A trip to Tuscany. When you hear the word Tuscany, you probably imagine green hills, vineyards and long winding roads. Now, having visited Tuscany for the first time in my life, I can say that the picture you imagine in your head is exactly like in reality!
The province of Tuscany is considered one of the most beautiful and most visited in Italy, and rightfully so. This is an area of stunning beauty, which combines a vacation of picturesque ancient villages, some of the best cuisine that Italy has to offer, hiking trails in nature, cycling, a wine culture, spectacular views and a romantic atmosphere.
A trip to Tuscany that starts in Rome
How do you get to Tuscany? Where should I rent a car? You can read the information in the article about things you should know before coming to Tuscany
For those coming from Rome for the purpose of a trip to Tuscany by car, there are several ways to get to Tuscany. We drove along the road closest to the sea for two hours until we arrived at an ancient and special town called Civita Di” Bagnoregio”. This will be our first stop on our trip to Tuscany.
Civita Di Bagnoregio - a unique town
The town of Civita is very old, it was founded about 2,500 years ago by the Etruscans and is a recommended destination for those who want to make a trip to Tuscany. This town is located on top of a hill, and to reach it you will have to cross a narrow pedestrian bridge. there is no entrance into the town with a car. CiVita is known by a not-so-sexy name, “the dying town”, due to the constant erosion of the tuff rocks on which the town stands.
Where do you park the car? At the entrance to the village on the right there is paid parking, you pay at the machine according to the number of hours you will spend in the town. Don’t forget to leave the note that comes out of the machine near the car window, so that if an inspector passes by, he will be able to see that you have paid.
In the winter months, when traveling in Tuscany, an hour’s walk around the town will definitely be satisfying because all the shops, cafes and restaurants are closed. So what remains is to be impressed by the beautiful view from it and the picturesque alleys.
Entrance into the town costs 5 euros per person.
Our first day on a trip to Tuscany
On our first day in Tuscany we visited a sweet little town that not many people know called Santa Fiora. This town is a two and a half hour drive from Rome airport.
Santa Fiora is a medieval town located at the foot of Monte Amiata and is a recommended destination if you come to make a trip in Tuscany. In the town of Santa Fiora, music is a central element, and every summer an international music festival is held there. The town supplies water to all the towns in the area, so you will find quite a few taps from which you can drink.
Where do you travel in Santa Fiore and what do you eat? Because after all, it’s a trip to Italy…
Santa Fiora is definitely a place where you can spend half a day at ease. Stroll through the cute alleys, visit the artificial lake, sit in cafes and eat in a good restaurants.
We started our morning with a takeaway of excellent coffee and an amazing pistachio croissant from a cafe called Al Ponte.
After stocking up on some goodies to start the day with, we arrived at La Peschiera. A gem of Santa Fiora. This is a water reservoir created in the Middle Ages for trout farming. It has since become a park with beautiful trees and picnic seating around the water. A magical corner of nature in the heart of the town.
The recommended restaurants in Santa Fiora
One restaurant is called American Bar Movida. they make one of the tastiest pizzas in the area. So of course we ordered a pizza with artichokes, a salad of greens with cherry and tomatoes, and gnocchi with vegetables. The pizza in the restaurant was undoubtedly the highlight. A perfect opening for a first evening in Italy.
The second restaurant is called Il Barilotto – an excellent and authentic restaurant where you will probably find the tastiest ravioli you’ve ever eaten. As an appetizer, it is recommended to order a plate of Picorino cheese, on which they sprinkle honey with freshly squeezed lemon.
The combination between the sour, sweet and salty is simply amazing. For an intermediate course (which for me is the main course), it is recommended to order the ravioli tasting course. This is a plate that comes with 8 ravioli, each of which comes in a different shape, filling and sauce, and each of them is delicious. If I have to choose the one that I had the most special, I choose ravioli filled with chestnut cream. It turns out that it is also the typical ravioli of this region of Tuscany. For dessert, you will be offered ricotta with chestnut cream. If possible, why not? I’m in favor of incorporating chestnuts where possible, and as much as possible 🙂 to the restaurant website
A trip to Tuscany: a winery in Tuscany that you must know
It is impossible to talk about a trip to Tuscany without mentioning the word winery. Tuscany is full of wineries that are an integral part of the Tuscan landscape, and a trip to its provinces must include a visit to at least one winery.
Get to know one of the most beautiful wineries in Tuscany – Banfi Winery.
Castello Banfi is actually a family-owned vineyard and winery estate, located in the Brunello region of Tuscany. The estate is award-winning and recognized as a pioneer in raising the standards of Italian wine production.
The winery is located between Siena and the Tuscan coast. It is located next to an ancient medieval mansion, which later became a luxury hotel from the Relais & Châteaux chain.
The property has gone through several incarnations of ownership, with the last transfer occurring in 1983, when the fortress was in a dilapidated state due to damage sustained during World War II. The Mariani family, the owners of the fortress, immediately began its restoration. The estate encompasses 7100 dunams of land. The winery produces wines from international grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc and also wines from Italian grapes such as Sangiovese, Vermentino and Dolcetto. Most wines are aged in oak – from several months to two years. So if you are on a trip to Tuscany, you should try it.
The perfect hotel to stay in Tuscany
Besides wine, this beautiful estate also has a room where the local balsamic is made.
You can schedule tours of the winery during a trip to Tuscany, come to the tasting and get an impression of this truly beautiful place. For more details, go to the website of Banfi Winery .
If you decide that you want to be pampered to the fullest during a trip to Tuscany, starting at the end of March, you can stay and sleep in the magnificent mansion and enjoy a luxurious accommodation package with a luxury restaurant, an amazing pool and a breathtaking view.
A Tuscan Villa you must know
25 minutes drive from Banfi winery, there is a new beautiful Villa from the nylons. One of the owners of the Villa is the owner of the Schumacher Hotel in Haifa. The place opened in July 2023, and is undoubtedly the place you want to spend time during a vacation that also includes a trip to Tuscany! The Villa includes 7 suites of different sizes, a huge hospitality space with a view of the Tuscan forest, a fully equipped kitchen, an innovative music system, a large outdoor pool with surrounding sunbathing areas, a gym, a sauna and a beautiful corner facing the view. The estate is suitable for those who rent the entire complex. For families, couples and companies who want to come to Tuscany for a week and enjoy an exclusive vacation that includes activities such as cooking workshops, cycling, sailing, visiting wineries, nature trips and more.
Did you come through our website? You can enjoy a 5% discount on your vacation in the villa!
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A trip to Tuscany: Grosseto
Grosseto is a charming town with a beautiful square, beautiful narrow alleys, shops, restaurants and cafes. In December there is a small and sweet Christmas market in the center of the town with several stalls offering cheeses and local products.
So if you are taking a trip to Tuscany, where do you sleep in Grosseto?
Several recommended apartments in the city center –
Zeroventiquattro Union Apartment
Beautiful agriturismo 10 minutes drive from Grosseto – Tenuta di Poggio Cavallo
Where do you eat in the area?
A 20-minute drive from Grosseto will lead you towards Oeteria Bar La Rimessa. This is an amazing place that serves authentic Italian food. The owner of the place is an Israeli who is married to a Brazilian. They both got to know Italy through work, fell in love with the country (it’s not hard to understand why) and decided to live in Italy and open a restaurant together. The restaurant serves pastas, meats and fish. All the dishes served there are big and delicious. It is recommended to take several dishes to the center of the table and share. Don’t forget to start the meal with a platter of cheeses and sausages\ and of course taste at least one of the pasta dishes. For an opinion on the restaurant.
In desserts, you can taste a local dessert called Cantucci, served alongside Vin Santo, which is a local wine. It is said that it was the dessert of the pilgrims who would walk for long hours. What is cantucci? It’s basically a biscotti with nuts that you dip into the wine, it absorbs the flavor, softens and that’s how you eat it at the end of every meal. Salute! This is an excellent idea to enjoy during a trip to Tuscany.
A new winery in Tuscany - for fans of modern design
If you are a wine lover and are curious to see some types of wineries while making a trip to Tuscany, know that a 25 minute drive from Gorsseto is a new and modern winery called Rocca Di Frassinello. The winery was designed by one of Italy’s most famous architects, Renzo Piano. What is special about it is the amazing space where the wine barrels are located, and it is one of the most impressive spaces I have seen without a doubt. Since it is impressive, they also hold performances there. When you enter the hall, you will understand the sound you can get out of it… In the winery you can enjoy a tour, wine tasting and a beautiful view of the surrounding mountains.
A trip to Tuscany: the most famous hot springs
When you Google the word hot springs in Italy, the hot springs of Saturnia will be the first to pop up. So it’s time to introduce you to the most famous hot springs in Italy.
Saturnia are spectacular natural hot springs that have existed for about 3,000 years. Saturnia is undoubtedly considered the highlight of southern Tuscany and is a recommended destination when making a trip to Tuscany. The springs are at a temperature of 37 degrees, and are famous for their healing ability. It is said that every second about 800 liters of water flow into Saturnia from the slopes of Monte Amiata, which is about 30 km away. The most sought- in the springs is Cascate Del Mulino, which is actually a natural waterfall located next to the restored mill.
A few things you should know before your visit to Saturnia:
- The water is pleasant, it doesn’t boil, so don’t expect to enter a hot jacuzzi
- Stornia is one of the famous places in Tuscany, so it is recommended to arrive early in the morning if you plan to be alone
- There are tiny red worms in the water and this may spoil the stay in the water. It is important to note that these are harmless worms and are part of nature, do not panic if they come upon you
- Don’t forget to bring a towel and a change of clothes, because then there is a 5-minute walk to the car
Parking: park at Cascate Del Mulino to get closest to the springs. You will see a large parking lot with payment machines. The parking is located about 5 minutes walk from the springs.
The good thing is that even if there are a lot of people, there are many pools in the place so there is no need to crowd.
I recommend coming on a sunny day, when the sun is caressing and pleasant, that way you will also get more beautiful photos and you can also bask in the sun in the water.
If you decide that you want to spend your night right next to the springs, you can sleep in a pampering spa hotel called – Terme di Saturnia Natural Spa
Pitigliano - the little Tuscan Jerusalem
Pitigliano is a beautiful town in the province of Grosseto. The town is built on the side of the mountain, and its view from the other side of the road is breathtaking, especially at dusk, when the sky turns pink, the moon shines over the village and the warm lights slowly start to turn on. It’s a sight you only see in fairy tales, or only when traveling in Tuscany. Also, the town of Patiliano has an interesting Jewish history, and because of that her name is Little Jerusalem.
So what is the story of the Jews in Pitigliano?
The first Jew to settle in the town was a doctor named David. He was forced to emigrate from the Papal State due to the laws enacted against the Jews by the Pope.
In 1555 the fourth count invited David to be his private physician in exchange for permission to practice medicine in the towns of Pitigliano, Sovana and Sorano.
In 1559, the number of Jews living in Pitigliano increased significantly to the point that in 1598 a synagogue was built in the town. With the beginning of World War II, the Jews began to be deported and executed. Some of the residents of Pitigliano hid the Jews in cellars and caves, thereby saving them from entering concentration camps.
Around the year 1854 Pitigliano received the nickname “Little Jerusalem”. It became the main town for all the Jews who lived in the area.
Today there is one Jewish woman living in Pitigliano and she is 92 years old. Her name is Elena Serbi.
What do you do in this beautiful town?
When you arrive in the town, don’t miss the Ghetto street. It is a charming street with an ancient synagogue that you can visit, and next to it there is a shop that sells kosher products such as matzoh, and cookies called “Sfratto”, which the Jews who lived here in the past used to make, and there is also an interesting story about them.
The meaning of the word Sfratto is “expulsion” in Italian. In 1622 the Duke of Tuscany ordered all the Jews to concentrate in one small place – the ghetto. He did this by sending people on his behalf to beat the doors of the Jewish houses with sticks in order to force them into the new ghetto. Following this incident, the Jews who lived in Pitigliano prepared a dessert in the form of a stick for sweet revenge on the Gentiles. The dessert is Sperto, a dough filled with nuts, honey, orange zest and nutmeg. Today you can buy it in a store that sells kosher products.
The tour of Pitigliano is fascinating, and not only because of the story of the Jewish people, which definitely adds an exciting history to the place. The town is beautiful, the alleys are cute and the view is breathtaking. So it is definitely recommended to visit it during a trip to Tuscany.
Where to eat in Pitigliano?
An excellent trattoria called Fuoriporta Osteria. This is a trattoria that serves authentic Italian food and a limited menu with dishes that look wonderful. Don’t miss the ravioli dish filled with ricotta and spinach in a butter and sage sauce. This is an excellent dish.
A trattoria with a beautiful view over the whole town called Osteria Il Grottino. Serves homemade Italian food.
A sweet cafe in the center of the town next to the fountain – Caffè Degli Archi. It’s fun to sit there on a Sunny day, with an excellent cappuccino!
If you want to taste tasty and crunchy Sfogliatella, there is a patisserie without a name, on Ghetto Street, to the left of the kosher store. Go in there and choose something delicious from the display case.
Where to stay in Pitigliano during a trip to Tuscany?
In Pitigliano itself there are several cute accommodations, 5 minutes drive from the city center in a sweet agriturismo called Agriturismo La Collina . The room was small and compact, but clean and cozy and absolutely enough to put your head in.
Other recommended places to stay in Pitigliano –
Cittadella 13 Romantic House – a large apartment of 80 square meters in the center of the town
La Sorpresa Monolocale Con – a rustic and pleasant apartment in the center of Pitigliano
When you finish your visit to Pitigliano you can visit the nearby town called “Sovana”. A town with a cute little center, with several shops and restaurants. It is enough to visit the town for half an hour to add a little something more to that trip in Tuscany that you are planning.
A trip to Tuscany: hot springs that only the locals know about
Get to know the most amazing hot springs in Tuscany, which only the locals know – in Bagni san Filippo.
These are natural hot springs bubbling directly from the ground inside the forest. How do you get to them? Park the car on the road, pay at the machine according to the number of hours you plan to be there, and walk down a neat path into the forest. There is easy access with a neat path that runs along the waterfall. Be careful not to slip, as the floor is wet!
So if you are making a trip to Tuscany, know that this place is simply amazing. It is full of pools in various shades of blue, light blue and white, with steam coming out of them. Each pool has a different temperature. The upper pools are the hottest. When you go down, along the path, you will see a waterfall that looks like a white frozen waterfall. It is actually a massive formation of calcium that created this appearance. The combination of the hot springs with the cool river water are what create the spectacular blue and white water color.
Bagni san Filippo - where to stay in the area?
The water in the springs of San Felipe reaches a temperature of 48 degrees! Locals and tourists alike have created new pools directly below the waterfall by connecting stones, branches and leaves. The sediment quickly sticks over these artificial walls and forms new pools that collect the warm water. At the bottom of these pools, you will find a rich deposit of thermal mud excellent for face and body masks, so sit back, cover yourself in mud and enjoy the natural beauty treatment! Remember that the springs smell of sulfur, so it is advisable that you continue from there immediately to shower in the hotel.
There is also a pampering spa hotel 20 minutes away from the springs – Adler Spa Resort Thermae – a resort that offers over 1,000 square meters of outdoor and indoor swimming pools. The hotel rooms are Amazing And the breakfast is full of options.
Two famous photo spots in Tuscany
Get to know the two most Instagrammable corners for photography while traveling in Tuscany. They are called Farmhouse Poggio Covili and Agriturismo Baccoleno .
These are stunning accommodation farms, the road to them is picturesque and amazing. There is a long road, on both sides of which is a long avenue of cypresses. You can come and be impressed by the beauty and take several photos for the album.
Siena - a city with a historic center declared a heritage site by UNESCO
Siena is a beautiful city, one of the most famous in Tuscany with more than 163 thousand visitors. The historic center of the city has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The city is famous for its food, art, museums and the horse race that takes place twice a year in August in Siena’s main square Piazza del Campo.
All the action takes place around the main square of the city – Piazza del Campo, with bustling cafes, restaurants, shops, museums and churches. In the summer months you can find all the young people sunbathing on the floor in the middle of the square.
When you arrive in the city, don’t miss a visit to the Piazza and the Duomo di Siena (impressively beautiful cathedral).
It is a city that is definitely pleasant to walk around in the bustling streets and beautiful alleys.
Where do you park? It is not possible to enter the city with the car, there is arranged parking 10 minutes’ walk from the city center in a parking lot called – Parcheggio il Duomo.
Where to eat in Siena?
An excellent osteria called Osteria il Grattacielo is located in one of the side alleys, one that if you don’t put Google Maps to it while traveling in Tuscany, you will probably miss it. They serve wonderful Tuscan food there. We ordered an excellent soup, with vegetables, beans and pieces of bread inside. This is an excellent and comforting dish for winter. The pastas in the place look wonderful, but when we arrived they were already finished unfortunately. The place works in such a format that they prepare a certain amount of pasta, and when it finish they stop serving. to the restaurant website. to the restaurant website
Osteria Degli Svitati – recommended osteria with fresh pastas. to the restaurant website
Osteria il Carroccio – fresh and delicious pasta dishes, meats and more from the local cuisine. Address – Casato di Sotto, 32, 53100 Siena SI
A recommended cafe in Siena – Caffe Fiorella, you can taste the local sweets there. to the cafe site
Where to sleep in Siena? All recommended places
Hotel Athena – 4-star hotel, located in the heart of Siena, 10 minutes’ walk from Piazza del Campo and offers free parking.
Un terrazzo sulla magia – accommodation apartment in the city center, 80 meters with two bedrooms. Suitable for up to 6 people.
GH Paradiso – Apartments – charming accommodation apartments in the center of Siena, some suitable for couples and some for families.
Residenza d’Epoca Campo Regio Relais – central accommodation, with an amazing view of the old town of Siena. The accommodation includes breakfast.
B&B Le Logge Luxury Rooms – an amazing apartment only 250 square meters from the central Piazza del Campo. Accommodation in the apartment includes breakfast.
Casatorre dei Leoni Dimora Storica – stunning suites inside a medieval building, indulgent breakfasts and a perfect location.
San Gimignano - the town you can't miss when taking a trip in Tuscany by car
San Gimignano, the town that will take you back in time to the 14th century. The town is surrounded by a medieval wall on a hill at a height of 334 meters. It is known for its tall towers that are visible from a distance and are hard to miss.
So if you take a trip to Tuscany with a car, where do you park? The most convenient and closest is the Parcheggio 2 Montemaggio car park. It is located just 100 meters from the main entrance gate to the town. The cost is 2 and a half euros per hour.
The buildings in the town are well preserved and are an example of the architecture that was once there. The center of San Gimignano has also been declared a UNESCO heritage site.
In the past there were about 70 towers in the town that were destroyed, and today 14 towers remain preserved. You can enter one of them called Torre Grossa and go up for a view of the entire town and the surrounding Tuscan landscape.
The main places you should visit when traveling in Tuscany -
Piazza della Cisterna – the central square of San Gimignano, inside you will find one of the best ice cream parlors in Italy – Gelateria Dondoli. In this famous ice cream parlor you can find unconventional flavors such as vanilla pod flavored ice cream with pine nuts called Crema di Santa Fina, award-winning sparkling rosé wine sorbet called Champelmo, chestnut, rosemary and pine nut ice cream called Castagnaccio and there are many other special flavors. to the ice cream parlor site
The main street of the town is called Via San Matteo. It is a beautiful street with shops selling local products, delicatessens with cheeses and prosciutto, works of art, cafes and ice cream parlors.
There is also the cathedral square Piazza del Duomo – there is an impressive cathedral with works of art inside, a palace and next to it a tall tower that was once used as a prison.
Also, there is an observation point for San Gimignano – write in a google map Camping Boschetto, and before you get to the point itself, stop on the side of the road near the bench, from where there is a beautiful observation point on the city.
Florence - the capital of Tuscany
Wow, how come I haven’t visited Florence until now? What a stunning city this is! Florence is an beautiful ancient city, which used to be the capital city of Italy. The historic center of the city was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO and you can certainly understand why!
You can definitely spend a few days in Florence, the city is full of attractions and fascinating places. But if you only have a few hours to spend in the city, here is my list of recommendations.
The three must-see piazzas in Florence -
1. Duomo di Firenze – a beautiful square surrounded by cafes and shops, but the real highlight of this square is the impressive church that stands in the center and is called Santa Maria del Fiore, one of the largest cathedrals in the world.
2. Piazza della Republica – one of the three most famous squares in Florence. In the past, this square was the Jewish ghetto. Today the square has many interesting things to offer, history, cafes, fairs and changing exhibitions.
3. Palazzo Vecchio – the town hall of Florence which is also used as a museum, a stunning building, at the entrance to which there are two statues of David and next to them a beautiful fountain. Around the square there are several cafes and restaurants and it is a recommended area to visit during a trip to Florence.
Additional places to see on a trip to Florence
In Florence there is a spectacularly beautiful ancient bridge, Ponte Vecchio. The bridge is one of the most famous in the city, and is considered one of the most photographed places. It passes over the Arno river and is special thanks to the buildings that are built on it and are a continuation of the city above the water. The bridge was destroyed several times, and the current one was built in 1345. Over the years, shops and works of art were built on it. It is highly recommended to enter the city and pass through this beautiful bridge.
The main avenue of the city is called Via del Corso, and it is an avenue with brand shops, cafes and impressive historical buildings.
Mercato Centrale food market – this is an indoor food market from the 19th century that contains two floors. On the lower floor there are shops with food to take home, stalls of fresh fruits and vegetables. on the upper floor there are about 30 restaurants offering a wide variety of foods from all over the world. How It Works? You arrive, order food and sit down at one of the tables in the middle of the complex.
There is also a view of the city from Piazzale Michelangelo, where it is recommended to park the car at a cost of 2 euros per hour and start the descent towards the city. A fun and stunningly beautiful walk while traveling in Tuscany.
A trip to Tuscany: where to eat in Florence?
l’Osteria – serves excellent dishes from Italian cuisine, don’t miss the porcini mushroom pasta. An amazing dish with fresh and incredibly tasty mushrooms.
Other recommended restaurants in Florence – il Vezzo, Trattoria Cammillo, Osteria Buongustai, Osteria Vecchio.
Scusieri – a cafe from 1939 with a romantic atmosphere and a particularly tempting dessert showcase. There you can taste the delicious local dessert called Ricciarelli, it’s basically a cookie made of almonds, sugar, honey and egg white. It is very tasty and reminds of marzipan in taste, and you should definitely try it during a trip to Florence.
Gilli Cafe – the oldest cafe in Florence from 1733 serving breakfasts, pastries and special chocolates.
Where to stay in Florence? The recommended hotels in the area
Hotel Calimala – a beautiful 4-star hotel in a perfect location, less than a kilometer from the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, with a rooftop bar and an amazing view of the city.
Lorenzo de’ Medici Family Home – a charming apartment 110 m in the city center, can accommodate up to 8 people.
Hotel Lungarno – a 5-star hotel on the Arno river, the hotel has a bar open until 11:00 p.m. The accommodation includes a good breakfast.
Hotel Bernini Palace – a 5-star hotel located in a building from the 15th century, the hotel rooms are pleasant and the accommodation includes breakfast.
Four Seasons Hotel Firenze – a luxurious 5-star hotel, offering a luxurious spa and a restaurant with a Michelin star.
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