If you do not have an IDP, you will not be able to rent a car. Sure, you may find somewhere that’ll do it anyway, but any insurance you have will be void by not having an IDP. The fashion and textile industry are the pillars of the Florentine economy. In the 15th century, Florentines were working with luxury textiles such as wool and silk. Today the greatest designers in Europe utilize the textile industry in Tuscany, and especially Florence. A large plant of production is happening in the town of Prato. Small and scenic, this is a lovely town to spend a couple of hours and a great place to call home for the night while tasting the delicacies of the area. You can avoid these by looking up a place to park that’s outside of the city centre ahead of time. I like to use parkopedia to find places or just google ‘ parcheggio‘ in Google Maps. Expect toll roads Spend some time wandering around the streets in the city, visiting the piazzas, like the beautiful piazza della cisterna, the medieval fountains, and, of course, the Duomo in San Gimignano. Siena

Cala Violina: Awonderful cove in Maremma with white fine sand. To get there you walk a trail with incredible views of the coastline. you made the whole process easy and painless. I'll happily recommend your company to all our friends.If your flights are going in and out of Milan then stopping in Lake Como is a must as it’s just 40 km or so to Lake Como from Milan. Assisi Montepulciano is a historical medieval and renaissance town perched on top of a hill in between two of the most beautiful areas in Tuscany: Val D’Orcia and Val di Chiana.

In summer, Tuscany enjoys beautiful weather, stunning coastlines, and the prospect of swimming and dining al fresco. However, the roads, cities and attractions will be at their busiest and it can get really hot, especially in the lowlands. But, we still think a summer holiday in Italy is hard to beat! September to November There are 15 towers throughout the charming little town and it’s super popular with people looking to experience Tuscan history and culture.

These two top tips for driving will help your 7-day Tuscany itinerary go a bit smoother! Avoid ZTL zones wherever possible Montaione is a small Tuscan town, located in the middle of the Florence-Pisa-Siena triangle, in the Chianti region in central Tuscany.

Heading west from Montepulciano, the drive to Siena takes approximately 1.5 hours. However, if you decide not to visit Arezzo and Montepulciano, the trip south from Florence to Siena will take a couple of hours on the winding SR222, the ‘Chiantigiana Road’, which snakes through the heart of Chianti wine country, internationally renowned for its vino. ZTL zones are areas of cities that are restricted access. They are typically in the city centre and if you drive through them you risk getting a big fine or charge. For this itinerary, I am leaving it out however, it is possible to replace any of these days with one in Florence. La Chiusa delle Monache: This B&B includes a great breakfast and has its own courtyard for relaxing after exploring Lucca.

There are numerous musical centres in Tuscany. Arezzo is indelibly connected with the name of Guido d'Arezzo, the 11th-century monk who invented modern musical notation and the do-re-mi system of naming notes of the scale; Lucca hosted possibly the greatest Italian composer of Verismo, Giacomo Puccini together with Alfredo Catalani, while Pietro Mascagni was born in Livorno; and Siena is well known for the Accademia Musicale Chigiana, an organization that currently sponsors major musical activities such as the Siena Music Week and the Alfredo Casella International Composition Competition. Other important musical centres in Tuscany include Pisa and Grosseto. [ citation needed] Literature [ edit ] Tuscan poet and literary figure Petrarch There are toll roads throughout Tuscany. They’re usually not too expensive, and most take card, but it’s always handy to have a few coins in your car just in case. Tuscany by train Today you’ll drive through Val d’Orcia and stop off at Montalcino, Pienza and Montepulciano where you’ll spend the night. Remember that motorways in Italy are tolled. This itinerary keep you on non-paying roads most of the time however, you are likely to be on the motorway when close to Siena. While you are travel planning you'll need to know some of the traditional areas of Tuscany folks talk about. For good, rustic food that's inexpensive and follows age-old rural traditions, go north to La Lunigiana and the Garfagnana. For wine the famous Chianti Classico region is represented on our map, but the Chianti zone represents the largest wine region in Tuscany. Along the southern edge of the Crete Senesi is where the famous Brunello comes from. The Crete Senesi is where a lunar landscape of gray clay dominates the landscape. You might think of it as barren, but then again, it's famous for white truffles! The Maremma is the Italian "cowboy country" where the Butteri herd cattle in what was once marshy land drained by the fascists. But the Maremma is more than this, it's a place of Etruscan towns, ancient iron mining, and great Tuscan wines around Bolgheri. More detail on these areas below the map.

The best things to do in Lucca include the Lucca Cathedral, Piazza dell Anfiteatro, and San Michele in Foro. Where to stay in Lucca Afternoon: Visit Piazza del Campo which is known for the Palio horse race and then explore Torre del Mangia for views of the city. All of the Tuscan countryside is beautiful. That's why it's so popular. Many folks like to rent a country house for a week or so. VRBO lists well over 7000 Tuscan Vacation Rentals . This kind of rental is becoming more and more popular, and is sometimes called self-catering. Don't know what self-catering is and how renting a vacation property works? See: Italy Self Catering, which also includes our recommended places to stay in Tuscany, including a castle near Pienza and apartments and villas in the Garfagnana, Siena, and Pisa. If you have not included Florence in your itinerary, then I recommend you spend this last day heading a little farther South and exploring the stunning area of Maremma, in the south of Tuscany.Day 4: Fiesole: Just a short bus ride from Florence, explore the Roman Amphitheatre, and enjoy panoramic views of Florence. Monteriggioni is a tiny hilltop village still entirely surrounded by medieval walls and offering sweeping views over the countryside below. When planning your 5 days in Tuscany, the main thing you need to decide is if you want to include Florence in your itinerary or leave it for a different trip. Lucca is known as the city of a hundred churches and is well-known for the beautiful Medieval city walls that can still be seen around the old town. San Quirico d’Orcia is a tiny village with wonderful Romanesque churches and a delightful central piazza.