Are you looking for an itinerary to visit the most beautiful towns in Tuscany? Read along to learn more about some of these beautiful cities and which ones to visit in 2 days.
Planning a trip to Tuscany is very exciting! If you’re anything like me, you are here because you love to research and plan your trip ahead of time. Tuscany is a large region in Italy with many historical cities and towns. Each city has its own rich history and landmarks. This travel guide will give you some ideas of how to make the most of 2 days in Tuscany.
You will learn about which cities to visit, what activities to do including tours, wine tasting, and cooking classes. After learning about these places, you are going to be ready for your next Tuscany travel adventure!
This post is about 2 incredible days exploring the most beautiful towns in Tuscany.
Day One: San Gimignano
Known as the tower town, San Gimignano is currently a UNESCO site with 12 medieval towers. This stunning town is filled with Romanesque and gothic architecture and a preserved historic center.
If you plan to drive, park outside of the city walls. There are designated parking lots. From the parking lot you will walk into the city. The main gate of San Gimignano is Porta San Giovanni. Just within the main gate, you’ll walk a narrow street that will bring you to the central square, Piazza della Cisterna. I recommend booking a guided walking tour to learn about this medieval city’s history. Most tours will meet near the Porta San Giovanni or the Piazza della Cisterna.
After the guided walking tour, check out Torre Grossa. This is the tallest tower in San Gimignano. It offers great panoramic views of the whole city!
For lunch, there are several restaurants and cafes in Piazza della Cisterna. With lunch, try the local white wine, Vernaccia di San Gimignano. Top off your meal with gelato for dessert! Gelateria Dondoli is an award winning gelateria. They use high quality ingredients like fresh fruit, organic almonds, and raw milk. My favorite flavor is Michelle, the ingredients include saffron, honey, almonds, and bitter orange.
In the afternoon, visit Duomo di Santa Maria Assunta. Originally built in the 10th century, this beautiful basilica is not to miss. Inside you will find stunning frescoes from the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries, some still original. After visiting the church, take some time to walk around and explore. There are many small shops selling souvenirs and items like saffron, ceramics, and local wine.
As you make your way back to Florence or wherever you choose to stay in Tuscany, consider stopping at a local winery. There are endless wineries in Tuscany. I recommend visiting Il Cellese, a small, family owned winery 20 minutes outside of San Gimignano. My favorite wine is their Albino, a white wine that looks like a rose. It is fresh, bright, and smooth.
Day Two: Siena
On your second day, visit the larger town of Siena. Like I have mentioned before, you may want to consider doing a walking tour. Siena has a lot of interesting history, and it’s fun to learn about it with an expert guide. On our tour, we learned about the different segments of the city (identified by their flags), and the famous horse race, Palio di Siena.
Again, if you are driving, you will have to park outside of the city walls and walk in. There are two large parking lots available, one is more accessible but may fill up quickly. The other is a little farther away, but still walkable.
Once you enter the city walls, head straight to the heart of Siena, the Piazza del Campo. This beautiful piazza has a unique shape, with beautiful cafes and shops surrounding it. Take some time to climb the Torre del Mangia for beautiful, panoramic views of the city and surrounding countryside. This tower has 400 steps, so be prepared for a workout!
If you are interested in visiting a museum, check out Museo Civico located inside the Palazzo Pubblico. Inside you’ll see the famous fresco titled “Allegory of Good and Bad Government”.
For lunch, there are several great restaurants available. Consider Antica Trattoria Papei. Be sure to order pici pasta, a handmade, thicker spaghetti, or ribollita, a hearty Tuscan soup with beans, vegetables, and bread.
In the afternoon, visit the Duomo di Siena, a masterpiece of Italian Gothic architecture. Inside you’ll find the Piccolomini Library. Beneath the Duomo is the baptistery of San Giovanni. This basilica is one of the most beautiful I visited during my time in Italy. I highly recommend checking it out.
Similar to San Gimignano, spend some time in the afternoon walking around and exploring. Siena is larger than San Gimignano, so there is more shopping and cafes to check out.
More Most Beautiful Towns in Tuscany
Some other towns and cities in Tuscany that are worth visiting include:
- Pisa-famous for the leaning tower of Pisa, this is a great town to check out, and can easily be done as a day trip.
- Lucca -a beautiful walled city not far from Pisa. This city has tree lined pathways that are popular for walking and cycling.
- Volterra- another walled town that has a beautiful marbled entrance
- Florence-a metropolis known for its art, this city is the heart of Tuscany and is worthy of a few days visit.
Navigation Tips
- Wear comfortable walking shoes. Although these cities are small, you will be exploring by foot and will want to be comfortable.
- Consider taking a regional train from Florence to smaller Tuscan cities. Be sure to validate your train ticket on these regional trains. You can do it electronically with your digital train ticket.
- Avoid ZTL areas when driving! If you’re planning to rent a car and drive through Tuscany, the most important advice I can give is to be on the lookout for ZTL areas. These areas have hefty fines if you drive into them. They are clearly marked with a large red circle and either say ZTL or zona traffico limitato. Many cities that you plan to visit will have parking areas outside of these zones.
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