Discover the Hidden Secrets of Tuscany

If you are considering visiting the Italian region of Tuscany this summer, then read on to find out more about this enchanting part of Italy. When visiting Tuscany, holiday itineraries can be somewhat clichéd in their design, but for those wanting a little off-the-beaten path fun, there are also plenty of options.

If you're visiting Tuscany, holiday plans will no doubt include visits to the main cities and sights, including Florence, Pisa and Siena. However, that doesn't mean there is no room for adding a little extra spice and seeing some of the places not featured in the standard guidebooks.

When it comes to Tuscany, holiday plans that include a taste of places less well known offer a great experience of another part of the region, no less fascinating or amazing. The tiny hamlets hidden away amongst vineyards and hilltop villages dotted across the landscape all have rich histories and stories to tell. Traditions, old crafts, ancient buildings and many other surprises are all waiting for the more adventurous traveller to discover.

Collodi

Collodi is a very sweet town perched high on the hills outside the beautiful town of Lucca in the northern part of the region. Carlo Lorenzini of Pinocchio fame has a strong association with the place, as his mother was born here. He even wrote under the alias of Carlo Collodi. There is a park here dedicated to his famous story, and if you are travelling with children they will no doubt enjoy a visit. There is also an impressive villa, Villa Gargonzi, with stunning gardens and incredible décor well worth seeing.

Montefioralle

Montefioralle is one of the region's picture postcard towns; its beautifully tended houses with their floral covered balconies appear almost as if they are part of a stage set. The medieval town is surrounded by some of Chianti’s most famous vines, from which some of the best wine in the area is produced.

San Casciano dei Bagni

If you want to test the therapeutic waters of the Tuscan volcanic soils, San Casciano dei Bagni is a great place to do so. Nestled into fabulous countryside, with cypress trees, lush green rolling hills and lines of working vineyards, the medieval town centre is a pleasure to discover on foot. The spa celebrating the town's thermal waters makes for a very relaxing experience.

Santa Fiora

Close to Siena is Santa Fiora, a tiny village on the slopes of Monte Amiata. The clock tower in this town is rather special and the fishpond (commissioned by the Sforza family 400 years ago) rises around the springs of the Fiora River and is surrounded by woodlands and streams leading away from the main channel. Pitigliano is close to the border with Lazio and consequently an often-overlooked destination in Tuscany. Holiday itineraries that do include this place, however, are in for a real treat. Little Jerusalem, as it is known, rises up from the cliffs and appears almost suspended as you approach. Built into the rocks, the place has countless remains of past civilizations. The centre of the town is spectacular and the tiny winding narrow streets, the water wells, the Etruscan tombs and the beautiful arches all add to its character.

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