Exploring Florence and Tuscany
With its world-famous art cities, exquisite medieval hill towns and iconic vine- and olive-clad hills, Tuscany has so much to see that it can be difficult to decide where to start. These itineraries are designed to make planning your trip easy, concentrating on the places that no one should miss.
Two Days in Florence
Day 1
Begin with the splendid Duomo Group. Climb to the top of the Campanile then admire the Gothic Baptistry. Walk to Piazza della Signoria, which is overlooked by Palazzo Vecchio, then cross the Arno via the medieval Ponte Vecchio with its minuscule jewellery shops.
Afternoon
Visit the Pitti Palace for Raphael’s La Velata then stroll around the Boboli Gardens. End the day at the Uffizi, being sure to admire Botticelli’s La Primavera and Birth of Venus.
Day 2
Morning
Head to Santa Croce, where the Cappella de’ Pazzi is an icon of Renaissance architecture, then move on to Il Bargello, which houses sculptures including Flying Mercury by Giambologna. Devote the rest of the morning to Fra Angelico’s frescoes at San Marco.
Afternoon
Pay homage to Michelangelo’s David at the Galleria dell’Accademia. Afterwards, look at scenes from the New Testament by Ghirlandaio in the church of Santa Maria Novella. Take bus 12 (or a short walk) from the train station to San Miniato al Monte, for splendid views and a marble medieval horoscope.
Seven Days in Tuscany
Day 1 and 2
Follow the two-day Florence itinerary.
Day 3
Arrive in Pisa and make a beeline for the Piazza del Duomo, dominated by the Leaning Tower. Next, visit the market on arcaded Piazza Vettovaglie and then stroll along the languid Arno before driving to Lucca.
Day 4
Begin at Lucca’s Duomo, housing the Volto Santo. Next, walk around the town’s ramparts before heading to the Piazza del Mercato, which still retains the form of the Roman amphitheatre that preceded it. Then drive south to San Gimignano, for its medieval towers and formidably crenellated private and civic buildings. Visit the Collegiata with its 14th-century frescoes by Bartolo di Fredi. Pick up an ice cream at Piazza della Cisterna’s Gelateria “di Piazza” (Gelateria Dondoli).
Day 5
Tour the Chianti Classico wine region, stopping for tasters along the way. From Panzano a minor road leads to the picturesque wine hamlet of Volpaia, close to Radda in Chianti. Afterwards, head through the scenic Tuscan countryside to Siena.
Day 6
Explore Piazza del Campo and visit the medieval art collection of the Palazzo Pubblico. Climb the Torre del Mangia, before heading to the striped Duomo. In the evening, drive to Cortona.
Day 7
Spend the morning in Cortona, with its Etruscan museum and tombs and medieval alleyways. Be sure to visit the Museo Diocesano for Fra Angelico’s Annunciation before driving back to Florence.