Tuscany is one of the most beautiful regions in Italy and offers not only enchanting beaches but also charming towns full of art and culture. But where can you find Tusany's most beautiful cities? Florence, Lucca, San Gimignano, Siena and Volterra are definitely among them! 

Florence

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Florence is one of the most beautiful cities in Tuscany. Its history is particularly captivating for visitors. The city is considered the cradle of the Renaissance. Under the rule of the Medici, writers, artists and architects such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Machiavelli and Botticelli found a home and often a refuge here. Particularly worth seeing are the Uffizi, where you can admire Botticelli's famous Birth of Venus; the Baptistery of San Giovanni and the Palazzo Medici Riccardi are also not to be missed. In addition to sightseeing, there are of course also great shopping opportunities, such as on Via Tornabouni or on Piazza del Duomo.

Where to Stay

Four Seasons Hotel Firenze

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Four Seasons Hotel Firenze, with the largest private garden in the city, is just a ten-minute walk from Piazza del Duomo. Historical statues and fountains take you back to the Italian Renaissance. After an exciting day in the city, you can find peace and quiet here. Those looking for even more relaxation will find it at the hotel spa, which impresses with local products and in the Michelin-award-winning restaurant, hotel guests get their culinary money's worth. During the warmer seasons, you can also dine outside and enjoy the beauty of the garden. Historic frescoes adorn each of the luxuriously furnished rooms.

Four Seasons Hotel Firenze
Borgo Pinti 99, 50121 Florence, Italy
Tel: + 39 (055) 2626 1
Web: fourseasons.com
Price: Doubles incl. breakfast from € 2395

Tip: If you're on vacation in Florence for longer, it's definitely worth renting a car and going on day trips, for example to Lucca, San Gimignano, Siena or Volterra.

Lucca

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Lucca was one of the wealthiest cities in Italy in the 13th and 14th centuries thanks to the textile trade. The imposing city wall and many historic buildings still bear witness to this wealth today. The Cathedral of San Martino and the Church of San Michele in Foro, which is located on the Roman market square, are particularly worth seeing. Both date back to the 12th century.

What to Do

If you want to visit cities in Tuscany this year, you should definitely add Lucca to the list in June and July. That's when the Lucca Summer Festival 2024 takes place. It is Italy's most important music festival and this year Ed Sheeran, Rod Stewart, Lenny Kravitz, The Smashing Pumpkins and other superstars will be giving concerts.

San Gimignano

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With only 7,000 inhabitants, San Gimignano is a small town - but it has a lot to offer. It's also known as "medieval Manhattan", or the "town of towers". This is because the city still has some of the so-called "towers of the sexes": back then, rich patricians combined saving living space and defensibility with this type of construction. In the Middle Ages, prominent families tried to outdo each other with the height of their towers. Compared to castles or palaces, however, luxurious living was hardly possible in these narrow towers. Of the original 72 towers, 15 still stand today, with the Torre Grossa from the 14th century being the tallest at 54 meters.

Where to Eat

In addition to a lot of history, San Gimignano also has a lot of wine. The Vernaccia di San Gimignano Wine Experience La Rocca is open to visitors every day and invites you to wine tastings. Of course, other Italian delicacies are also on offer here, such as pasta or honey, cheese and olive oil from the region.

Vernaccia di San Gimignano Wine Experience La Rocca
Villa La Rocca, 1 - 53037 San Gimignano
Tel.: + 39 0577 941267
Web: sangimignano.com

Siena

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Since the Italian Renaissance, Siena has competed with Florence on a political, economic and artistic level. While there are countless works of art and buildings from this period to see in Florence, Siena has retained its medieval appearance and impresses as a Gothic city in a completely different way. Siena invites you to stroll through the small alleyways, eat in the shell-shaped Piazza del Campo or visit the Dome of Siena, which is a beautiful example of Italian Gothic architecture.

What to Do

If you're traveling in July or August, you should definitely not miss the Palio in Siena. The famous horse race around the main square, which is held between the various districts - called contradas - is the cultural and social highlight of the summer. To avoid the crowds, visitors can also watch the spectacle from one of the balconies. However, tickets are not cheap - they start at € 260 per person. But they can also be combined with a contrada dinner, where visitors can learn even more about the famous horse race and are organized by locals at particularly beautiful locations in the city.

Volterra

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Volterra towers over the hills of Tuscany like a fortress - and it was one in the Middle Ages. History fans will get their money's worth here, as Volterra looks back on a rich and varied history. The Etruscans lived here almost 2400 years ago. Outside the city walls, there's a Roman theater built by Emperor Augustus. Inside the walls, visitors will find mainly Gothic buildings and Renaissance villas. It's a pure Tuscany and history feeling! 

What to Do

The unique Etruscan Museum in Volterra is particularly worth a visit: here, visitors will find thousands of years of history that tell of a time before the Romans.

Still want to find out more about a vacation in Tuscany? Read more here: Casa Newton - Charming design hideaway in Tuscany