The thought of a Tuscany highway journey is existentially flawed, no less than in case you’re a wine drinker. I imply, how merciless is it to have a chance to style a number of the world’s most interesting wines alongside an obligation to get behind the wheel?
The excellent news is that I’ve crafted this submit with security—no drunk driving right here, ma!—in thoughts. The higher information? Even in case you don’t drink alcohol, this highway journey itinerary for Tuscany has one thing for everybody, not in contrast to my broader information to spending 3 weeks in Italy.
Proceed studying to be taught why Italy’s fertile heartlands have turn into so world-famous, and how one can forge your individual path alongside Tuscany’s extraordinarily well-trodden roads.
The Logistics of Driving By Tuscany
I used to be half-joking within the introduction—it’s comparatively straightforward, the truth is, to execute a Tuscany highway journey with out breaking the regulation. All wineries have spittoons, which let you imbibe with out intoxication. The catch right here, in fact, is that you must purchase wine and take it again to your lodge. Personally, I don’t like ingesting at “residence,” so this can be a tough promote for me. (I’ll go away your group to struggle amongst yourselves about who would be the designated driver!)
Crucial factor to resolve, earlier than you journey, is the place to select your automotive up. Airports in Florence and Pisa (which has some abroad flights) are inclined to have one of the best number of automobiles at one of the best costs. By way of manage your journey, I’d advocate driving solely within the rural components of Tuscany, and possibly in Siena. Florence and Pisa are greatest explored on foot, and greatest traveled between through practice.
Locations to Go to in Tuscany
San Gimignano
A fantastic reference level to your Tuscany highway journey is the village of San Gimignano. A well-liked day-trip vacation spot from Florence as a consequence of its straightforward bus connections, San Gimignano succeeds on two fronts. First, its walkable, medieval outdated city is simply dripping with allure. Second, a number of wineries (together with Palagetto, a private favourite of mine) are inside strolling distance of it.
Siena
When you’ve got simply someday to experience the roads of Tuscany, Siena makes a terrific mid-point—which is to say, on an out-and-back journey from Florence and thru San Gimignano after which again (from Siena) once more. Along with the various wineries that line the roads on the best way to and from Siena, town is charming and picturesque, albeit not sufficient that I often advocate staying the evening.
Montepulciano
Should you plan to increase your Tuscany highway journey past Siena, in the meantime, Montepulciano makes for a very good subsequent step. Though barely older and of a unique architectural persuasion than San Gimignano, it boasts a number of the identical conveniences—specifically, quick access from the outdated city heart to many wineries, and countless views of gorgeous wine nation as nicely.
Pisa
Is Pisa greater than its most well-known edifice? That’s tough to say. On one hand, you’ll have loads of time to resolve—the Leaning Tower is about 20 minutes by foot north of Pisa Centrale station. Then again, whereas Pisa is a superbly charming metropolis, it has a lot competitors in Italy (and certainly, in Tuscany itself, as you’ll have seen over the previous couple of paragraphs) that the tower would be the point of interest of any time you spend right here.
Florence
Even in case you don’t find yourself hitting Tuscany’s dustier roads, you’re certain to spend a number of days in Florence. Considered one of Italy’s major cradles of tradition and historical past, Firenze (because it’s identified in Italian) is residence to lots of the nation’s most spectacular museums, plazas, structure and parks, all set amid the rolling hills that rise on both financial institution of the Arno River.
Different FAQ About Your Journey to Tuscany
What’s there to do in Tuscany in 3 days?
When you’ve got simply three days in Tuscany, I’d advocate basing your self in Florence. Spend one full day exploring that metropolis, with an non-compulsory day journey to Pisa and its leaning tower someday on day two. On day three journey into the Tuscan wine nation, both through public transportation to San Gimignano, or by renting a automotive and exploring extra freely.
What’s there to do in Tuscany in 7 days?
Having every week in Tuscany opens up many extra choices. You’ll be able to divide 3-4 days between Florence and Pisa, then decide up a automotive at considered one of their two airports. Hub your self at one of the best Tuscan villa you’ll find, then spend days driving between wineries, cities and cities, together with Montepulciano and Siena.
How can I spend 4 days in Tuscany?
When you’ve got 4 days in Tuscany, general, you’ll be able to evenly divide it between Florence and the wine nation: Two days, on foot, in Florence; and two days driving between villages and vineyards. When you’ve got 4 days simply within the rural a part of Tuscany, the world is your oyster: You’ll be able to both base your self at a single villa and discover outward from there, or keep at two or extra completely different Tuscan abodes and savor the range.
The Backside Line
Many vacationers to Italy take a Tuscany highway journey, however that doesn’t imply yours has to comply with the identical sample. Whether or not within the rural reaches of the Tuscan wine nation, in smaller cities and cities like San Gimignano and Siena, or within the giant cities of Florence and Pisa, Tuscany presents a sense you merely can’t discover elsewhere in Italy. Hire a automotive for the completely of your time right here, or simply for a day or two as you sleep in considered one of Tuscany’s well-known villas.
Robert Schrader is a journey author and photographer who’s been roaming the world independently since 2005, writing for publications reminiscent of “CNNGo” and “Shanghaiist” alongside the best way. His weblog, Go away Your Day by day Hell, supplies a mixture of journey recommendation, vacation spot guides and private essays overlaying the extra esoteric points of life as a traveler.
