Things to do in  Tuscany

Perhaps one of the world’s most beloved architectural mistakes, the Leaning Tower of Pisa’s inimitable tilt has made the UNESCO World Heritage Site an Italian icon. While travelers flock to snap photos of themselves “holding up” the tilted tower—originally intended as a bell tower for Pisa Cathedral—you can also ascend the 294-step spiral staircase for stunning views over Pisa.

Home to what may be the most famous sculpture in the world, the Accademia Gallery (Galleria dell’Accademia) is one of the top museums in Florence. Aside from Michelangelo’s renowned statue of David, other works of art on display include Renaissance paintings by artists such as Sandro Botticelli and Filippino Lippi, unfinished Michelangelo sculptures, and a rare collection of musical instruments.

No matter where you are in Florence, chances are you’ll spot this famous Duomo, a defining element of the city’s history, geography, and identity. Beneath its red-tiled dome lies Florence’s largest church, officially called the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore. The Duomo complex, which houses the Opera del Duomo Museum (Museo dell’Opera del Duomo), the Florence Baptistery (Battistero di San Giovanni), and Giotto’s Bell Tower (Campanile di Giotto), is the city’s most famous landmark.

The Ponte Vecchio—or Old Bridge—is perhaps the most recognized symbol of Florence after Brunelleschi’s Dome. Stretching across the Arno River, the pretty pedestrian bridge is lined with pocket-sized jewelry stores and viewpoints over the city’s colorful riverside palazzi. The windows that run along the top of the 14th-century bridge hint at the Vasari Corridor—a secret passageway built for the Medici family and now accessible to the public.

One of the most famous sights in all of Tuscany—perhaps all of Italy—stands in the Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa. This grassy expanse is home to the city’s cathedral complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that includes the Duomo, Monumental Cemetery, and Opera del Duomo Museum. The headliner, however, is the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

The Uffizi Galleries (Gallerie degli Uffizi) house one of the world’s most significant collections of art, drawing in more than a million annual visitors who wish to cast their eyes upon its many masterpieces. Set in the heart of Florence, the museum contains the works of artists such as Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Caravaggio, Botticelli, and Giotto, among others. It is the premier place to view Italian Renaissance art and is the most-visited museum in the country.

The medieval center of Montalcino is certainly picturesque, but this hilltop village south of Siena is best known as the birthplace of the prestigious Brunello wines. A favorite destination for oenophiles, pretty Montalcino is also popular with photographers and foodies.

Piazza della Signoria is the most important public square in Florence, home to the fortress-like Palazzo Vecchio—both a museum and the Tuscan capital’s city hall—and the Loggia dei Lanzi, an open-air sculpture gallery with masterpieces by Giambologna and Cellini. The political heart of Florence in medieval and Medici times, today’s piazza is an elegant meeting place to sip spritzes and cappuccinos while admiring the stately Fountain of Neptune.

If you’ve ever seen a picture of the Tuscan countryside—softly rolling hills, towering cypress trees, winding country roads, and quaint hill towns—chances are that you were looking at the Val d'Orcia. This beautiful landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is considered among the loveliest in Italy, and the wines produced here include brunello di Montalcino, regularly ranked among the nation’s best.

Piazzale Michelangelo is the most famous scenic overlook in Florence, affording visitors spectacular views over the city and its landmarks. From this 19th-century square set on a hillside in the Oltrarno neighborhood, you can see the Ponte Vecchio stretching across the Arno River and the iconic Florence Duomo (Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore) soaring over the city’s rooftops, with the Tuscan hills rolling in the distance.

Siena’s central Piazza del Campo is one of the most beautiful and famous squares in Tuscany. This sweeping, shell-shaped space is anchored by the magnificent Palazzo Pubblico (home to the Museo Civico) and soaring Torre del Mangia tower, and hosts the historic Palio di Siena festival each July and August.

The Siena Cathedral (Duomo di Siena) is one Tuscany’s most beautiful churches, second perhaps only to Florence's Santa Maria del Fiore. The magnificent Gothic and Romanesque structure is hard to miss thanks to its tall spires, bold white-and-green stripes, and ornate facade. Inside, the cathedral is equally impressive with works of art by Donatello, Bernini, and Michelangelo.

Towering above Florence, Filippo Brunelleschi’s Dome (Cupola di Brunelleschi) is a bona fide feat of engineering and architecture. Completed in 1436 after 16 years of construction, the symbol of the city—and the world’s largest masonry dome—crowns the Florence Duomo (Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore) and dwarfs every other building in the historic center. Frescoes by Giorgio Vasari and Federico Zuccari decorate the inside of the terracotta-tiled dome, while its terrace offers some of the best views over Florence.

Piazza della Repubblica is one of the most important and elegant squares in the heart of Florence, lined with porticoed 19th-century palazzi, Grand Dame hotels, high-end boutiques, bustling restaurants, and historic cafés. A stroll through this beautiful public space is a must during any Florence sightseeing tour.

With its lively piazzas, Gothic monuments, and well-preserved city walls, the Siena Historic Center (Siena Centro Storico) is one of Italy’s most impressive medieval cityscapes. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995, the old town is an open-air museum of striking historical architecture, including the Piazza del Campo and the Gothic cathedral.