Lucca contains 2,000 years of history in its medieval streets that open out into lovely piazzas with Romanesque churches
Bagno Vignoni is like a postcard for Tuscany's Val D'Orcia area, it lies on the famous Via Francigena pilgrim path and is home to hot springs you can visit today.
Embrace a slower pace of life in Anghiari, one of Italy's most beautiful villages with views over the Valtiberina valley.
Arezzo dates back to the Etruscan era and is surrounded by the valleys of Val Tiberina, Casentino, Valdarno and Valdichiana. Visit the famous antique market which is held the first weekend of every month.
Certaldo, a charming and often overlooked Medieval town in the Chianti area of Tuscany which is an ideal base for exploring the region. It is also the birthplace of Italian poet Giovanni Boccaccio.
While there are a wealth of cultural institutions guaranteed to keep you busy in the cradle of the Renaissance, planning a few day trips into the surrounding countryside is always a great way to enjoy a more simple pace of Italian life. While I didn't include Pisa, Siena, San Gimignano, Chianti, Cinque Terre which are the most well-known day trips from Firenze, it's not to say don't go, rather I figured you probably already know about them.
Here are five that are often uncrowded, just as charming and also worth a visit.
1. Lucca, neither too big or small, this charming town just an hour and some change from Florence (if that) is one of our favorite getaways. Rent a bike and ride around the city's intact walls before indulging in a cozy trattoria serving up local cuisine such as potato-filled tortelli with wild boar ragu. You can get there by car or by train (which takes 1 h 22 min - to 2 hours, price starts at 7,50€.
2. Bagno Vignoni & Val d'Orcia, one of our favorite valleys in Tuscany is also the most picturesque, just two hours shy from Florence by car. Val d'Orcia is a splendidly beautiful area of Tuscany containing numerous hamlets worth visiting along with some of the best wine in Italy. Bagno Vignoni is well-known for its ancient hot springs and charming atmosphere, you can base here while exploring Pienza, Montalcino and Montepulciano.
3. Anghiari is one of the most beautiful towns embracing a slow pace of life in Italy, an easy hour and a half trip from Florence by car. You might have heard of it from a famous painting by Leonardo da Vinci depicting the Battle of Anghiari (1440). Walking along its jumble of medieval streets is like stepping back in time. Climb to the top, where the fortress is located, for a splendid view of the Valtiberina valley.
4. People often skip the town of Arezzo in favor of Siena, but it really shouldn't be overlooked. It's small size and proximety to Florence (only one hour) make it easy to visit, and there is a spectacular antiques fair (biggest in Italy) taking over the historical center, the first weekend of every month. By train, it takes little over an hour and the cost starts at 8,40€ one-way.
5. Certaldo is known as the birthplace of the famous Italian poet Boccaccio (1313), it takes less than an hour to visit from Florence and located in the heart of the Valdelsa. This red-brick town is an ideal base for discovering nearby popular attractions such as the Chianti wine region (Greve in Chianti etc), San Gimignano, and our favorite Monteriggioni! By train, it takes just one hour with tickets starting at 6,10€.
For more tips and ideas for exploring a more unique side to Italy, visit our experiences section to book a small-group tour today.
