The Italian region of Tuscany is located at the heart of the beautiful and historic country. It is much loved for its famous cities, picturesque towns and villages and also boasts a diverse variety of gourmet treats and landscapes. We reveal some of the highlights of this very special region.

Cities and towns to visit in Tuscany

The city of Florence is a treasure trove of art and architectural treasures with new and amazing sights around every corner and on almost every street. There are so many monuments in Gothic and Renaissance styles, museums, squares, gardens and shops you could easily stay in the city a week and still find more to see and do.

Skyline of Florence.

Must-sees in Florence include the stunning squares of Piazza della Signoria and Piazza del Duomo with its famous churches, as well as Ponte Vecchio, which is the city’s oldest bridge spanning the Arno. The city of Pisa is world famous for The Leaning Tower but there are other great sights including the Piazza dei Miracoli and the Place of Miracles, which is a UNESCO world heritage site.

Leaning Tower of Pisa

Pisa's lively old town with its beautiful squares, churches and palaces is also well worth strolling around over the course of a day and evening. Step back in time in the charming small city of Siena where buildings shimmer reddish brown beneath the sun’s rays. The architecture is Gothic-style and you’ll discover a fabulous network of tiny medieval lanes around the beautiful square, Piazza del Campo.

Piazza del Campo in Siena.

The old town is car free and the city walls completely surround the centre of Siena reminding you of its historic timeline. More impressive city walls are discovered in the medieval town of Lucca, as well as multiple churches, historic houses and parks. The settlement is set amid a beautiful landscape of hills and a plateau and is located on the River Serchio. The stunning high-rise medieval skyline of the town of San Gimignano makes it a distinctive landmark. Visitors will discover quaint lanes and squares and beautiful fresco-decorated churches.

The town of San Gimignano.

Islands and countryside of Tuscany

Elba Island is the largest in the Tuscan archipelago and a popular place for lazy days in secluded bays. It’s also a great place to walk, especially if you want to view a variety of landscape and wildlife, including strange coastal rock formations. Other activities include diving, surfing, cycling, golf, climbing and paragliding.

The Island of Elba in Tuscany.

It’s only 10km from the mainland to Elba so it’s great for a day trip, although many people go for longer. The undulating countryside of the Chianti, situated between Florence and Siena, is famous for its vineyards and the fabulous wines that are produced here. Olives, that are used to make delicious oils, also flourish in the fertile lands.

A typical view of the Chianti region

You’ll also discover ancient castles dotted across the Chianti area, deep forests and fabulously large verdant fields.

Gourmet gems

Amazing cheeses of Tuscany.

Olives and oils.

Delicious ice cream.

Incredible wines.

Tuscany is synonymous with delicious foods and wines including red wines such as Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. Other flavoursome gems include Tuscany’s peppery extra-virgin olive oil, the many varieties of pecorino cheeses, as well as cured meats including salame toscano and Cinta Senese. Italy is also famous for its delicious ice-creams and you'll discover many sweet treats on the streets of villages, towns and cities across Tuscany.

Walking and cycling in Tuscany

Enjoy walking between hill towns.

Tuscany is made for walking with fabulous scenery, fascinating historic towns and cities and a smorgasbord of delicious foods and wines to replenish calories burned. Macs Adventure offers a wide range of walking holidays in Tuscany with hand-picked accommodation, baggage transfer, comprehensive information packs and emergency support. If you fancy, you could extend your trip to take in some of the great towns and cities of Florence, Rome, Pisa, Siena and more.

There are all kinds of Tuscany walking holidays, such as

> A to B trips including Florence to Siena and

> Following various sections of the ancient pilgrimage route, the Via Francigena.

> Or how about Classic Tuscany, the Hill Towns of Tuscany and Treasures of Tuscany and Umbria?

Rolling roads for cycling through pretty scenery.

A cycling holiday in Tuscany is another great option with so many rolling, tranquil road routes to choose from. Imagine cycling in the warm sun, stopping for a long lunch break at a local vineyard or medieval town, then cycling on a bit further to reach your evening destination. You could stop for a day or two in a favourite place or ride every day to discover new Tuscan attractions. There are plenty of cycling holidays to choose form with Macs Adventure such as Road Cycling: Florence to Siena, a Tour of Tuscany, cycling from Pisa to Florence or cycling amid the landscapes and numerous attractions of Classic Tuscany in Chianti and to Siena.

We would love to hear how you enjoy your walking or cycling holidays in Tuscany, connect with us on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram. If you have any questions about our range of walking and cycling tours in Italy, contact a member of the team on info@macsadventure.com.