Tuscany is one of the most popular regions for a villa holiday in Italy. But with so many incredible cities, towns and villages to choose from, it’s hard to know the best place to choose as a base. Here is our pick of the top five towns in Tuscany to use as a base for your 2023 Tuscany villa holiday, along with our suggestions for the very best villas in Tuscany in which to stay in each town.
Cortona
Cortona may have been made famous by Frances Mayes’ book Under the Tuscan Sun, but there is so much more to this Tuscan city than this famous author or the film that immortalised the book. Elevated 600 metres above sea level, the views from Cortona are arguably just as impressive as the town itself! Dating as far back as the Etruscan period, Cortona is a Tuscan city steeped in history and visitors will be richly rewarded when they visit.
Check out our Cortona travel guide for more inspiration on what to see and do in this beautiful Tuscan city.
This 4 bedroom Cortona villa is the perfect place to stay if you’re looking to explore this famous Tuscan town. Sleeping up to 8 guests, the villa is situated just a 10 minute drive from Cortona and within walking distance of the nearby village of Pergo where you can enjoy breakfast like a local!
Lucca
Lucca is a city whose size means that it is every easy to discover in a day but stay longer and you’ll find yourself extremely thankful that you did! The city is probably most famous for its city walls, but these hold some real gems within them. Affectionately nicknamed the ‘city of one hundred churches‘, we always lose count of the number of religious institutions we have visited each time we explore Lucca. But the number of excellent restaurants in Lucca is just as impressive and you will be grateful for the chance to sample more of them than just a 24 hour visit would allow.
Check out our Lucca travel guide for more inspiration on what to see and do in this beautiful Tuscan city.
This luxury Lucca villa rental is the perfect place to stay if you’re wanting to uncover all of Lucca’s gems. You’ll be thoroughly spoiled here, with a private chef and housekeeper always on hand to ensure you can put your feet up at all times. Or for those who don’t have quite so much to spend, this Lucca villa is also a great option with prices starting at less than 25 euros per person per night.
Volterra
Whilst Volterra may arguably be slightly more off the beaten track than either Cortona or Lucca, it certainly makes up for it in charm. Its notoriety also grew thanks to the joys of Stephenie Meyerās popularĀ TwilightĀ series of books. Just like Cortona, its history dates as far back as the Etruscan period and there are numerous Etruscan and Roman remains to discover. These include the Etruscan acropolis at the top of the town and the 1st century Roman theatre lower down its slopes. But its more recent history is pretty impressive too. You’ll find one of Europe’s oldest museums in Volterra along with Tuscany’s oldest town hall.
Check out our Volterra travel guide for more inspiration on what to see and do in this beautiful Tuscan city.
This contemporary 3 bedroom Volterra villa is the perfect base for anyone looking to explore Volterra to the full. Exceptionally well designed and beautifully furnished, it’s simple but modern exterior contrasts beautifully with the rolling hills of the Tuscan landscape that surrounds it.
Montepulciano
In the south of Tuscany, Montepulciano is surrounded by the dramatic landscape of the Val d’Orcia. It’s an absolutely charming hilltop town filled with cobbled streets, pretty piazzas and a mix of Gothic and Renaissance architecture. However, Montepulciano is arguably as well known for what grows in the fields that surround it than what you will find within its walls. Here, the sangiovese grapes are used to create one of Tuscany’s greatest red wines, theĀ Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.
Check out our Montepulciano travel guide for more inspiration on what to see and do in this beautiful Tuscan city.
This luxury Montepulciano villa is just a 5 minute drive from the heart of the city. It’s a stunning villa rental in Tuscany sleeping up to 12 guests and includes the services of chef and housekeeper to ensure guests can just sit back and relax! We recognise that not everyone’s budget will stretch this far though, so those looking to spend less, we can also offer this 5 bedroom Montepulciano villa rental.
Pienza
A tiny village in the heart of the Val d’Orcia, Pienza has had the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage status for nearly 30 years now. A Renaissance utopia, villages in Italy don’t get much prettier or more perfect than Pienza! We think it’s home to some of Italy’s most charming streets – theĀ Via dell AmoreĀ (Street of Love) and theĀ Via dell BacioĀ (Street of the kiss) – and whilst it won’t take long to explore, you won’t tire of wandering the same streets day after day.
Check out our Pienza travel guide for more inspiration on what to see and do in this beautiful Tuscan city.
So close is Pienza to this Pienza villa rental that guests staying here will be able to see the village from the house. Sleeping up to 14 guests in seven comfortable bedrooms, it’s a great option either for larger groups of friends or for two families who want to holiday together whilst also maintaining an element of independence and privacy from one another.
Wherever you choose to be for your Tuscany villa holiday, get in touch with the team at Italy villa rental specialists, Bookings For You.