Things to see and do Toscane

Want to take off? About twelve kilometres north of Piombino, the town of Baratti offers a long and beautiful beach of fine sand. As a bonus, the island of Elba and the bay of Piombino in panorama. It is easily accessible by crossing a shaded pine forest; a good place for a picnic after swimming in clear water. The beach is free and open access - which is not so frequent in Italy -, parking is not free, and beware, there are many controls in high season!

As almost everywhere in Tuscany, there is an itinerary to visit the cellars of theetruscan coast. Among the most famous and recognized wines of this region are Bibbona, Montescudaio, Bolgheri and Val di Cornia, as well as the legendary Sassicaia and the internationally renowned Ornellaia. This consortium is here to give you route tips and ideas for car rides, of course, but also by bike and even on foot for the bravest.

Not all vineyards are fortunate enough to have such a palace, that of the Squarcialupi (15th century). It is possible to visit it, especially the cellars and the wine library which houses beautiful bottles. The palace also has a shop where you can taste 6 labels from the house and of course buy some of them. This estate, which mainly produces Chianti Classico, has its origins in the Squarcialupi family, historically settled in Castellina in Chianti, before the property was later sold to another family.

Swimming in Bagno Vignoni? Admittedly, you can enjoy the beneficial virtues of the thermal waters at the spa of the hotel Le Terme, in the piazza delle Sorgenti. But if you want to have fun in the water in the middle of nature and without paying anything, we have a plan! Below the hill where the constant flow hot spring flows (follow the sign "Parco dei Mulini"), a clay basin awaits you in a magnificent landscape. The path is steep but relatively easy. Remember to bring your bathing suit and a towel!

A few kilometres from Bucine, Pogi is a small village with a church and some houses partly built on the old ramparts. Ancient castle, Pogi was the domain of the Guidi Counts. Its Roman bridge over the Ambra is one of the most significant historical testimonies of the whole Valdambra. The foundations of this bridge date back to Roman times. It was on a deviation from the Cassia Adrianea, an old road that linked Rome to Florence. On these stone pillars rests the medieval structure with five arches.

Perched at the top of a hill, south of Panzano in Chianti, this pretty, intimate church dating back to the year 1000 also houses a small religious community. His works of art and paintings are worth a visit, as well as the view from the flowerbedof the surrounding hilly countryside. Benches await you there for a moment of meditation, in a quiet place. The façade portico, with its sandstone columns, was built in the 16th century. Concerts or conferences are regularly organised on Sunday afternoons.

The Fattoria dei Barbi extends over 306 hectares between Montalcino and Scansano, with a production of around 800,000 bottles per year, including 200,000 from Brunello. This famous property, held since 1790 by the Colombinis, a noble family from Siena, produces the prestigious Brunello di Montalcino. Asuperbly balanced wine, with an intense garnet colour, a complex nose and aromas of cherries, prunes, truffles and spices, which you can taste after visiting the splendid cellars, now owned by Stefano Cinelli Colombini.

With its 45,000 students, Pisa is a city with a lively nightlife. To have a drink at aperitif time or at night, visit piazza delle Vettovaglie, a gathering place for young people from Pisa and abroad, students, bohemian artists and musicians who liven up this warm place, where the market also takes place in the morning. An alternative: the pretty Gambacorti piazza, commonly renamed piazza della Pera because of its pear trees: there are also bars, restaurants and gelaterie but in a slightly quieter atmosphere.

A great idea for those who want to perfect their Italian while discovering Florence! In fact, the Scuola Leonardo da Vinci, founded in 1977, located in the heart of the historic centre, is the only school to offer an unusual walk through the historic streets of Florence accompanied by an Italian teacher as a guide. It is therefore an opportunity to associate the most beautiful places in Florence with the practice of Italian, its musicality, its expressions and its vocabulary put into context. A truly unique guided tour.

This tourist office offers practical information for visitors, including details of the thermal baths in the town, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2021 in the "Great European Spa Towns" series. Montecatini Terme is also known for its magnificent Liberty-style buildings and picturesque park. Maps and brochures to help you find your way around the town and its surroundings. Cultural agenda, activities, funicular timetables for Montecatini Alto... In short, the place to stop to organize your visit to Montecatini!

Beneath the ^16th-century arcades, known as Loggia del Porcellino (Piglet's Lodge), a statue of a wild boar stands on the south side of the structure (on the Via Calimaruzza side). Touch it and slip a coin into the beast's mouth for good luck! This bronze sculpture was created around 1633 by the Baroque master Pietro Tacca.

In days gone by, under the loggias, merchants sold luxury goods such as silk and precious objects. Today, a market, the Mercato Nuovo, sells mainly leather goods and souvenirs.