Sipping wine and enjoying bread pressed into smooth oils is just part of what one envisions when traveling to Tuscany, Italy. While relaxing with a glass of wine and fine bread selections that Tuscany offers sounds lovely, there is far more to do when you travel to this Italian region. Whether you’re looking for free things to do or something that costs a little extra, Tuscany has a wide range of options for the avid traveler.
Things to do in Tuscany, Italy
1. Visit Firenze, Tuscany’s Capital City
A trip to this breathtaking city is a must when in Tuscany. The city’s capital boasts much architecture and art from the Renaissance era. You’ll get a taste of the 13th through 16th Centuries while you stroll through Boboli Gardens in Firenze. Enjoy a climb to the top of the Duomo where get an excellent view of Uffizi Gallery.
In addition to these beautiful artistic structures and views, you can enjoy quaint shops and cobblestone streets with narrow alleys. Grab a bottle of wine and sit back to close out your visit in Firenze with a picturesque sunset ending.
2. Take a Cooking Class
While in Italy, dig a bit deeper into Tuscan cuisine with a tour and cooking class. This is a hands-on experience for all food lovers. The pricing varies but is well worth the investment.
You meet up with a guide and a group of other food loves in Tuscan, tour a local market and then partake in a cooking class. You get to select your own ingredients from the local market and learn how to make an Italian dish the right away. This experience is a once in a lifetime experience for all foodies. You will board a minibus to travel up to a rustic farmhouse atop a hill in a quaint setting for your cooking class.
3. Make a trip to the Sovestro in Poggio Winery
You must visit this farming estate that has fields full of grapes and olives. This estate is famous for creating wines such as the Tribolo and Chianti, as well as its own extra virgin olive oil called Bagatto. Many tourists who come to Tuscany, Italy enjoy this winery for its delicious food, perfect wine, and breathtaking views.
There is a reservation requirement, so perhaps you’ll add this winery to your itinerary and reserve your place to tour this farming estate during your trip to Tuscany. The price may be a bit steep for some, so be sure to budget in for this amazing winery experience.
4. Photograph the Leaning Tower of Pisa
What’s a trip to Tuscany, Italy without experiencing the Leaning Tower of Pisa? We all have learned about this at some point in the history books, but seeing it in person is a breathtaking experience.
This amazing tower defies logistics. Standing at 183 feet tall leaning about four degrees with a displacement of approximately 13 feet from the bottom, many wonder how this structure is so sound that tourists are able to safely walk up the 300 steps to the top of the tower.
Many tourists enjoy taking a photo from the ground, but if you’re feeling adventures, try to walk to the top for this once in a lifetime experience.
5. Visit an 11th-Century Village
The Castello di Volpaia is the perfect location to step back in time to the 11th Century. This winery is more than just a place to enjoy fine wine, but rather a place to experience a piece of history. It has taken the former churches, underground tunnels, and homes from the 11th Century and turned them into wine cellars, tasting bars, bottling plants and even an underground wineduct.
If you’re up for some exercise you can grab a hiking map and take a three-hour hike to enjoy the countryside at this beautiful Italian location.
6. Stroll around Medieval Manhattan
The beautiful hill town in Tuscany, San Gimignano, is known as medieval Manhattan. This town is characterized by its narrow streets and stone towers. You’ll surely feel as if you’ve stepped back into medieval times when you stop in this town.
Visit Piazza del Duomo, the home of the famous cathedral that is the symbol of Florence. Climb the climb the Torre Grossa to get a postcard view and photograph of the beautiful countryside the surrounds San Gimignano. There are many medieval towers to experience while visiting this location in Italy.
7. Marvel at the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta in Siena
Siena’s magnificent cathedral is a work of art from both the inside and outside view. This cathedral is from the works of Giovanni Pisano that are faced in patterns of red, white and green marble combined with decorative sculptures and Venetian mosaics above the doorways.
Showcasing Italian Gothic at its finest, it attracts many tourists who are visiting Tuscany, Italy. You will find famous artwork and sculptures as well as statues from famous artists and architects such as Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini, Donatello, and Pinturicchio.
8. Walk a 16th Century Wall in Lucca
The town of Lucca is certainly a wonderful experience to enjoy when in Tuscany, Italy. Lucca is nicknamed the city of 100 churches. Here you will find preserved and walkable 16th-century walls. The four-kilometer walkway overlooking the town is the perfect starting point. With 6 different gates to access the city center, you’ll truly feel as if you’ve stepped back in time at this location.
Be sure to check out the elliptical shape of Piazza Anfiteatro as well as the beautiful San Martino Cathedral located in the Lucca’s center and don’t forget about the Guinigi tower while in Lucca.
Where to stay in Tuscany
This post was brought to you in collaboration with Luxury Retreats International. If you're still looking for a place to stay in Tuscany, make sure to check out their collection of luxury homes in Italy to give yourself a blissful trip from start to finish. Think gorgeous villas, spacious living rooms, peaceful locations and pools that offer the perfect refreshment after a day of exploration.
Whether you're traveling as a couple, a family, or a group of friends, these villas have everything you need to make you feel at home.
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