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Some of us travel to Tuscany for a specific sight: Pisa’s tower, Florence’s duomo or Ponte Vecchio, Siena’s liquorice-striped cathedral or the whole of magical medieval San Gimignano. However there is so much more to this fantastic region, and that’s where our guide to Tuscany’s towns and centres might come in handy.  We can help you decide where you really need to stay, or you can use our guide to help plan your grand tour, taking in all the sights.

Our Guide to Tuscany’s Towns and Centres

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Florence 

One of the most glorious cities on the planet, not just in Tuscany, Florence is rich with architecture, art, history, cuisine and scenery.  It’s both very Tuscan, and entirely Florentine, a confident historic power which preserves its golden age, yet has a contemporary side too.  It will take you a month or more to see all the sights, so don't be too ambitious — make a short list of the places you must see, eat well, and admire all the views.  Florence is big enough to have a huge variety of accommodation, but surprisingly the larger hotel chains haven’t done so well here. Instead you'll find exquisitely converted palazzos, and heavenly villas in the hills, as well as hotels and B&Bs of all shapes, sizes and styles.  There are plenty of aparthotels too, lots of family friendly options and properties galore for romantics and luxury lovers.  

Siena

Siena has one of Italy’s best known sky-lines, a marvel in shades of terracotta, ochre and siena, spiked by the black and white striped cathedral tower, and Siena’s many bell towers.  There’s an argument to say that the best places to stay in Siena are the places with the best views; luckily, there’s a huge range of accommodation with fantastic views, in a range of price brackets too.  If you want to stay in the centre of town, close to Piazza del Campo, the art galleries, museums, churches and cathedrals, towers, and historic-feeling shops, you’ll probably end up in a palazzo, villa or mansion conversion, or a townhouse turned B&B — Siena allows very limited building.  If you prefer more contemporary accommodation you’ll find it outside of the city centre. 

Pisa

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There’s a lot more to Pisa than an architectural project gone slightly awry, but the tower certainly draws the crowds, who may otherwise have missed Pisa’s impressive number of museums and galleries, its beautiful spot on the River Arno, and walkable historic centre.  Pisa is old, it was a maritime power before the Roman period, so it has plenty of tales to tell, but it’s also surprisingly youthful, kept young by its large population of university students. Pisa has some incredibly historic buildings, and an impressive calendar of events and festivals, but also a lively nightlife, and a very varied collection of accommodation and places to eat and drink.  There’s plenty of great value to be found in Pisa too.

San Gimignano 

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San Gimignano is a comparatively small town, but it’s entirely Heritage Listed, which means it has become something of a quintessential Tuscan hilltop town. Its narrow alleyways and open piazzas boast buildings in traditional Tuscan colours; there are bell towers, palazzos and churches a-plenty and a gelateria with a mind-boggling number of flavours. However because of its relatively small size, there’s not a huge range of accommodation available in town. But because most people come here for a day trip, there are big rewards for guests who do stay over, especially if it’s for more than a single evening. San Gimignano is quite serene once the crowds have departed, and there are some wonderful places to eat and drink which are impossible to find a table in during the day.

Montepulciano 

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Montepulciano, a familiar name to anyone who likes a glass of Tuscan wine, is a hilltop town (it is perched on one of the highest hills in the region) with loads of charm, some world class restaurants, and wonderful views over the surrounding region. The town boasts classic Tuscan colours, and an impressive array of architecture — look for the Renaissance highlights. As with all of Tuscany’s hilltop towns, there’s a limit to how many restaurants, and accommodation options, you can fit within the original walls, so Montepulciano is known for its restaurants with rooms. It also has some beautiful villa and farmhouse conversions, small hotels, and B&Bs.  And if you’d prefer something a bit more contemporary you will find options just outside the ancient walls.

Arezzo

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Well positioned between some of Tuscany’s biggest hitters: Florence, Siena, Montepulciano, Perugia and Assisi, many people find Arezzo on their itinerary for practical purposes. But they’re very glad of it once they see Arezzo’s Renaissance palazzos and Romanesque churches — especially the Basilica San Francesco, with its incredible murals. People may also be glad of it once they see Arezzo’s shops and markets: Arezzo hosts one of Italy’s largest antique markets on the first weekend of every month.  It is a bit less restricted than other Tuscan towns because it runs along the side of a hill, rather than sitting on top of it, which means the town has been able to develop with more freedom, and there’s more choice when it comes to accommodation here.  Opt for a converted townhouse or Palazzo in the centre of town, or a converted abbey or Tuscan estate on the outskirts.

San Vincenzo