City: Tuscany
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The 10 Best Sights & Landmarks in Tuscany, Italy
Tuscany (/ˈtʌskəni/ TUSK-ə-nee; Italian: Toscana, pronounced [toˈskaːna]) is a region in central Italy with an area of about 23,000 square kilometres (8,900 square miles) and a population of about 3.8 million inhabitants (2013). The regional capital is Florence (Firenze).
Restaurants in Tuscany
1. Piazza del Campo
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 14,045 reviews
Siena's main square is the site of the famous Palio horse races that take place in July and August.
Reviewed By Y7972VAmichaelh
The vast bustling Piazza del Campo in Siena is famous for the Palio horse races which attract thousands of visitors each year and must be a truly awesome spectacle. This is a most interesting city to explore for the spiders-web of streets that circumnavigate the Piazza lead to quite unexpected places, shops, churches and beautiful vistas. A photographers dream where sunlight and shadow enhances the beauty of the architecture at all times throughout the day. Siena is a must, and don’t cut your visit short for there’s much to see and do.
2. Duomo di Siena
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 11,597 reviews
The magnificent complex of the Cathedral of Siena, its Duomo, houses a series of some of the most important monuments of the European artistic panorama. With its more than one million visitors every year, the Cathedral without a doubt represents the fulcrum of the entire complex, while other significant elements include the Crypt, the Baptistery and the Museo dell'Opera, all part of the impressive mass formed by the "Duomo Vecchio" (Old Cathedral), and the "Duomo Nuovo" (New Cathedral). Visitors will travel along a memorable itinerary to the discovery of self and the truth of faith through culture and art, the result of more than a millennium of Western history.
Reviewed By Iowares - Des Moines, United States
We walked over to the ticket office to get the tickets for the Duomo, museum, Baptistry and Crypt, and we were blown away with our tour guides! We have seen all the major churches and Cathedrals in Italy, and many of the lesser-knowns, too, and nothing comes anywhere close to this one! Each has it's own unique style, but this one was the most memorable for me! The interior tour was brilliantly executed and our tour guides made us feel like private guests getting a unique inside tour! I could go back every day and see something new! They cover different parts of the floor at different times, so one would need to go at different times to see it all.
3. Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista
4. Val d'Orcia
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 423 reviews
Reviewed By SJWilson - Rome, Italy
Here’s a nice, winding, country walk we did from Gallina to Montichiello in beautiful Val d’Orcia, which you can do if the Orcia is pretty dry and is easy to cross. There’s nothing much in Gallina, but you might be in an agriturismo nearby, you never know, there are so many. All references to Google maps! Right, so walk straight up Via del Colombaio with the local church there on your left. Keep going up, cross the road that curves back right towards the industrial area, and follow the country track round to your right, passing a ruined house to your left. Follow the track all the way up to a nice-looking agriturismo called Locanda in Tuscany and turn left there along the country road between fields, heading towards another agriturismo called La Rimbecca, passing the driveway in front of you up to agriturismo Poder Nuovo and turning right. Yes, lots of agriturismos round here! Walk up to Rimbecca, another nice looking place, head right towards the main gate, then cut left across the car park, where you’ll find a nice long, straight tree-arched alley running down left, probably once the original driveway, and walk straight down it towards the River Orcia. Follow the curve of the road left, passing what looks like an old mill on your right, and you’ll come to the river bank. We did the walk in summer, so there wasn’t much river, just a few large puddles. Climb down into the riverbed and head left, after about 200 metres on the opposite bank you should see an exit point. We had to paddle across one of the puddles, very refreshing on the toes. About 10 metres up this track you’ll find two paths heading left, both going in the direction you want, the first running closer to the river, the second skirting the trees. Take your pick! They meet up near the river, where you continue along the main path and at a certain point, on the right, you’ll find another long straight path heading up towards the main road, Strada Provincial 53 and, yes, another agriturismo/farm called Le Checche. Cross the road and head up past the farm, the road curving round right behind it, then curving back left as you follow it up towards Villa Il Tiglio and a lovely property called Casanova, with a beautiful plump blonde horse and his sheep mates in residence if you want to say hello and nobody objects. But the main road passes under these properties, with a small body of water on your left, following a really lovely country path, my favourite of the day. You’ll come to a bend with a driveway to a house on your right, follow the bend round left and you’ll see a road heading right that goes up past two very nice little properties, highly covetable. After the second of these, when we were there, the actual road seems to vanish into a field with a hedgerow on your right, and the path should continue up to the right of that hedgerow, on the other side. But we found it pretty overgrown, so carried on up the fields with the hedgerow to our right, to the road that passes Aurora Festival on the right, where a nice lady refilled our water flasks. Continue straight on, till you pass Agriturismo Fonte Senesi on your left. Take the second road on your left, which leads down towards the main road, Strada Provinciale 88. Then all you have to do is follow that up as it evolves into Viale Marino Cappelli, which curves round left and leads you up to the main gate into the lovely little town of Montichiello! It was a very very hot day when we walked there so we immediately stopped at the nice little garden bar on the right just before arriving at the gate and had some very welcome cold beer and ice-cream.
5. Eremo Le Celle
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,203 reviews
Reviewed By Borzov - Rijeka, Croatia
Hermitage of Le Celle, founded in the 13th century by Saint Francis and extended by his successor, Brother Elias, is a humble and simple monastery, built in a true spirit of the Franciscan order. The name “Celle” came from the small hermit houses built in the wholes of the mountain. It is a beautiful, calm and peaceful place, historical monument and a pleasant sight.
6. Villa Masini
7. Basilica of Santa Croce
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 8,994 reviews
This is the richest medieval church in Florence, which features frescoes by Giotto, a chapel by Brunelleschi and one of the finest of all early Renaissance tombs.
Reviewed By revlisad - Sarasota, United States
Don't miss seeing the Duomo from the outside. But the one you want to tour inside is Santa Croce. It's a must see for multiple reasons 1. The grandeur of the architecture. It's the largest Franciscan church in the world. The main sanctuary is stunning as are the 16 chapels and courtyards. 2. Don't miss the tombs, both those on the floor of the main sanctuary, the sides of the main sanctuary, and the crypt. Many famous Italians are buried or memorialized here, including, Dante, Galileo, Machiavelli, Michelangelo, Rossini, Marconi 3. The art, including frescoes by Giotto and his pupils, incredible icons (my favorite is the Francis of Assisi Icon to the right of the main altar), and statues. Speaking of the main altar, take a few moments in the presence of the crucifix icon, altar icons, stained glass, and painted dome. Stunning. Be sure to find the Last Supper and Tree of Life fresco in one of the additional chapels on property. 4. Set in a delightful piazza with great restaurants, shops, and vendors. Neither the church nor the piazza were crowded when we visited. 5. Great restrooms and quaint gift shop
8. Marble Caves of Carrara
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 523 reviews
Famous for their white marble, these caves in the Apua Mountains serve as studios of stone sculpting and bronze art, where famous artists and sculptors from all over the world come to work.
Reviewed By abs1950
On the flight to Italy we watch a move about Michelangelo and got inspired to visit a marble quarry. I was surprised to find a Viatour outing that fit our plan perfectly. This seems to be very popular with European tourist and there were several jeeps on the tour with us. No one we had spoken to that had been to Tuscany had ever mentioned seeing this sight- well worth it- First it's in the north of Tuscan and a different terrain and landscape, and seeing how marble is quarried now and in the time of Michelangelo was really a unique opportunity. On the way, stop in the town of Pietrasanta which is an artist workshop area and a lovely town.
9. Leaning Tower of Pisa
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 23,329 reviews
It is called the Leaning Tower or the Tower of Pisa but actually it was never used for defending the city; it is part of the religious complex in the Duomo Square and acts as its bell tower. It played an active role in both human and divine timekeeping with its seven bells – one for each musical note – the largest of which, cast in 1655, weighs a full three and a half tonnes! It is known throughout the world for the beauty of its architecture, for its extraordinary tilt, which makes it an authentic miracle of statics, and for the fact that it stands in the universally renowned Piazza dei Miracoli, of which it is certainly the prize jewel. And this is why it is one of the 7 Wonders of the World.
Reviewed By NickWood - Epsom, United Kingdom
We got a early train from Rome 6.25 up to Pisa. Train was pre-booked and a short walk from where we staying. Train station was easy to navigate and get on right train. We got there around 9ish and then walked 15mins to the Tower. We were lucky with good weather and the sun was out. It was not too busy at this time so you get a better chance to get a clear view to take you mandatory "holding/pushing" the tower. We went up the tower for a good view. Stairs are a little tight but fine for the average person. Good view out across Pisa at the top. We didn't book any of the other buildings so not sure if we missed out there or not but the Leaning Tower was the highlight. Got a 2pm'ish train back to Rome. Helped break up our trip and really glad we planned this in and feel like we ticked it off the bucket list in an efficient way by grouping with Rome visit
10. Torre Guinigi
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,864 reviews
This tower is easily recognizable: it has a leaning tree growing out of its top.
Reviewed By ArmyRangeratMIT - Wayne, United States
There are so many lovely things to do in Lucca, and climbing the Guinigi Tower to get a panoramic view of the lovely city you’re in is a great idea, especially early in the day when you are working up your appetite for a delicious Pranzo lunch! Don’t miss it!
