The city of Florence is filled with a lot of history, art and monuments and it’s definitely a place to visit at least once in life. The region of Tuscany is filled with a lot of great beauty outside Florence as well and, mostly if you’re coming from the other side of the world, it would be a waste not to explore this amazing region.
Here’s a list of places just outside of Florence that you can take a day trip from Florence to when you’re done visiting the city!
Siena
Just an hour’s drive from Florence, the city of Siena feels like an open-air Gothic Museum. Filled with monuments, architectural masterpieces and plenty of art, Siena is perfect for a day of exploration. Amongst the things that we suggest you visit, there’s obviously the Duomo. It was built over the XIII and XIV century by architects and artists Giovanni Pisano, Nicola Pisano, and Pinturicchio (who painted the beautiful frescoes you will be able to find in this church) and a lot of amazing sculptures by artists like Michelangelo, Donatello and Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
Another thing we suggest you go visit in Siena is Piazza del Campo. This square, commonly known as “Il Campo” is a great place to relax with friends and enjoy a coffee or an aperitivo.
Pisa
Mainly known for its Leaning Tower, the city of Pisa actually houses a lot of great treasures that make it worth a visit. It’s only an hour’s train ride away from Florence or if you prefer going by car, a 90-minute journey. Apart from going to see the Leaning Tower in Piazza dei Miracoli, usually very crowded because of tourists, we suggest you go take a romantic walk along the Arno River or go to the city walls to visit Pisa’s medieval side.
Lucca
Another destination you should consider for a day trip is Lucca. It’s commonly known for its traditional food and olive oil so make sure to head out to a restaurant or a bar for a meal to fully immerse yourself in the culture of Tuscany. Lucca is only a one-hour drive away from Florence and with its squares, cobblestone streets and Renaissance walls, it’s the perfect city to explore by foot with your loved ones!
Chianti
If you enjoy wine and vineyards and want to get to know more about red wines like Chianti or Chianti Classico, you definitely can’t miss out on visiting Chianti. With its beautiful landscapes filled with not only vineyards but also farmhouses, olive groves and Middle Age or Renaissance villas and castles, it’s the perfect place to have a different and explorative day. Chianti is only an hour away from Florence and you can also get there by bus.
Conclusions
Tuscany’s beautiful city and landscapes deserve to be explored and visited at least once in a lifetime and we hope we awakened the desire to visit Tuscany in you! If you want to get to know more about Florence and Italy, make sure to check out our website for other blogs!
