Northwestern Tuscany
Elisa Bonaparte, Napoleon's sister and short-lived ruler of Tuscany, once lived in handsome Villa Reale, 7km north of Lucca in Marlia. The house isn't…
Northwestern Tuscany
Elisa Bonaparte, Napoleon's sister and short-lived ruler of Tuscany, once lived in handsome Villa Reale, 7km north of Lucca in Marlia. The house isn't…
Livorno
This Greek Orthodox church was built in 1607, acquired its magnificent baroque facade in the 18th century and became a Catholic church after WWII. The…
Arezzo
Up high to the southeast of Duomo di Arezzo, across the peaceful gardens of the Passeggio del Prato, rears the Fortezza Medicea, built between 1538 and…
Northwestern Tuscany
Tucked between shops on Via Mazzini is this precious chapel, frescoed with the Gate of Paradise and Gate of Hell by Fernando Botero (b 1932). Spot the…
Concattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta
Southern Tuscany
It may be modest as far as many Tuscan churches go, but Orbetello's duomo is still attractive, retaining its 14th-century Gothic facade despite being…
Livorno
Livorno's huge concrete synagogue, built between 1958 and 1962, occupies the site of a 17th-century predecessor that was badly damaged by Allied bombs in…
Fiesole
The collection of early Tuscan Renaissance works inside this tiny art museum includes fine medallions by Giovanni della Robbia (c 1505–20) and Taddeo…
Montepulciano
Several mansions line Via di Gracciano nel Corso, including this palace, which has recycled Etruscan and Latin inscriptions and reliefs incorporated into…
Siena
Dedicated to the patron saint of travellers and a popular stop on the medieval Via Francigena pilgrims' route, this church dates from the 11th century but…
Northwestern Tuscany
Visit this lovely ethnographic museum, in San Pellegrino's former hospital, to learn just how little traditional mountain life has changed over the…
Fiesole
Fiesole's cathedral, begun in the 11th century, stands sentry over the central square. Look out for the glazed terracotta statue of San Romolo by Giovanni…
Northwestern Tuscany
The far end of Piazza del Duomo is dominated by the 13th-century stone hulk of this deconsecrated church. Once dedicated to St Augustine, today the…
Siena
This handsome Renaissance style structure next to the Chiesa di San Martino was commissioned by Pope Pius II (Enea Silvio Piccolomini) and built in 1462.
Southern Tuscany
Porto Ercole's centro storico stretches up the hillside, past the sandwiched-in Chiesa di Sant'Erasmo and up towards the largest of the three Spanish…
Elba
The salmon-pink Star Fort, so called due to its shape, is one of Portoferraio's defining hilltop forts. It was commissioned by Cosimo l de' Medici and…
Torre Camponaria della Cattedrale
Northwestern Tuscany
Climb this 12th-century bell tower, built as a watch tower for the adjoining Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta e di San Genesio, for a lovely city view.
Livorno
Pietro Tacca's 1626 statue of Grand Duke Ferdinand I of Tuscany and four chained African slaves was commissioned to commemorate Ferdinand's victories over…
Elba
More than 150 Mediterranean species inhabit this modest aquarium, making it a good grey-day option. It’s 2km northeast of town, signposted off the SP30 to…
Arezzo
Cobbled Piazza Grande is overlooked at its upper end by the porticoes of this wonderful palazzo, completed in 1573.
Southern Tuscany
This small baroque church is one of the most prominent sights in Porto Ercole's hillside centro storico (historic centre). Sadly, it is rarely open.
Pistoia
This striking, life-size sculpture of three blindfolded men (1996) by contemporary Pistoia artist Roberto Barni (b 1939) sits in Piazzetta degli Orgaggi.
Montepulciano
Michelozzo's Chiesa di Sant'Agostino features a lunette above the entrance holding a terracotta Madonna and Child, John the Baptist and St Augustine.
Montepulciano
This medieval tower house is topped by the town clock and the hunched figure of Pulcinella (Punch, of Punch and Judy fame), which strikes the hours.
Chiesa di Sant'Andrea Apostolo
Siena
This 12th-century church was one of the original pilgrim churches along Via Francigena but was heavily reconstructed in the 18th century.
Southern Tuscany
Built by the Spanish, this 16th-centry fort, an unusual star shape (hence its name), is the only Porto Ercole fort open to the public.
Northwestern Tuscany
It's a stiff hike up to Barga's imposing cathedral, completed in 1595 and proffering fantastic views from its hilltop position.
Southern Tuscany
Massa Marittima's immense, medieval Arco Senese soars overhead as you pass between the Città Vecchia and Città Nuova.
Montepulciano
Montepulciano's Chiesa di San Francesco dates from the 13th century, but was largely reconstructed in the 17th century.
San Gimignano
A late-13th-century structure featuring the 51m Torre della Rognosa. It's not open to the public.
Montepulciano
Antonio da Sangallo (Sangallo il Vecchio) designed his handsome palazzo. It isn't open to the public.
Montepulciano
This late-Renaissance palazzo was designed by Giacomo da Vignola. It isn't open to the public.
Lucca Center of Contemporary Art
Lucca
Lucca's contemporary-art museum hosts some riveting exhibitions; check its website for details.
Arezzo
This city park was clearly created with mellow, early evening walks in mind.
Pisa
Closed for extensive (seemingly everlasting) renovation, this museum is a repository for works of art once displayed in the duomo and battistero…
Chianti
These four Etruscan burial chambers, dating from the 6th century BC, are located off the main road at the northern edge of town. Devotees of Etruscan…
Basilica di Santa Maria del Carmine
Oltrarno
Fire in the 18th century practically destroyed this 13th-century church, but it spared the magnificent frescoes in its chapel – the entrance to Cappella…
Chiesa di San Gregorio degli Armeni
Livorno
All but destroyed in a WWII bombing, the once-graceful baroque-style facade – gated and chained today – is all that remains of the early 18th-century…
San Gimignano
Occupying a decommissioned 16th-century church, this modest museum has a mournful collection of stuffed birds that dates back to 1886 and looks it.
Livorno
This Neo-Gothic Protestant church was built in 1864 for the use of Livorno's Dutch-German community. It's now permanently closed.