5 Off The Beaten Track Towns to Visit on Holidays in Tuscany

Holidays in Tuscany are a popular choice for many people, but if you are visiting the region and looking for something a little more off the beaten track, there are plenty of lesser-known places to visit too. The region is well known for its fascinating architecture, incredible cities and its intricate history, but many people overlook the smaller towns that are no less interesting and sometimes even more intriguing.

Five Off The Beaten Track Towns

Pitigliano is a typical medieval town, which, like many other Tuscan gems has its routes in Etruscan times. Located in the southern region, in Maremmo, this little town is definitely not on the main tourist trail so often included on holidays in Tuscany. Maremmo is much less popular with tourists than the quintessential Tuscan hill top towns of the Chianti region, and in fact many Italians choose to spend their holidays here to escape the crowds. Underneath the town is a warren of tunnels, caves and tombs that can be explored with a local guide. There is also a Christian cave chapel, which many believe to be the oldest in Italy.

Capalbio is also in Maremma and in the very southern most part of the region. This charming town's hilltop location offers some wonderful views of the whole Maremma region, all the way to the Mediterranean Sea. This is a great town to discover on foot: the Renaissance Collacchioni Palace, which houses Giacomo Puccini’s piano, and the Romanesque 13th century church, with its Renaissance frescos, are among the cultural highlights. Beaches along the coast here are fantastic too.

Manicano is a quaint little town built in typical Tuscan style high on a hilltop, from where you can enjoy stunning views of the surrounding area. The town is most famous for its thermal hot springs, and many Italians come to appreciate the therapeutic waters. You can pay for access to the Saturnia hot springs or you can gain free access if you head two kilometers out of town to the Mulino waterfalls, also known as Cascate del Gorello. If you have hired a car, you can visit Maciano on the same day you visit Pitigliano, as they are only five miles from each other.

Montefioralle should definitely be included on the itinerary of your holidays in Tuscany. This town offers a typical taste of Chianti without the crowds and the traffic. On the road between Siena and Florence, nestled between vineyards, villas and local farmsteads, this village is simply beautiful. With limited access to cars, the village centre is a very pleasant place to explore on foot. Only a 20-minute walk from the more famous Greve in Chianti, where you can experience a town with a little more going on, Montefioralle makes a delightful place to escape to.

Monteriggioni is a magical village set inside what appears to be a castle. The walls and towers of the village are almost fully in tact and it is also traffic free. Summer time sees Monteriggioni come alive with festivals, so before booking your holidays in Tuscany make sure you find out when they are on, as they are a spectacle in themselves.

Helen Forbes is from Essential Italy, a company specialising in Italian holiday villas, apartments and hotels. If you’re looking for the perfect villas for your holidays in Tuscany, it can be made so much easier with our help. Our handpicked villas offer distinctive Italian qualities, great comfort and convenience.