However, it is also a small area compared to the entire region and all the other rural areas it can boast. Let’s rediscover them together starting from art, gastronomy and their enchanting landscapes.

Val d’Orcia

Located a few kilometers south of Siena, the Val d’Orcia is characterized by large spaces and the presence of hills dotted with cypresses, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Although it is not as famous as Chianti, the area is not unknown either: Pienza, Montalcino and Montepulciano are its main towns, characterized by characteristic corners, breathtaking views of the countryside, charming historic centers and a genuine and traditional gastronomy.

We recommend exploring the narrow streets of the center of Pienza and its main monuments without forgetting the spectacular panorama visible from the area behind the Duomo. In Montepulciano, on the other hand, it is recommended to taste the typical Vino Nobile – a very famous red wine internationally – but also to be enchanted by the quieter corners of the town, the Cathedral and the art festivals that are often organized during the summer. Montalcino is also famous for the production of an excellent wine – Brunello di Montalcino – as well as for its many Romanesque buildings.

Maremma

In the southernmost area of Tuscany, near the border with Lazio, the landscape is dominated by the open countryside and some seaside resorts such as Capalbio and Chiarone, characterized by long, almost deserted beaches, where a deafening silence reigns, broken only by the sound of the sea waves.

In a region governed by the wildest nature such as the Maremma, however, there is no shortage of small picturesque villages: some of these, such as Montemerano, Magliano in Toscana and San Martino sul Fiora, can boast the classic Tuscan charm , with uncrowded squares, stone buildings covered with colorful geraniums and characteristic alleys, while others combine this same traditional charm with elements more related to art, to local culture and gastronomy.

Among these, the most famous village is Sovana, where there are two imposing religious buildings, the Duomo and the church of Santa Maria and a lively main street; Sorano and Pitigliano also attract several visitors thanks to their splendid views, but above all for the presence of historical evidence from the Etruscan era.

Pratomagno

Close to Florence but far from the urban reality, the Pratomagno area is distinguished by the presence of verdant hills bordered by the Arno river before meeting the high peaks of the Apennines. Here there are some small villages, among which Loro Ciuffenna stands out, which has been declared one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, where picturesque panoramic streets alternate with a historical and cultural heritage that recalls the times of the Etruscans and ancient Romans.

In other centers, such as Vallombrosa, Stia, Romena, Sietina and Strada, you can admire splendid Romanesque-style religious buildings and buildings dating back to the same era, in atmospheres suspended in time, where the present seems to blend and hide in the past. To return to a more urban and contemporary environment, we recommend visiting Arezzo, with its numerous frescoes by Piero della Francesca, and of course Florence, one of the richest cities in art and culture in all of Italy.

Garfagnana

In the region north of Pisa, the Garfagnana combines nature and culture. It has its center in the Serchio Valley and is surrounded by two majestic mountain ranges: the Apuan Alps to the west, with their jagged peaks, and the Orecchiella Nature Reserve to the east, with mountains that are always high but with a shape more similar to that of the hills.

In the lower part of the Serchio Valley, near Lucca, you can admire the classic Tuscan landscape, consisting of hills, long rows of cypresses, vineyards and olive groves, while the other surrounding areas have wilder atmospheres.

For a dip in history, it is recommended to visit Lucca, famous above all for its imposing circle of walls, or to be amazed by Castelnuovo di Garfagnana and its Rocca, a fortified complex that dominates the historic center, the Cathedral and the Fortress of Mont’Alfonso, located on the hill overlooking the town.