Villas in Tuscany 2023

Things to do in Tuscany

Whether you’re a culture vulture looking for art masterpieces and fine wines or are looking for family fun in the sun, Tuscany proves time and time again why it’s the golden heart of Italy. Its busy cities are a hymn to Renaissance creativity, packed with frescoed churches, charming streets, and world-defying art museums. There’s something to charm everyone, from Pisa’s iconic "Leaning Tower" to Siena’s obscure Gothic cathedral to Florence’s UNESCO-stamped centre. All the big brands are here if you feel like splurging on a shopping trip, or you can soak up the local culture and bargain at artisanal markets for leather goods, jewellery and hand-painted ceramics.

Swap your villa's pool for some sweeping golden sand, with a 230-km coastline dotted with colourful seafront towns, idyllic coves, and yacht-filled marinas. Uncorked as one of the world’s top wine regions, with lush terrace-tiered vineyards and medieval villages named after famous bottles, try a glass of deep-coloured reds and crisp whites. It's also prime road trip territory, with roads curving through the fabled rolling countryside, passing aromatic olive groves, romantic hilltop villages, and cypress-tree clad hills. Given its diverse terrain, local specialties vary, filled with intense flavours from truffles, mushrooms, wild boar, and olives filling dishes with intense flavours. Restaurants and bistros are planted in tradition, using age-old, home-spun recipes and local, fresh ingredients.

Beaches in Tuscany

Tuscany is more than its rolling vineyards and medieval cities and is a classic example of Italian beach life at its finest. With 250km of coastline to play with, you won’t be disappointed whichever sandy spot you choose to lay your towel on. Beaches pack a punch when it comes to their natural beauty, fenced by jagged cliffs, rocky shores, and lush vegetation. Spiaggia di Donoratico and Vada’s pine-backed soft sands regularly pick up Blue Flag awards, with their windy waves creating a kitesurfing paradise. The secluded Cala Violina has endlessly been voted as one of Italy’s most beautiful beaches, wowing visitors with its white sands and glistening waters. Surrounded by a nature reserve and only accessible by foot, the seven-kilometer-long Spiaggia della Feniglia is an uncrowded gem. Discover the underwater world at Spiaggia di Barabarca, with its crystal-clear waters and variety of marine life, making it the best spot for snorkelling. Get your beach and history fix by taking a boat trip out to the islands of Giglio and Giannutri and exploring Roman ruins and medieval castles perched on the shoreline.

Nightlife in Tuscany

After the Tuscan sunset, there’s a bustle throughout the region that extends well into the night. The For an evening full of romance, sip aperitivos in local bars and take a stroll through the cobbled streets in hilltop towns and rural villages. The busy and boisterous Carnival season fills the streets with celebrations, confetti, and costumes, with music and dancing till the early hours. The big-ticket item is Florence, with its timeless beauty that provides a panoramic backdrop to its vibrant nightlife scene. There’s something for everyone: wine bars that serve the best from Tuscan vineyards, modern cocktail bars mixing up crazy boozy concoctions, and nightclubs spun by international DJs. Siena and Pisa are more laid-back, with the open-air terraces of bars and pubs filled with the sounds of live music performances. For a night of traditional Italian ambience, discover how opera has left a permeant mark on Tuscany with a world-famous composed show at a theatre.  

Food and Drink in Tuscany

A feast for the senses, Tuscany is world-renowned for being a gourmet paradise. The food here is local, simple, and seasonal, while also being some of the most flavour-punching and delicious in Italy. We can see why Italians refer to the region as "the farmer’s kitchen," as menus are homely, using age-old family recipes whipped up using home-grown local ingredients. Tuscan food doesn’t need any complex preparation, so it’s easy to replicate dishes in your villa’s kitchen. Local markets are bursting with colourful fresh produce, while pescherias offer the freshest daily catches, and delis always have delicious cured meats in stock. Truffles are one ingredient that are uniquely powerful in Tuscan food, alongside its fragrant olive oils and porcini mushrooms.

Specialties change from one town to the next; soak up the real Tuscan way of life at trattorias serving up their own homemade dishes and twists on the classics. Day trippers visiting Florence should try the beefy blue T-bone steak; in Siena, it’s all about the hand-rolled pici pasta; and in Arezzo, the famous Cacciucco seafood takes centre stage. Influenced by old peasant food, there’s a fondness for rustic beans and tripe, while stale bread is a staple in soups and salads such as panzanella and pappa al pomodoro. Dessert is all about comforting cakes to sink your teeth into, including panforte, sweet breads, and crumbling pastries. Wondering what to drink? Tuscany is renowned as one of the world's best destinations for wine lovers, with its reds, whites, and dessert wines. With classic red wine favourites such as the full-bodied Montepulciano, the lighter Montalcino, or the cherry-aroma Tuscan gem Chianti, each meal is enhanced by the unique flavours.

History and Culture in Tuscany

Time seems to stand still in Tuscany, with one of the densest concentrations of UNESCO Heritage Sites in the world. Across the region are cobblestone cities crowded with frescoed churches, treasure-crammed museums, and medieval plazas. The ancient Romans laid their mark through Pisa and Siena, leaving behind the classic Leaning Tower of Pisa and obscure Gothic cathedrals. The birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence is a cultural treasure trove with its iconic architecture, from the grandeur of the Duomo to the impressive Palazzo Pitti and historic Ponte Vecchio. A haven for artists, Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo fell in love with the region, and art museums were brushed with their masterpieces. Get a taste of the Tuscan countryside in the hilltop town of San Gimignano, with well-preserved towers that rise up like a medieval Manhattan. Soak up the Tuscan atmosphere at a festival, with towns marking historical events and medieval traditions with colourful parades and music. Get a first-hand look at the Etruscan age in Tarquinia, with mosaics and mural painted tombs that offer a glimpse into this ancient civilization.

Family Holidays in Tuscany

Villa holidays in Tuscany are perfect for families with inquisitive minds, playful attitudes, and explorer tendencies. Whilst it is seen as a more grown-up destinations, there’s plenty of family-friendly activities on offer. Live a day in the life of sword-wielding knights at the medieval Brolio Castle, where kids can dress up in period costumes and learn all about the chivalry and adventure of the Middle Ages. Older children will be in awe over Leonardo da Vinci’s ingenious inventions in Vinci, where the museum brings together these original creations and models.

Get a first look at the ancient mining industry at San Silvestro Archaeological Mines Park; just hop aboard the train and take a journey underground through the Etruscan era. Conduct experiments at Museo Galileo, where wannabe scientists will love this kid-centric museum in central Florence that is filled to the brim with science-related equipment. See the story of Pinocchio come to life at Pinocchio Park in Collodi, where Carlo Lorenzini came up with the classic children’s book with sculptures, gardens, and shows.

Natural Wonders

Tuscany has a far more varied topography than people give it credit for, with endless waves of green at every turn. The north is blanketed with the spiky Apennine Mountains, which rub shoulders with pristine lakes and cypress-tree forests. Hiking here is as picturesque as it gets, with trails that weave through olive groves, terraced vineyards, and stone villages. If you reach the coastline, book a boat ride out to the idyllic seven islands to spot some rare marine life at the Tuscan archipelago, the largest natural marine park in Europe!