Tuscany Countryside, Italy

 Something for Everyone

From coastline to mountains to rolling hills and natural springs, Tuscany has long been a must destination for centuries. Tuscany typically conjures up visons of cypress lined roads on rolling hills and tiny hilltop villages. While this is very true and completely amazing, there is so much more to this intriguing and wonderfully beautiful place. Tuscany is in the central, northwest portion of Italy with Florence being its capitol. To the north, Tuscany is boarded by the Apuan Alps, part of the Apennines Mountain Range, that are between the valleys of the Serchio and Magra Rivers and include the towns of Garfagnana and Lunigiana. Mount Piscanio is its highest peak at over 6000 feet. 

Immediately south of Florence is the wine region of Chianti which also is mostly small mountains reminiscent of the American Appalachians. This region too has plenty of charmingly beautiful hillside villages to include Radda in Chianti and Castellina in Chianti. In the middle of Tuscany is Val D'orcia. This is quintessential Tuscany consisting of rolling hills and cypress trees with exuberant hues of orange, red, yellow and green depending on the season. This region contains the world-famous wine towns of Montalcino and Montepulciano. (There will be a separate blog on Tuscan wine country).  Southern Tuscany remains a relatively undiscovered part of the region, despite its beauty. This area, known as the Maremma, more wild and less populated than other parts of Tuscany, has a serene countryside and a long coastline of unspoiled beaches. It is dotted with picturesque ‘tufa towns’ whose beauty casts a spell on all who visit – and Etruscan sites still untouched by mass tourism. The otherworldly Pitigliano and Sorano are made distinctive by their construction with malleable tufa rock.  My favorite times to visit are late Spring and early Fall, the colors are truly striking. There are several ways to get to and around in Tuscany that include:

  Flying Into Tuscany

If you fly into Tuscany, you have a choice of 2 airports. Amerigo Vespucci Airport in Florence or Galileo Galilei Airport in Pisa. There are also flights into Bologna, Perugia, and Rome which are all within driving distance. From Florence and Pisa, you can catch buses, trains, or rent a car to reach the Tuscan countryside, 

Countryside By Train

Florence is the main rail hub for Tuscany. Most visitors arriving from Rome, Milan, or Venice by train will transfer here for the Tuscan countryside. It’s easy to reach larger towns such as Siena, Lucca, Arezzo, and Pisa from Florence with regular services and reasonably priced fares. Pisa also has frequent train services to Lucca, Livorno, and Grossetto. If you plan to visit picturesque towns and hilltop villages like San Gimignano and Volterra, there are bus links from Poggibonsi station to your destination. Train tickets are well priced with fares ranging from $5 to $12 USD depending on the length of your journey. Carriages are clean and comfortable, ensuring you arrive at your destination ready for adventure.

Countryside by Bus

Traveling by bus is a great option if you want to get off the beaten track, with good services connecting most cities, towns, and villages throughout the Tuscan region. Every major city has a handful of bus companies which they use to get around. In Florence, LAZZI offers regular connections to Lucca, Pistoia, Pisa, and Prato. And SITA provides links to Siena and the Chianti wine region. Michelangelo’s birthplace of Arezzo is served by ATAM bus company. It’s also possible to organize themed bus tours via many hotels and excursion companies in the region.                                                                               

Driving Through the Countryside 

By far the best way to navigate the Tuscan countryside is by car. Imagine driving along winding cypress tree-lined roads, Italian style, in a Fiat 500 or Alfa Romeo convertible, stopping at charming trattorias for lunch, or breaking at a vineyard to sample local wines. Tuscany is easy to navigate by car, with just a few main road arteries connecting the region to major cities. You can reach Arezzo and Siena from Florence via the E35, and if you plan to drive to Lucca and Pisa, take the A11. This route takes you past Pistoia and Montecatini Terme – a famous spa town with mineral-rich waters.

Cycling through Tuscany

 If you want to keep the pasta pounds off, a bicycle tour is an excellent way to explore the countryside. Many towns and cities in Tuscany rent bicycles for a few hours  to a day or longer. The Chianti -E-Bike Tour from Siena will have a local guide lead you through stunning backroads in the countryside. That said, every time, almost without exception, I see bikers, everyone is grimacing on the hills!

I cannot say enough about Tuscany. If you have only one chance to visit Italy and time is an issue,  I would recommend Tuscany over any nother locations to include Rome and Venice. You will be happy you did.