Exploring the charming towns of Tuscany easily became the highlight of our unforgettable Italian summer adventure. Each town offered unique charm, delicious food, authentic local experiences, and breathtaking views of the rolling Tuscan hills. Tuscany unquestionably captured our hearts, inspiring us to create this one week Tuscany itinerary, so you can also experience why we fell in love with this beautiful destination.
How to Get to Tuscany
When it comes to reaching Tuscany from various parts of Italy, the most convenient option is to take the train. We traveled from Monte Isola to Florence by train to start our journey in Tuscany. From Florence, another train took us to the charming town of San Gimignano. If you're flying into Italy, it's best to arrive in Florence and then either rent a car or take a train to your final destination in Tuscany.
Getting Around Tuscany
For the ultimate Tuscany experience, renting a car is the way to go. Once we arrived in San Gimignano, we secured a car from the local car rental company, Bellucci Rent. Mr. Bellucci, an aficionado of cars and photography, treated us to a tour of his personal car museum, a copy of his Tuscany guidebook featuring his photography, and set us up with our car. It's important to note that most cars in Europe are manual, so if you require an automatic like we did, be prepared for a potentially more challenging search and higher costs.
How Much Time to Spend in Tuscany
We dedicated five days for our Tuscan getaway, relaxing at our farm stay and discovering the charming small towns of Tuscany. We believe that 5 to 7 days is the perfect amount of time to experience Tuscany at a leisurely pace.
Where to Stay in Tuscany
Our home base was Fattoria Di Pancole, located just outside the town of San Gimignano. This vineyard offers private apartments, a pool with breathtaking panoramic views of the Tuscan countryside, and complimentary parking on its extensive 60-hectare vineyards and olive groves. The apartments came equipped with everything we needed, including kitchenettes and private gardens.
Fattoria Di Pancole is a fully functioning vineyard renowned for its exceptional white wine and high-quality olive. Situated only a 5-minute drive from San Gimignano, it was the ideal location for exploring the region's small towns. We highly recommend participating in a wine tasting or tour for a personal, local experience during your stay.
Photo Credit: Fattoria Di Pancole via Booking.com
Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco is a 5-star hotel within a 900 year-old Italian estate set on 5,000-acres located in Montalcino, Tuscany. This luxury hotel offers Italy's only private golf club, a winery, cooking school, spa, outdoor heated pool, and much more.
Photo Credit: Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco via Booking.com
This luxury Marriott resort is located outside the walled medieval city of Lucca, which offers an ideal location in the heart of Tuscany. The hotel offers a spa, pool, bar, and cooking classes.
