to the site.
By Bus From The Airport
There is a shuttle that links the Pisa Airport to the Pisa Train Station and can drop you off near the Leaning Tower on the way to the city center.
By Taxi
If you’re traveling in a group, a TAXI RIDE to Piazzale Dei Miracoli from Pisa Center or Pisa Airport is also a cost-effective option, with rates being around 10 to 12 Euros a ride.
Parking at the Leaning Tower:
The chance of not finding a parking spot is very slim, as there are multiple (paid) parking lots just outside the site, across the street.
CRETE SENESI
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Quintessential Tuscan Landscape
FACT
Despite the Crete Senesi being (arguably) the most breathtaking landscape in Tuscany, it still remains “under the radar” and is overlooked by most visitors to the destination.
Beware
The Crete Senesi isn’t an attraction you can get to by any specific means and then visit on foot.
Rather, it is a region that should be thoroughly explored, whether by car, motorcycle, or bicycle.
It totally makes sense to spend at least a couple days in the region, since there are villages to be seen and scenic drives to enjoy. As a result, it could serve as a base for exploring Tuscany.
Where to find the Crete Senesi :
The Crete Senesi is a wide stretch of land south of Siena.
As a matter of fact, you are in the Crete Senesi the moment you leave the city and hit the road.
The Crete Senesi is the countryside of Siena, which borders with another famous Tuscan valley worth paying attention to, called the “Val D’Orcia”.
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Things to see around Crete Senesi:
There are many attractions, villages, and photo spots worth a visit in the Crete Senesi:
Here’s a few of those :
Buonconvento (Village)
The Oak of Buonconvento ( link here )
Murlo (with its unique museum of Etruscan life)
Asciano (Village > famous for “Travertino”)
Monte Oliveto Maggiore (visitable Abbey)
Chiusure (and its artichoke festival)
Ville di Corsano ( Lonely Cypress tree photo spot)
And here’s a couple of scenic drives:
1) Monteroni d’Arbia ➞ Ville di Corsano
2) Asciano ➞ Monte Oliveto
VITALETA
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A Tiny Little Church, In The Middle Of Nowhere
Beware
The little church of Vitaleta is not easy to spot from the main road unless you know where to look and from what route.
Keep these points in mind:
1) The church is inside a private estate
2) You cannot visit the inside of the church; in theory, you’re not allowed to enter the estate at all…. but everyone does it anyway…
3) You cannot reach the church by car; you must park the car on the dirt road leading to the property, then walk there.
4) The whole point of visiting Vitaleta, or “hunting” it, is to snap a picture, so, in theory, you do not really need to get into the estate at all in order to take a picture. In fact, the best snaps can be taken from a completely different location, easily reached by car.
5) It is still quite an experience to walk to the church on foot, since the countryside around it is really beautiful.
6) The field right in front of the church is what most wannabe and professional photographers aim for. – (You will instantly spot what the field is because the crops are normally beaten up on one end.)
Walking to the site:
To get to the Church, you want to drive toward “San Quirico D’Orcia” from the town of Pienza.
Along that road, you’ll eventually reach a crossroads with a dirt road on the left.
Here is the link to the crossroads
> Turn left and get onto the dirt road.
> Follow the track for 1.5 kilometers until you reach another crossroads with road signs saying “Cappella di Vitaleta”.
HINT
If you go there during the day, you should see other cars parked randomly at this crossroads (with most chances the cars belong to other fellow “Vitaleta” hunters).
Park your car somewhere, then walk along the dirt road to the right until you reach a metal gate.Walk around the gate on the “manmade” little footpath that looks like it’s dodging the gate, then walk to the church (it takes 5 minutes to get to Vitaleta from the gate).
The Lazy Traveler’s approach:
If you don’t feel like taking the time to hunt down Vitaleta, an easy option is to drive to a specific photo spot on the way to San Quirico D’Orcia. This is just a rest stop from which you can take the most idyllic picture of the little church in the middle of nowhere without any hassle whatsoever. Most likely, there will be other “Lazy Travelers” who, just like you, are happy to take a quick snap on the go.
From Tuscany With Love...
MADE IN MONTALCINO
No, this is not a famous poet, count, or saint…Brunello di Montalcino is a wine. Actually, it’s one of the finest red wines found in Tuscany! Find out why it’s called like a person, directly in the fortress of Montalcino.
MADE IN PIENZA
So, you made it to the fortress in Montalcino without stopping in Pienza? Oh well, you’re missing out on a key element of your wine tasting experience: Pecorino di Pienza! The all-time most amazing sheep cheese.
MADE IN VALDICHIANA
Garlic fanatics out there — You have found the Holy Grail! This is the one and only kind of garlic that doesn’t give you bad breath! And it’s 3 to 4 times as big! Welcome to Garlic Heaven, everyone! Welcome to Valdichiana!
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You spot them in the distance, you find them along driveways, and you want them in your photos. When you gaze at the classic Tuscan scenery, there you find them, leading the eye into the beauty. Who are they? It's the cypress trees, of course!
DID YOU KNOW ?
Walt Disney's Pinocchio was actually "born" and raised in Collodi, a pictoresque village in the province of Lucca, Tuscany.
There are lost theories and wild legends suggesting that after the great flood, Noah's Ark got stranded at the foot of Cortona, a famous Tuscan hill town.
The home of the Gladiator, as seen in Hollywood movie "The Gladiator," is located in Val D'Orcia, the beating heart of the Tuscan countryside.
READY —
TO PLAN ?
Dear Traveler,
If you made it to this this point it means you’ve been inspired enough by this amazing destination 🙂 and you’re now READY to start designing your Travel Itinerary !
In this last section you will find some basic insight and essential information to add to your “Travel Planner’s Rolodex”.
This includes useful tips on how to get there, best time to visit, where to base, as well as the main “Red Flags” as it relates to the logistics for visiting this Destination
We’ll wrap it up with the “Travel Hacker’s Plan” – a quick Guide for keeping things simple and hassle-free when it comes to making travel arrangements in Tuscany, Italy.
RED FLAGS
⚑ MAJOR CITIES
Major cities in Tuscany can easily distract the visitor from the true essence of the region. With a crowded old town that is kind of hard to reach amid a much bigger and more hectic, traffic-jammed suburb, if you skip the major cities altogether and focus on the smaller villages, you really can’t go wrong. But don’t forget to visit Florence!
⚑ PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Although trains and buses can take you to the most remote location in Tuscany, more often than not, you can get there three times faster by car. The only exception is the fast train “Frecciarossa”, which connects Florence to the rest of Italy in record time. But If you’re planning to explore the region thoroughly, getting a rental car is probably your best bet.
⚑ SIGHTSEEING
Not every corner of Tuscany is worth a visit, especially for a first-timer. The best of Tuscany could be condensed to just a few locations around Siena, such as the “Val dOrcia”, Crete Senesi, Chainti and Valdichiana. Outside this area, there are mainly mountains, woods, plains, and even coastlines. Not less beautiful, but perhaps a great reason to come back.
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TRAVEL HACKER’S PLAN
Knowing the essence of Tuscany is found outside of the cities, theTravel Hacker ⛱will look for a pretty village to stay in and explore the best of the region by car.
But it wouldn’t be just any village.
“That would be silly!” Thought the Travel Hacker…
The Travel Hacker would pick a village in one of the famous Tuscan valleys with access to the main train line.
“This way, I can quickly get to the old towns of Florence and Pisa, see the Leaning Tower, visit the Statue of David, and still make it home for dinner,” said the Travel Hacker.
Now, would you like us to personally help you put together a custom itinerary of Tuscany ?
