What to do during your luxury holiday to Tuscany
You’ve nailed down how you’re getting to Tuscany, and you’ve chosen your dream luxury villa for your holiday. Now comes the best part of the planning process: deciding how you are going to spend your days on your luxury holiday.
The beauty of a luxury holiday to Tuscany is that it offers an incredible mix of world-class culture, breathtaking natural beauty, and a legendary food and wine scene.
The ultimate luxury in this part of Europe is time, the freedom to slow down, linger over a three-hour lunch, and watch the sun set over a valley without checking your watch. Rather than rushing around trying to tick off every single church and museum, we recommend putting together a balanced itinerary of unforgettable experiences.
To help you design your perfect luxury holiday, we have compiled a guide on what to see, do, eat, and sip during your luxury Tuscan getaway.
Art and Architecture in Tuscany
Tuscany is synonymous with art and architecture. The Duomo of Florence, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the walled hilltop town of Volterra, the Medieval towers of San Gimignano, the palazzi of Certaldo, the fortress of Montalcino. The list is endless.
There is breathtaking architecture, frescoed ceilings, quaint courtyards, dramatic palaces, and historic castles around almost every corner.
The Uffizi and Accademia in Florence
Florence is home to some of the most famous art museums on the planet. But standing in a three-hour ticket queue in the heat of summer is definitely not something you want to be doing on your luxury holiday. So make sure that you make all the appropriate bookings beforehand!
- The Uffizi Gallery: Home to Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and Primavera, as well as masterpieces by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael. For a true luxury experience, book private guided tours with skip-the-line morning access.
- The Accademia Gallery: This is where you’ll find Michelangelo’s towering, breathtaking statue of David. Seeing this masterpiece in person is a spiritual experience; just make sure you book your timed entry tickets weeks in advance.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa
No luxury holiday to Tuscany would be complete without seeing the world’s most famous architectural mistake. Located in the beautiful, grassy Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles), the Leaning Tower is actually the freestanding bell tower of Pisa’s magnificent cathedral
Don’t just snap a photo from the ground. Book a timed ticket to climb the 251 spiral steps to the top. The slightly disorienting, tilted climb is incredibly fun, and the views across the city and the surrounding plain are spectacular. Definitely a must-see on your luxury holiday!
Walk or cycle the walls of Lucca
In Lucca, the Medieval towers and churches give visitors a glimpse into Tuscany’s rich past during their luxury holiday.
Rent a sleek cruiser bike or a four-person pedal vehicle known as a risciò and head up onto the town’s massive, 16th-century red-brick ramparts. The top of the walls has been turned into a wide, tree-lined avenue that loops around the entire historic centre.
It is flat, quiet, and offers beautiful views of private palace gardens on one side and the rolling green hills on the other. Stop halfway at a wall-side café for a refreshing Aperol Spritz!
Walk through Siena’s central square
In Siena, the famous red-brick architecture and magnificent medieval square put visitors at the heart of classic Tuscany during their luxury holiday.
Head to the iconic shell-shaped central square, Piazza del Campo, to marvel at the 14th-century Palazzo Pubblico and the 102-metre-tall Torre del Mangia. If you are feeling up for the challenge, climb the 400-plus steps to the top of the tower for postcard-worthy views over Siena’s terracotta rooftops and the rolling hills beyond.
Afterwards, pull up a chair at one of the open-air cafes lining the brick plaza, order a refreshing Aperol Spritz, and enjoy an hour or two of people-watching in one of Europe’s greatest medieval squares!
Vineyards and wineries in Tuscany
This region is synonymous with wine, and no luxury holiday to Tuscany would be complete without enjoying a wine tasting or winery tour. If you’re in search of the very best Tuscan wines, then we recommend you start with Chianti Classico, which is widely renowned for serving up some of the best wines anywhere in Italy, not just in Tuscany.
Wine tasting in Chianti Classico
Stretching between Florence and Siena, the Chianti region is famous for its rolling hills and its iconic black rooster (Gallo Nero) symbol, which guarantees an authentic bottle of Chianti Classico.
Avoid the large tourist buses and book a private driver and a local sommelier. Visit historic, family-run estates where you can tour ancient stone cellars, walk through the Sangiovese vineyards, and enjoy a private tasting of aged Chianti Classico, Reserva, and Super Tuscan wines, all paired with local cheeses and estate-produced extra virgin olive oil.
Red wines of Southern Tuscany
If you love rich, full-bodied reds, head south to the sun-baked hills of the Val d’Orcia.
- Brunello di Montalcino: Widely considered one of Italy’s finest and most prestigious red wines, Brunello is made from 100% Sangiovese Grosso grapes and must be aged for at least five years before release. Visiting a boutique winery in Montalcino is an absolute highlight for any serious collector.
- Vino Nobile di Montepulciano: Sitting on the ridge next door, Montepulciano produces an elegant, historic red wine that was famously favoured by Tuscan popes and roya
Beaches to visit on a luxury holiday to Tuscany
When one thinks of Tuscany, one usually conjures up images of rolling hills, vineyards and olive groves. However, Tuscany also has an impressive coastline that stretches kilometres from Forte dei Marmi in the north to the Orbetello lagoon in the south.
Many of these beaches have been awarded the prestigious Blue Flag award for cleanliness. And many offer great opportunities for water sports such as windsurfing and water skiing. A luxury Tuscany villa on this coastline can be a great base for a holiday in Tuscany.
The beaches in Tuscany are extremely diverse. In the far north of Tuscany bordering Liguria, you have the Apuan Riviera. This is a 20 km stretch of coastline that incorporates resorts such as the Marina di Carrara, Marina di Massa and Ronchi. Numerous beach clubs and water sports centres are perfect for those who enjoy windsurfing and sailing.
Moving south, you come to the beach resorts of Forte dei Marmi, Viareggio, Lido di Camaiore and Marina di Pietrasanta, which sit on the Versilia coast. These are the beaches where you can expect to see wealthy Florentines escaping from the heat of Summer in the city.
It’s also where you will find plenty of private beach clubs. This is a great area for younger people, who will enjoy the vibrant nightlife. And these are also the best beaches in Tuscany for surfing. However, with few free public beaches, it’s arguably not the best option for families with young children or those on a budget.
Keep heading south, and you will reach the Pisan coast and the Etruscan coast. Here, the Migliarino San Rossore and Massaciuccoli Park has some stunning beaches, bordered by sand dunes. Many of these are free. And at Marina di Pisa, Calambrone and Tirrenia, there are long stretches of sandy beaches, perfect for families. Incidentally, many of these beaches were created by Benito Mussolini, who transformed former marshland into popular seaside resorts.
And, last but not least, just before you cross into neighbouring Lazio, you reach the Costa d’Argento. 16 km of almost uninterrupted beach runs all the way from Marina di Talamone to Monte Argentario. This is a promontory that is connected to the Italian mainland by two narrow strips of land, flanked by beaches on each side and with a saltwater lagoon in its centre. A bridge leads from here to Monte Argentario (home to Cala del Gesso), Porto Ercole and Porto Santo Stefano.
What to Eat and Drink in Tuscany
As you can would expect from any Italian region, Tuscany serves up the most delicious food. There are plenty of regional specialities we recommend you trying during your Tuscany villa holiday.
Bistecca alla Fiorentina
Probably the most famous Tuscan dish since, this is a T-bone steak, grilled and served rare. The best steaks will be from Chianina cows, an ancient Tuscan breed of cattle. This epitomises the simplicity of Tuscan cooking. It uses just 5 ingredients – the steak, rosemary, sage, oil and seasoning.
Lampredotto
Another dish not for vegetarians, lampredotto is made from the fourth stomach of a cow which has been boiled with a mixture of herbs. It’s then served up in a sandwich. This is a traditional street food to be found in Florence. It was a typical dish that was cheap to make – a perfect example of cucina povera.
Soups
Tuscany is known for its hearty, warming soups and you will find plenty of different local specialities wherever you go in Tuscany. One of the most common is Pappa al Pomodoro. This is absolutely delicious and combines fresh tomatoes with bread, oil, garlic, herbs and other vegetables. A great example of ‘peasant’ food, it’s a common way that Tuscans use up stale or leftover bread so that none is wasted. And since this can be served hot, at room temperature or chilled, it’s a great option to enjoy all year round. If in Maremma, the close equivalent of this soup is Acquacotta. Again, this is a bread-based soup that also uses onions, tomatoes, oil and water. It also sometimes has the addition of a poached egg on top. Similar again in style is the Ribollita, another Tuscan bread soup which also uses up kitchen leftovers. There are plenty of variations but the most common includes bread, cannellini beans, kale, cabbage and other root vegetables. Alternatively, if in Mugello, look out for the Farinata di Cavolo Nero, which is a delicious soup that combines cavolo nero with cannoli beans and herbs. Or in Maremma, order the Acquacotta soup.
Head to the coast and you will find delicious seafood soups. Cacciucco originated in the coastal town of Livorno. It is a delicious seafood chowder to which toasted bread rubbed with garlic is added in the final stages.
Panzanella Salad
Another dish whose main ingredients are tomatoes and bread is the panzanella salad. Again, it’s a way Tuscans would traditionally have used up stale and dry bread but these days you may find it made using bread cut into cubes and toasted in the oven instead. This is the perfect dish to enjoy on a hot Summer day.
Desserts and sweet treats
There are plenty of Tuscan specialities to satisfy even the sweetest tooth too. Chestnuts are a popular ingredient in Tuscan cuisine and chestnut flour finds its way into many desserts. These include castagnaccio, a traditional dessert that also includes raisins and pine nuts. Also worth trying is a sweet treat that looks similar to a pancake. Cian are made in a similar way to a crepe would be in France but use chestnut flour. Try piping hot topped with honey and ricotta cheese.
Many local towns and areas will have their unique sweet treats too. For example, Lucca has Buccellato, a delicious pastry flavoured with raisins and aniseed. Or Pontasserchio near Pisa is where you will find a Torta co’ Bischeri. The base of this cake is similar to a pastry and it is then filled with rice, cocoa, chocolate, eggs, sugar, pine nuts, raisings and spices. Or Elba Island has Schiaccia Briaca, a sweet flat bread topped with pine nuts and dried fruits. There are plenty of other sweet treats just waiting to be discovered on your Tuscany villa holiday.
And, last but not least, Tuscany is famous for Cantuccini. These are best described as crunchy biscuits. Their core ingredients are flour, sugar, butter, almonds and eggs. However, you will often find variations in stores and on market stalls today. They are made as a whole loaf, cooked, then cut into pieces before being popped back into the oven to crisp up. To enjoy them at their best, dip them into a glass of Vinsanto before enjoying their delicious crunchiness!
Of course, there are some great restaurants where you can sample some of these dishes.
Cities and Towns in Tuscany
Tuscany’s towns and cities are famous the world over. Their skylines are instantly recognisable and they are filled with an array of sights to see and things to do.
Let's make your dream luxury holiday to Tuscany a reality
A luxury holiday in Tuscany is not just about the places you visit; it is about the memories you create. It’s the sound of church bells echoing across a quiet valley, the taste of freshly pressed olive oil, and the feeling of complete peace as you watch the sun go down over the rolling hills from your private villa.
We are here to handle all the details. From finding your perfect luxury villa with a private pool to arranging private chefs, local drivers, and exclusive wine tours, we will ensure your Tuscan getaway is absolutely flawless.
Have a look at our exclusive collection of luxury villas in Tuscany today, and let’s start planning your dream luxury holiday in Tuscany.