Tuscany in 7 days: Florence, wine country and the Val d'Orcia

7 days

One week through the world's most beloved countryside: Renaissance Florence, medieval Siena, the Chianti wine road, and the postcard hills of the Val d'Orcia.

Day 1

Florence, the Renaissance

Start where the modern world began.

Duomo and Brunelleschi's Dome

📍 Florence

Climb the 463 steps early; book the Brunelleschi Pass online.

Uffizi Gallery

📍 Florence

Botticelli, Leonardo, Caravaggio: book a timed entry.

Sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo

📍 Florence

The whole city in one frame.

🏨 Stay here: hotels in Florence 🎟 Tours in Florence
Day 2

Florence, the Oltrarno

The artisan side of the river.

Ponte Vecchio and Palazzo Pitti

📍 Florence

Cross early, then the Boboli Gardens.

Artisan workshops of Santo Spirito

📍 Florence

Goldbeaters, bookbinders, marbled paper.

🏨 Stay here: hotels in Florence 🎟 Tours in Florence
Day 3

Chianti wine road

Pick up a car: the SR222 is one of the world's great drives.

Greve and its funnel-shaped piazza

📍 Greve in Chianti

The gateway to Chianti Classico: first tasting.

Radda in Chianti

📍 Radda in Chianti

Stone lanes and cellars beneath the village.

Castellina and dinner among the vines

📍 Castellina in Chianti

Book an agriturismo dinner at sunset.

🏨 Stay here: hotels in Castellina in Chianti 🎟 Tours in Castellina in Chianti
Day 4

Siena

The Gothic rival.

Piazza del Campo

📍 Siena

The shell-shaped square of the Palio: climb the Torre del Mangia.

Duomo di Siena

📍 Siena

The striped cathedral and its marble inlaid floor.

🏨 Stay here: hotels in Siena 🎟 Tours in Siena
Day 5

San Gimignano and Volterra

Towers and alabaster.

The towers of San Gimignano

📍 San Gimignano

Arrive by 9 to beat the coaches; world-champion gelato in the square.

Volterra

📍 Volterra

Etruscan walls, Roman theatre, alabaster workshops.

🏨 Stay here: hotels in Volterra 🎟 Tours in Volterra
Day 6

Val d'Orcia

The postcard.

San Quirico and the cypress groves

📍 San Quirico d'Orcia

The most photographed trees in Italy are just outside town.

Pienza

📍 Pienza

The ideal city, with pecorino tasting.

Montalcino and Brunello

📍 Montalcino

End the day in the fortress enoteca.

🏨 Stay here: hotels in Montalcino 🎟 Tours in Montalcino
Day 7

Bagno Vignoni and farewell

Thermal steam in a medieval square.

Bagno Vignoni

📍 San Quirico d'Orcia

The square is a pool of steaming water: Romans and Medici bathed here.

Montepulciano

📍 Montepulciano

A last Vino Nobile before returning to Florence.

🏨 Stay here: hotels in Montepulciano 🎟 Tours in Montepulciano

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