The 14 most beautiful villages in Tuscany

Explore the Tuscan lands, from village to village, in the midst of beautiful landscapes and out of the beaten paths. Follow the guide!

Florence , Pisa , Siena , Lucca... Creuset of the Renaissance, Tuscany is known for its cities receling jewels of heritage. The beauty of this region is also hidden in its hilly landscapes and well preserved medieval villages.

For a bucolic dive in the heart of the Middle Ages, take the wheel and visit the most beautiful villages in Tuscany.

1. San Gimignano

Perched on a hill in the Val d’Elsa, San Gimignano is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Surrounded by a wall and hung by about fifteen towers, this medieval village surprises the visitor. It is the most famous and unusual of the villages of Tuscany. You will discover the back houses built in the Middle Ages by rich merchants.

If there are about 15 people today, you should know that at the time the village housed more than seventy. San Gimignano is organising around the Piazza della Cisterna equipped with a well and Piazza del Duomo , where is the beautiful college. Enter this monument to admire the interior fully covered with frescoes. Walk in place and churches in palaces.

For a panoramic view of the village, climb to the top of the Torre Grossa, tall over fifty meters and built in the 14th century. Take a tour of the rocca di Montestaffoli for another view. At the end of the day, taste the Vernaccia, an excellent Italian white wine produced here.

2. San Miniato

The village of San Miniato stretches on a hill overlooking the river Arno. In the 10th century, it became the seat of the Holy Germanic Empire in Tuscany. The medieval village houses the tower built by Frédéric II of Hohenstaufen, offering a beautiful view of the surrounding area.

Take a walk in its alleys and places to immerse yourself in the medieval atmosphere. His museums and palaces, as well as Duomo to the majolic façade deserve a visit. San Miniato is also known for the white truffle, which grows in the vicinity.

3. Pienza

Overlooking the splendid Val d’Orcia, Pienza is one of the most beautiful villages in Tuscany. It offers a panoramic view of the Tuscan hills. The birthplace of Pope Pius II, in the 15th century, it was equipped with the initiative of this famous religious man, palace and Duomo .

Through your walk, discover the harmony Piazza Pio II , Duomo and the Palazzo Piccolomini, where to admire a beautiful view of the countryside. You can complete your exploration by visiting the Museo Diocesano.

4. San Quirico d’Orcia

After your visit to Pienza, head to Val d’Orcia. In this region you can contemplate the landscapes beautifully shaped by man and painted by Renaissance artists. Dive in the middle of the hills sprinkled with olive trees and cypress trees, where gastronomy and wines are kings.

In this context, you will cross, among other things, the village of San Quirico d’Orcia, surrounded by walled stone doors, During a stop, discover the alleys and the collegiata built in the 12th and 13th centuries. It features portals of Roman and Gothic style.

5. Montalcino

Another pretty village in Val d’Orcia, Montalcino plunges into the heart of the Middle Ages. It is known for its wine the Brunello di Montalcino. Walk up the ramparts and admire the panoramic view. Don’t miss the visit of the impressive fortress with four polygonal towers. Well preserved, it dates back to the 14th century. Nearby, make a detour to the Cistercian abbey of Sant’Antimo, built in the 12th century, in the hollow of a green vallon.

6. Montepulciano

Perched in the middle of hills, vineyards and woods, Montepulciano dominates Val d’Orcia at 605 meters above sea level. A former Medici fief, it presents two faces: a medieval and the second that dates back to the Renaissance. The village invites to contemplation, between medieval streets and animations of the Piazza Grande .

This place, located at the top of the village, is the ideal place to drink a drink and taste the famous red wine of Montepulciano. You can visit the many buildings of the Renaissance, of the Church of San Biagio at Duomo passing through the Palazzo Comunale. If you like the beautiful views, go up the tower of this palace. Other Renaissance palaces, as well as a well, punctuate the walk.

7. Pitigliano

Built on a rocky grove, Pitigliano offers an astonishing composition of houses close to each other and all in floors. This ancient Etruscan city invites you to an unusual walk in Via Cava Etrusca.

This old network of galleries and cellars was dug into the rock. Discover through its paved streets and sometimes steeped the Palais Orsini and the Duomo Baroque façade. To learn more about the history of this village, visit the museums of Etruscan civilization and sacred art.

8. Cortona

For a breathtaking view of the Tuscan countryside, set the course on Cortona. This ancient Etruscan city is one of the most beautiful villages in Tuscany. Built at the top of a hill, it offers superb views. It is pleasant to walk in its narrow streets and discover its churches and museums.

Piazza della Repubblica is the lively center of Cortona. It is bordered by palace and leads, through a small passage, to the Piazza Luca Signorelli . Here is the Museo dell’Accademia Etrusca e della Città di Cortona. Paint fans will visit the Museo Diocesano, which houses two masterpieces by Fra Angelico. Continue the exploration of this city by visiting its churches and fortress.

9. Volterra

From the top of this ancient perched Etruscan city, prepare yourself to contemplate amazing landscapes of hills. Protected by impressive walls, Volterra houses architectural treasures from the Etruscan period to the Renaissance. It is full of museums and works of art.

Piazza dei Priori is the most animated and lined by the Palace of the same name. It is the oldest communal palace in Tuscany. The city also houses a former Roman theatre. The visit of the Museo Etrusco Guarnacci is one of the must-sees.

10. Monterrigioni

This charming little village, surrounded by a wall decorated with towers and protected by a round path, is a must-see stop in Tuscany. Built in height, it offers a beautiful view of the surrounding countryside and its pretty hilly curves. You can visit its church and small museum and walk on the ramparts.

11. Capalbio

Located in the Maremma, in the middle of green hills and near the coast, this perched village invites contemplation. Ancient medieval village, it is still surrounded by ramparts and houses a church and a castle.

Nearby, find out Giardino dei Tarocchi , imagined by Niki de Saint Phalle. The garden is punctuated with giant sculptures covered by mosaics by the artist and works by Jean Tinguely.

12. Massa Marittima

Also in Maremma, Massa Marittima offers a charming medieval centre. Perched on the Métallifères hills, it houses a majestic Duomo Romanesque style, which reminds the cathedral of Siena.

To discover this city, direction the Piazza Garibaldi bordered with palaces. Torre del Candeliere offers its summit a beautiful view of the old city and the cathedral.

13. Collodi

Located in the mountains of the Apennines, Collodi is a pretty steep village, where the mother of the creator of Pinocchio , Carlo Lorenzini . It is therefore not a coincidence that the artist chose himself as a pseudonym Collodi.

You will discover here a park dedicated to Pinocchio and take a lovely walk in the gardens of Villa Garzoni, dated the 17th and 18th centuries.

14. Chiusi

Former Etruscan city, overlooking the Val di Chiana, Chiusi is full of archaeological treasures. To discover them, visit the Etruscan National Museum and the Etruscan Tombs, two must-see sites.

In Tuscany, other charming villages await you. Enjoy your stay in this region to go in search of these ravishing and sometimes still secret places.