Tuscany Things to Do

Defining what constitutes a “perfect day” in Tuscany, or anywhere else on earth, is downright impossible. One person’s version of perfect is completely different than the next person’s, and never the twain shall meet. In Tuscany, however, if you only have one day, you have a few options to create the perfect day for you. Of course, there are many more options besides just the three listed here, but these three should give you a good idea of what’s possible in Tuscany in just one day.

There are many iconic images of Tuscany that make us sigh deeply and start hunting for airline tickets. Even though many of us don’t know the name of the town in the photograph, one of those images is of the hilltop village of Pienza. The entire town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, surrounded by a valley that’s on UNESCO’s list of World Cultural Landscapes, and Pienza has been used as the setting for more than one Hollywood production. In other words, you’re not alone if pictures of Pienza make you swoon.

For all its famous beaches, Roman ruins, and Medieval villages, Italy is also quite a mountainous country. The whole northern border of the country is in The Alps, stretching east into The Dolomites, and the Apennine Mountains run the length of the country from the northwest all the way to the toe of the boot. Italy is littered with volcanoes and the remnants of volcanoes, and southern Tuscany‘s Monte Amiata falls into the latter category.

There are monasteries in different parts of Italy that can be interesting places to visit or – in some cases – provide a budget accommodation option. In the Casentino Valley of Tuscany, there are two big historic monasteries that are definitely worth visiting.

Many of us are familiar with the idea of wine tasting, especially in wine-rich regions like Tuscany, and sampling the local wines is a great way to explore the flavor of a new travel destination. How many of us, however, think about tasting olive oil? Really, how many of us think of olive oil at all, beyond being a key ingredient in our favorite salad dressings? Olive oil, like wine, is produced in Tuscany and tastes extremely different depending on who makes it, where it comes from, and the quality of the olives.

At the top of Monte Forato in the Apuan Alps is a strange hole. On clear days you can see it from all around the mountainous Garfagnana district and the Versilia, an area of the Tuscan coast. There’s nothing like seeing something strange from afar to make you want to go there. For visitors to Tuscany the hike to Monte Forato is a popular one but should not be taken lightly – you’ll need to allow a whole day and wear proper hiking boots, take water and stick to the trails.