Immortalized by Oscar winner Benigni in his film Life is Beautiful, Arezzo is one of the lesser known cities among all the seats of the Tuscan region. Founded by the Etruscans, and later a center of strategic importance in Roman times, it houses a beautiful amphitheater from the First Century AD. The historic center is spread out over a hill that showcases the Cathedral of San Donato at its summit and is characterized by numerous squares with artistic and architectural jewels. Among them, Piazza Grande with its Vasari lodges, where…

An area so vast as to render a heterogeneous classification almost impossible, Chianti extends from the southern gates of Florence to Siena, along small mountain ranges, dense forests, and lush vineyards reflecting its most iconic aspect. Chianti Classico is, in fact, the wine that makes this area famous throughout the world and is an important stimulus for all the beautiful villages in this area. Disputed for centuries by the two cities that delineate its borders, the region developed countless fortified hamlets, which later became the farms and castles of the…

A city of Etruscan origin, lying on the Arezzo side of the Val di Chiana, Cortona still has tangible signs of the various historical eras of its past. A beautiful museum evidences this aspect, as do the numerous Etruscan tombs discovered in the territory, and the imposing city walls. Cortona was made even more important by the strong Franciscan monk presence, the historic center being just a few kilometers away from a hermitage founded around the cave where Saint Francis of Assisi lived for some months. From here, there are…

The largest lake in central-southern Italy, Lago Trasimeno lies in Umbria, close to the Tuscan border. It is surrounded by beautiful medieval villages, and sloping hills mostly cultivated with olive groves. It is home to three islands: Minore, Maggiore, and Polvese, of which only the last two can be visited and reached by short ferry rides. Lake Trasimeno is also famously linked to Hannibal, the great Carthaginian leader who decimated the Roman troops here before vigorously continuing his journey towards the Urbs. Among all the villages around the lake, Castiglione…

When we talk about Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino immediately comes to mind. An ambassador of excellence in Italian wine and known throughout the world, Brunello is arguably the best expression of the Sangiovese grape. Montalcino is home to over 200 wineries, which are nestled in wonderful nooks of this part of the Val d’Orcia. At almost 600 meters above sea level, Montalcino’s historic center rises above trekking routes which begin on its four slopes, between its vineyards, but also through dense wooded areas and an important stretch of the Via…

The most important town of the Valdichiana Senese, Montepulciano has become one of the most famous places in all of Tuscany. The historic center slopes uphill, from Porta al Prato to the Renaissance Piazza Grande, home to important edifices such as the Duomo, the Palazzo Comunale, the Palazzo dei Capitani, Palazzo Nobili-Tarugi and Palazzo Contucci. Many historic wine cellars populate the city center, known for its production of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, and many are still aged in underground caves, in the same way they were in the time of…

The ideal Renaissance city, realized from the utopian dream of Pope Pius II, Pienza is considered the first city in the world to have been built after the creation of a town plan. Built on a terrace of the Val d’Orcia, there is a treasure chest of rare beauty among its narrow streets, breathtaking views, shops and historical monuments such as the Duomo and Palazzo Piccolomini with its lovely hanging gardens. From here we find beautiful, photographic and cinematic trails for trekking, and in fact on one of these roads…

The city of towers, its medieval structures almost perfectly preserved, stands on a hill overlooking the Elsa Valley. In medieval times, thanks to its geographical positioning between the two great Tuscan cities, Siena and Florence, San Gimignano had an important economic role, reflected in the wealth of works of art present in the town, its imposing tower-houses, and the numerous historic buildings. The beautiful surrounding countryside offers trekking trails with incredible views, distinguishing itself with its everlasting hills cultivated with olive trees and grape vines, among which Vernaccia, a white…

A Unesco heritage valley, the Val d’Orcia affords us the most famous glimpses of all of Tuscany, captivating and recurring images of gentle hills, rows of cypresses, farmhouses, and unique villages as far as the eye can see. Bordered to the south by Monte Amiata, the highest mountain in central-southern Tuscany, the Val d’Orcia offers endless possibilities for trekking, mostly on sloping paths initiating from the charming villages of: Pienza, Monticchiello, San Quirico d’Orcia, Bagno Vignoni , Montalcino, Castiglion d’Orcia, Campiglia d’Orcia, Vivo d’Orcia, Radicofani, and Contignano.

The path that Bishop Sigerico wrote about in the 10th century during his journey back from Rome to Canterbury, the Via Francigena covers more than 2000 km beginning in England and crossing France and Switzerland before culminating at the Piazza San Pietro in Rome. The Tuscan tract is widely believed to be the most captivating of them all, especially along the Val d’Elsa, the Sienese and Val d’Orcia. It is possible to organize treks of varying length with stays in the numerous lodgings located along the route.

Via Lauretana is an ancient route that led to Loreto in the Marche region, where the Crusaders rebuilt the House of Mary in the 13th century, torn away by a Nazareth, then occupied by the Muslims. The most famous stretch is the one that starts from Assisi and after a seven-day trek leads to the Sanctuary. In recent years a path that begins in Siena, passes through Cortona up to Assisi and then continues towards the Adriatic was rediscovered. The Via Lauretana is characterized by totally different ecosystems: the Crete…