Visiting the Italian region of Tuscany is, for many, one of the great dreams if you want to discover idyllic landscapes, superb gastronomy and bountiful nature. But what is the best way to organize your trip and get the most out of it? It is abundantly clear that Tuscany is blessed with many tourist and cultural attractions, so it is essential to organize your trip well to optimize your time as much as possible. In this article, we show you a Tuscany road trip that you can do over 5 days. Let’s get started!
Road trip in Tuscany: What is there to see over 5 days?
Tuscany is a region located in central Italy, with an area of almost 23,000 square kilometers, and the best known city is Florence, its capital. However, Tuscany has many dreamy spots and gastronomic corners that are worth exploring in depth. To do just that, we propose a route through Tuscany designed to be enjoyed over 5 days, ideal for a long weekend if you rent a car.
Day 1: Pisa - Porto Ercole
Pisa airport has a high frequency of international flights, so it is a good option to start your trip. In fact, it is best to rent a car in Pisa to start the route. If you arrive early in the morning, we recommend visiting Pisa before leaving on your road trip. If you arrive around noon, you can enjoy a visit to Pisa and start your tour the next day.
The first part of the drive through Tuscany takes you along the entire coast of the region, passing through beach towns such as Livorno and Cecina. It is worth stopping in Castagneto Carducci, a medieval village known for the Wine Road.
Afterwards, continue on your route to Castiglione della Pescaia, a walled town on the Tyrrhenian Sea. From here you can see the island of Elba, where Napoleon, who still has a looming presence on the island, was banished. This day's journey ends in Porto Ercole, a small seaside village worth seeing in its illuminated glory at night.
Day 2: Porto Ercole - Montepulciano
The second day takes you from Porto Ercole to Montepulciano, one of the most beautiful locations in all of Italy. The route we recommend will take you through the Orcia valley, passing through San Quirico d'Orcia (here are the famous Tuscan cypresses), Bagno Vignoni, a spa town, and Pienza. The day ends in Montepulciano, a picturesque spot surrounded by vineyards. In fact, this city is the headquarters of the Consortium of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.
Day 3: Montepulciano - Florence
On the third day you should take the opportunity to see Montepulciano during the day and visit the cathedral, the Piazza Grande, the Temple of San Biagio or the Torre di Pulcinella. Afterwards, set off for Florence. A stop in Greve in Chianti to see the castle of Montefioralle is a good option to round off this wonderful day.
Day 4: Florence
Of course, Florence is a city where you could spend several days, but, on this road trip, we dedicate the fourth full day to visit the most characteristic sites of the city.
Among the sights not to be missed in Florence are the Uffizi Gallery (and Michelangelo's David, of course), the Duomo and its dome, the Cathedral of Santa Maria dei Fiore, Giotto's Campanile, the Ponte Vecchio and the Baptistery of Saint John, among others.
In addition, you can visit the Piazza della Signoria, where the Palazzo Vecchio is located. Afterwards, you can't miss a visit to the church of Santa Croce, the largest Franciscan church in the world where Galileo, Michelangelo and Machiavelli, among others, are buried. For this reason, this church is also known as the Pantheon of Florence.
And, to end the day, we recommend watching the sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo, one of the best viewpoints in the city.
Day 5: Florence - Pisa
On your last day, return to Pisa, the starting point of the route, where you can take the opportunity to explore its streets. Here we highlight the Piazza del Duomo, Pisa Cathedral, the Baptistery and, of course, the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
The perfect finishing touch to close out this route through Tuscany before leaving the rental car in the same city you started from. And, so that you don't have to worry about anything but enjoying yourself, we are waiting for you with the perfect car so you can discover Tuscany in complete comfort!
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