Moon Florence & Beyond

DISCOVER FLORENCE & BEYOND

MY FAVORITE EXPERIENCES

EXPLORE FLORENCE & BEYOND

BEST OF FLORENCE

LUGGAGE STORAGE

PISTOIA-LUCCA-PISA

CHIANTI-SAN GIMIGNANO-SIENA

TRAVEL LIKE A LOCAL

WHERE TO GO FROM FLORENCE

SIENA AND TUSCAN HILL TOWNS

WINE TASTING IN TUSCANY

BEFORE YOU GO

WHEN TO GO

GETTING THERE

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

BUDGETING

GETTING AROUND

WHAT TO PACK

DAILY REMINDERS

SIGHTSEEING PASSES

KEY RESERVATIONS

Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance, inspires with its orderly streets lined with yellow façades, its famous Renaissance art, and its romantic bridge crossing the Arno river. Justly famous for its glorious past, its invigorating present is just as enticing. As you explore, let curiosity be your guide. Pedal a bike along the Arno, sip espresso at the counter of a coffee bar, and pause with the locals for a Negroni during aperitivo hour. Immerse yourself in the modern city, and its liveliness, diversity, and traditions may surprise you.

Florence gets most of the attention, but there’s more to Tuscany than one stunning city, from Siena’s shell-shaped square to Lucca’s sturdy ramparts, to the soft, gentle hills that Romantic poets described as the entrance to heaven. Grapevines and olive trees line winding roads, where every town, it seems, is worthy of a detour. There are ancient pilgrim paths to tread and old roads that beckon to be explored on a bicycle or Vespa. And when it comes to food, Tuscany can’t be beat. Portions are generous, flavors are robust, and there’s certainly no shortage of red wine to choose from.

More than just a gorgeous landscape, Tuscany is the birthplace of thousands of ideas that changed art and architecture forever. This is where Brunelleschi solved the 15th century’s greatest engineering puzzle; where da Vinci contemplated flight; where Michelangelo worked magic with marble; and where Galileo contemplated the heavens. Once you’ve experienced Florence and Tuscany for yourself, you, too, may never see the world the same way again.

MY FAVORITE EXPERIENCES

EXPLORE FLORENCE & BEYOND

Three days is enough time to get a good introduction to Florence. From there, there’s no shortage of single and multi-day trips outside the city. Key considerations (in addition to your interests) are time and mode of transportation. Pistoia, Lucca, and Pisa can all be quickly reached by train and make good individual day destinations, or can be combined into longer excursions. Siena is also reachable by rail and a feasible day trip. Volterra, San Gimignano, Chianti, and the Hill Towns south of Siena are not accessible by train, so driving is the most convenient option for exploring these parts of Tuscany.

BEST OF FLORENCE

Three days will allow you to visit a number of Florence’s major sights, get a taste of Tuscan cuisine, and take a bus out to Fiesole for sunset views of the city. Visit www.firenzeturismo.it to make reservations for the Accademia and Uffizi before arriving to the city. Reserving a table at Fiesole’s La Reggia degli Etruschi at the end of this itinerary is also recommended.

DAY 1

Explore Florence’s historic center on your first full day. (For a more detailed itinerary, see Florence on Day 1).

▪  See the David, climb to the top of the Duomo, and enjoy art at Museo Nazionale del Bargello, a tranquil alternative to the Uffizi.

▪  End your day sampling Tuscan cuisine at one of the osteria (restaurants) lining Borgo la Croce.

DAY 2

Spend day two exploring the Oltrarno neighborhood south of Florence’s historic center. (For a more detailed itinerary, see Florence on Day 2).

▪  Hike to Basilica San Miniato al Monte for great views of Florence, visit local craft workshops below, and taste a tripe sandwich for lunch.

▪  Check out Adam and Eve inside the Brancacci Chapel.

▪  Get aperitivo started with a Negroni cocktail from one of the bars in Piazza Santo Spirito.

DAY 3

Experience Florence like a local or continue sightseeing, with a side trip out to Fiesole for views over Florence.

▪  Get to the Uffizi early, before it gets crowded, and cross the Ponte Vecchio for fun (or to browse jewelry shops with a loved one).

▪  Walk up to Museo San Marco and see where monks lived, including one who was burned at the stake in Piazza della Signoria.

▪  In the afternoon, ride bus 7 (20 minutes) up to Fiesole and take a look at the town’s Roman amphitheater. Enjoy the view outside Convento di San Francisco, the convent, and get a table on the terrace at Reggia degli Etruschi for dinner with a view.

PISTOIA-LUCCA-PISA

There’s a lot more to Tuscany than Florence, and these three cities provide plenty of cultural and artistic perspective on the region. They also give cyclists a chance to get beyond city limits and explore aqueducts, riversides, and natural parks. Reserve your ticket for the Leaning Tower of Pisa 1-20 days in advance at www.opapisa.it.

All three of these cities are accessed by rail, making this itinerary possible without a car. Pack light, since you won’t have a place to stow items when you’re exploring Pisa en route to Lucca. (You can leave extra luggage in storage at the train station in Florence.)

DAY 1: FLORENCE TO PISTOIA AND LUCCA

▪  From Florence, catch an early train (30-50 minutes) to Pistoia. Trains depart Florence’s Santa Maria Novella station hourly. No reservations are necessary; just get a ticket and go.

▪  The train will drop you off just a 15-minute walk from the historic center. Climb the Campanile bell tower, then enjoy a traditional lunch at Locanda del Capitano del Popolo.

▪  Head back to the station and buy a ticket to Lucca (45-60 minutes). Settle into your hotel, then rent a bike and ride around the city’s ramparts, or ride the 4-kilometer (one-way) Parco del Nottolini trail next to the old aqueduct.

▪  Have dinner at Gigi Trattoria in Lucca before turning in for the night.

DAY 2: LUCCA TO PISA

▪  In the morning, take a leisurely stroll down the elegant streets of Lucca. Discover Piazza dell’Anfiteatro, the cutest square in Tuscany.

▪  Have lunch at Lucca’s Trattoria Canuleia in a garden away from the tourist traps.

▪  Get on the next train to Pisa (30 minutes), and don’t be late for your appointment to climb the famous Leaning Tower. You get 30 minutes at the top.

▪  At dusk, walk the city’s narrow ramparts, Mura di Pisa, for a view of the city from above.

▪  Follow the sound of students gathering socially in the squares around Borgo Stretto and get a taste of Pisa’s nightlife yourself. Drinking in the streets is a summertime ritual for many locals.

DAY 3: PISA BACK TO FLORENCE

▪  Rent a bike and cycle around the city’s walls.

▪  Circle back for another look at the Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles) and have lunch at Osteria Rossini in a quieter square away from the masses. Board the next train back to Florence (50-70 minutes).

CHIANTI-SAN GIMIGNANO-SIENA

Tuscany owes much of its legendary status to these three destinations. This rural itinerary (best enjoyed by car) gets better around every curve. There’s endless wine, magnificent vineyards surrounded by idyllic landscapes, and gastronomic treats waiting in each romantic town along the way. Make advance reservations for Castello di Verrazzano winery.

DAY 1: FLORENCE TO CASTELLINA IN CHIANTI AND RADDA IN CHIANTI

▪  Head out early from Florence on the SR222 south to Chianti.

▪  Stop at Castello di Verrazzano (reservations required), an historic winery, then continue driving to Castellina.

▪  After arriving in Castellina, park your car, then order pici pasta at an osteria in town, like romantic Ristorante Sotto le Volte, located under medieval vaulted passageways.

▪  Visit Rocca, the town’s fortress, before departing for Radda, 13 kilometers (8mi) east along the SR429 regional road.

▪  After arriving in Radda, rent a Vespa from Tuscany Scooter Rental and explore the Tuscan countryside.

▪  Spend the night at Podere Terreno agriturismo and wake up with a wonderful view.

DAY 2: RADDA TO SAN GIMIGNANO AND SIENA

▪  Have breakfast at the agriturismo, then hit the road towards San Gimignago, 45 kilometers (28mi) west back along the SR429 and onto the SP51. The drive takes about an hour.

▪  Park in one of the town’s lots (€2/hour) and climb Casa Campatelli, one of the last remaining tower houses in San Gimignano.

▪  Circle the city’s ring walls on foot, and visit Palagetto winery, a 10-minute walk from town.

▪  Set off for Siena, 42 kilometers (26mi) south along the Firenze-Siena highway, and park for the night.

▪  Visit the Duomo, which is second to none in terms of craftsmanship and beauty, then climb Torre del Mangia for sunset views.

▪  Spend the evening at a small enoteca making friends and falling in love with Tuscan food.

DAY 3: SIENA TO PANZANO, AND BACK TO FLORENCE

▪  Sample local pastries at Pasticceria Bini outside the center of town, then wander Sienna’s Renaissance streets around Piazza del Campo, and enjoy some souvenir shopping on Via di Città.

▪  Return towards Florence by driving north on the SR222 road. After about an hour, make a rest stop in Panzano for the local steak specialty at Officina della Bistecca.

▪  Make it back to Florence in time for aperitivo.

SIENA AND TUSCAN HILL TOWNS

Siena is a cultural dynamo filled with Renaissance monuments that are second to none. It’s also an ideal starting point for exploring the stunning hill towns and magnificent wineries south of the city. For this itinerary, take a train to Siena, then rent a car there to explore the hill towns to the south.

DAY 1: FLORENCE TO SIENA

▪  Take the train from Florence to Siena (90 minutes), and spend a day (or two, if you have the time) exploring the city. For the best ways to spend your time in Siena.

DAYS 2-3: SIENA TO MONTALCINO AND PIENZA; PIENZA TO MONTEPULCIANO

▪  Rent a car in Siena’s train station at Siena Rent, then begin your drive south to the hill towns. For a detailed two-day itinerary of this region. Highlights include tastings at local wineries and wine cellars, sunset views across Tuscany, and a half-day cycling tour with panoramic views.

BEFORE YOU GO

WHEN TO GO

Florence is one of the most visited cities in the world. Deciding when to go will have a significant impact on your experience.

SUMMER

Summer sees a dramatic increase in arrivals, with July and August the apex of the tourist season. Airlines and hotels take advantage of demand to raise their rates, and temperatures rise to sweltering. Avoid these months if you can. If you can’t, book ahead and purchase sightseeing passes like the Firenzecard