Sights

Certaldo

30 minutes away

One of the most evocative medieval villages in Tuscany and Val D’Elsa, Certaldo has preserved a magical atmosphere of times gone by. It has a lower, modern part and an upper part that constitutes the town’s ancient medieval heart, surrounded by walls with three entrance gates: Porta al Sole, Porta Alberti and Porta del Rivellino.

Certaldo Alta (the upper part) is the heart of this town, where you can rediscover the peaceful atmosphere of the past. Here you can see Boccaccio’s house-museum, where it is thought he was born in 1313, and where he lived until his death.

Here, in addition to ancient furnishings, there is a study centre and a prestigious library with several editions of the Decameron. Also in the historical centre is the Church of SS. Michele and Jacopo (Saints Michael and James), with the writer’s mortal remains.

Monteriggioni

30 minutes away

In the heart of the Sienese countryside, the splendid village of Monteriggioni is a truly enchanting and unique location. Situated on a hilltop and surrounded by well-preserved circular walls, Monteriggioni is one of the places not to be missed during a tour of Tuscany.

The historical centre, also known as Castello (Castle), is small but very atmospheric. When visiting Monteriggioni, you will find yourself immersed in a typically medieval atmosphere, so much so that several films have been shot here.

In addition, every year in July there is the Medieval festival, in which there are celebrations in the streets and squares of the historic village, and centuries past are re-enacted with costume dances, shows and various other events.

San Gimignano

30 minutes away

San Gimignano is an ancient fortified medieval town whose walls date back to the year 1000. It is famous for its historical and artistic heritage and its architecture, particularly its towers. In 1990, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Its local products, including saffron and the white wine Vernaccia di San Gimignano, are also highly prized. The historic centre of San Gimignano, a World Heritage Site, has some medieval masterpieces, including the famous towers that still soar over its panorama and that have earned it the name “Manhattan of the Middle Ages”.

Of the 72 towers that it once possessed, 16 remain today. The oldest is Torre Rognosa, 51 m high, and the tallest is Torre del Podestà, 54 m high. The heart of the town is Piazza del Duomo, with many buildings and palaces such as Palazzo Vecchio del Podestà and Palazzo Comunale, also known as Palazzo Nuovo, and Palazzo della Propositura, home to the Opera Archives with important 15^th-century manuscripts. The Duomo (Cathedral), on the other hand, preserves valuable works by great Tuscan artists.

Siena

40 minutes away

Siena is one of the cities of Tuscany attracting the most visitors, famous for its rich artistic, historical and cultural heritage. Its historic centre has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Here, there are powerful links with the past and traditions, celebrated in the historic Palio di Siena, in which the city’s contrade (quarters) compete every year. The heart of the city offers not only a lot of architectural beauty, but also crafts workshops and stores where you can find artistic handicrafts and traditional products such as pastries, including ricciarelli, panpepato and cantucci.

Florence

40 minutes away

Florence is the city of the Renaissance and Italian art. Because of its artistic heritage, it is one of the best-known and most visited destinations in the world. Depending on how much time you have available, you can visit its artistic treasures, enjoy its events or explore its parks and gardens, its hills and villages, between Mugello and Chianti.

Piazza della Signoria is at its heart, dominated by Palazzo Vecchio. From here you can reach the major museums located in impressive palaces such as Palazzo Pitti, in addition to the Ponte Vecchio bridge, the most important basilicas and the Duomo (Cathedral) with Brunelleschi’s evocative dome and Giotto’s Bell Tower.

The Uffizi Gallery is the second stop on a classic tour of the city: one of the most famous museums in the world, it has 14^th-century and Renaissance works, including masterpieces by Giotto, Botticelli and Caravaggio.

Volterra

60 minutes away

Volterra stands on a hill of Pliocene clay, located between the Val d’Era and Val di Cecina valleys. Entirely surrounded by 13^th-century walls, today it has about 12,000 inhabitants, a medieval appearance and the atmosphere of an ancient village.

Today, Etruscan, Roman, Medieval and Renaissance features can be seen together in Volterra: walking along the narrow streets of the town, you can feel the atmosphere of times past, where ancient crafts still survive, such as alabaster work, the pride of Volterra’s artisanal traditions.

The heart of the town is Piazza dei Priori, location of the most important buildings.

Rapolano Terme

60 minutes away

Rapolano Terme is a small village that is home to an important spa centre, already famous in Ancient Roman times. There are two thermal spring waters: the Terme di San Giovanni, in the open countryside, and the Antica Querciolaia not far from the centre.