Visit the wonderful Tuscany
Holidays and visits to the cities of art
From our Farmhouse, all the popular Tuscan tourist destinations are easily reachable, from the most important cities of art to the most obscure and evocative areas of nature. Moreover, you can reach famous seaside resorts such as "The Versilia" or "the Coast of the Etruschi" with only an hour and 15 minutes by car.
Florence (1 Hour)
Already a Roman town, its reputation is tremendous and it experienced flourishing development in the humanistic age to the point where it now holds the role of cradle town of the Italian Renaissance. In the current period it boasts an unequalled evolutionary level in the contemporary realities in a great number of human fields: for the humanistic, scientific, military arts, in economy as in politics.
It has been the hometown many of the greatest Italian artists, as well as to scientists, philosophers and thinkers who left such an important mark in the history of man.
Florence is the chief town of Tuscany and easily reachable both by private and public means of transport. The historical centre offers immense opportunities for sightseeing due to the wealth of churches, historical buildings, museums, bridges and squares famous throughout the world, such as the Gallery of the Uffizi, the Giardino di Boboli and the Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge). The view of Florence from "Piazzale Michelangelo" ( Michelangelo Large square ) is famous and the charming glimpses that can be enjoyed from the surrounding hills.
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SIENA (40 minutes)
Capital of the province, it is situated in a splendid panoramic position among the valleys of the Arbia and the Elsa, at the convergence of important and busy streets. Born from the fusion of three towns, the city widened in conjunction with the ever greater political importance assumed by the free Municipality, acquiring the characteristic triangular form, maintained until the last century, and forming its urban and monumental centres in the Piazza del Campo and in that of the Cathedral.
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VOLTERRA (15 minutes)
Already Neolithic settlement and important Etruscan centre with a characteristic and original civilization, it became a town hall in the Roman age. Episcopal centre from the V century, it was under the jurisdiction of the bishops, whose power, which had asserted itself in the Frankish age over that of the earl, grew in the XII century. With the decline of the best part in spite of the rebellions. Once the Florentine Republic had fallen, Volterra passed to the Medici family to then follow the fate of Tuscany.
To be seen: Piazza dei Priori (Square of Priors ), one of most beautiful in Italy, encircled by solmen palaces of the 14th century; Palazzo dei Priori (Palace of the Priors ), the Pinacoteca Comunale ( The Municipal art gallery ), the Duomo romanico (the Romanesque Cathedral) , the Battistero ( the Baptistry), the Porta all'arco, the acropoli etrusca (the Etruscan acropolis ), the medicea fortress called "Maschio", the viale dei Ponti (the avenue of the Bridges), via Matteotti, the Etruscan Museum Guarnacci with thousands of mortuary urns of the Hellenistic and archaic period, the archaeological excavations of the Roman Amphitheatre and the graves in Valle Bona.
PISA (1 Hour)
Situated on a bend on the course of the Arno, it lies between the sea and the mount of Pisa. Also founded by the Romans, it was located to the right of the Arno; in Medieval times, the town extended up to the bank of the river and was enclosed within a first city wall in the X century.
Flourishing for centuries as a maritime republic, it is an important tourist destination thanks to its monumental complex, piazza dei Miracoli (square of the Miracles), on which the cathedral, the bell tower, the Baptistery and the cemetery are found.
MONTECATINI TERME (1 Hour)
The spa, referred to since the second half of the XIV century, flourished in the following century; it subsequently fell into decline until the XVIII century, when the current centre was established, clearly detached from the historical nucleus of Montecatini Alto, ancient village located 250m of height difference from the current thermal centre with which it is connected by means of a funicular. Independent from 1163, after Montaperti (1260), it was contended between Guelphs and Ghibellines.
In 1554, it was occupied by Pietro Strozzi and then by Cosimo I. In 1851, the town hall was aggregated to the prefecture of Lucca and in 1928 it became part of the province of Pistoia.
SAN GIMIGNANO (15 minutes)
Gently rolling hills covered in vineyards, olive groves, variously cultivated fields and greens forests, from whichever direction you arrive at San Gimignano, this is the view that greets the visitor. The profile of towers and Medieval palaces of this jewel of a well kept little town has been declared a “world heritage site” by U.N.E.S.C.O.
Recommended: Piazza della Cisterna (Square of the Cistern), Piazza del Duomo (Cathedral Square), Collegiata with frescoes of Benozzo Gozzoli and of the Pollaiolo, Piazza del Popolo .
CERTALDO (20 minutes)
Centre on the right of the Elsa river. The most ancient part is encircled by walls. Preferred place to stay by Boccaccio who died and was buried there.
Recommended: the Medieval village with the House of Boccaccio and the Palazzo Pretorio (Praetorial Palace).
SAN VIVALDO - MONTAIONE (5 minutes)
The Franciscan complex was built among thick forests still luxuriant (Selva di Camporena), in the place where the blessed Vivaldo Stricchi lived his life as an hermit at the beginning of the XIV century. In 1320 a small church was built, later enlarged, that passed in 1497 to the Minor Franciscan friars. There they built a monastery and next to it, between 1500 and 1515, a Sacred Mount (so-called Jerusalem of Tuscany) conceived by Tommaso da Firenze.
Within the area, the Municipality of Montaione has created a permanent exhibition that illustrates the characteristics of the place related to Jerusalem.
VINCI (40 minutes)
Centre of Lower Valdarno: surrounded by wonderful hills, it dominates the plain of Empoli. The production of olives and wine grapes is famous, as well as the handicraft of ceramics and glass.
Vinci is the hometown of Leonardo. You can find there the Museum and the Library of him
Tuscany Farm vacations