Tuscany is one of the most popular regions in Italy. Most people head to the popular mountain towns and the best places to visit in Tuscany, but there are many smaller and less-visited places that are well worth a visit. Most of Tuscany’s main cities are in the center, but many of the places where you will see fewer visitors are in the extreme north or south of the region.
Here’s a sampling of some of your favorite options for places to go where you won’t see as many tourists, especially English-speaking tourists. Although some of them can be reached by train or bus, most are best accessed by car.
Pitigliano, sur de la Toscana
Pitigliano, in the southern part of Tuscany called the Maremma, stands dramatically on a tuff ridge. It is known as Little Jerusalem for its old Jewish quarter, established in the 16th century. Caves and underground tunnels are below the city and the cliffs are dotted with Etruscan tombs.
Monte Argentario, Costa Sur
Monte Argentario, in southern Tuscany, is a wilder part of the coast. The interior and coastline are rugged, but there are some beaches and the beautiful port cities of Porto Ercole and Porto Santo Stefano with good seafood restaurants. Monte Argentario is a good place for hiking and boat trips to the Tuscan archipelago.
Pistoia
Pistoia is sometimes known as “little Florence” due to the concentration of art and architecture in a much smaller city. Pistoia’s main square has excellent examples of medieval architecture, including the Cathedral of San Zeno and its bell tower and the 14th-century Gothic Baptistery. Its medieval market is still in use today. Although Pistoia is a short train ride west of Florence, it sees far fewer tourists.
Barga y Garfagnana
Garfagnana is the mountainous area north of Lucca. It is populated with picturesque villages, hiking trails and the Bagni di Lucca spa center. Barga has a link to Scotland and you can see Scottish items for sale and hear a fair amount of English spoken. Continuing through the valley of the river Serchio, you will reach Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, the main town in the area, which can be reached by train from Lucca. However, a car is the best for exploring most of the Garfagnana.
Lunigiana, the extreme north of Tuscany
La Lunigiana is a finger of Tuscany that borders the Liguria and Emilia Romagna regions. Three valleys, divided by rivers, make up the Lunigiana. The mountainous region is dotted with the remains of more than 100 castles and small medieval towns such as Pontremoli and Equi Terme, known for their spa and prehistoric cave.
Carrara marble quarries
The marble quarries, high above the city of Carrara, have been in use since Roman times and famous Renaissance sculptors, including Michelangelo, came here for the marble. You can visit a few places on your own, but to get a really good look at the quarries, take a 50-minute guided tour. While you are in the mountains, visit the village of Colonnata.
Arezzo and the Casentino food and wine routes
The city of Arezzo, known for its frescoes by Piero Della Francesca, is often overlooked by tourists, but it is worth a visit. You can recognize your main square from the movie Life is Beautiful . Arezzo can be reached by train, but if you have a car, you can drive through the Casentino Valley countryside on the wine and gastronomy routes.
Costa de Versilia
Tourists don’t often associate beaches with Tuscany, but the north coast of Versilia has a long strip of beach towns and good bathing establishments used mainly by locals. Forte dei Marmi is one of the most famous tourist towns, once a favorite of wealthy Italians and its Wednesday market is a good place to shop for clothes. The city of Viareggio is known for its Liberty-style architecture and the inner city of Pietrasanta is a favorite with artists.
Corchia underground cave in the Apuane Alps park
The Apuane Alps offer excellent scenery and hiking opportunities. Monte Corchia is called the Empty Mountain because inside it is one of the largest cave systems in Europe. Visitors can take a 2-hour guided tour that covers highlights of stalactite and stalagmite formations and small underground lakes. In the same area, you can also take a tour of the Quicksilver mine. As you go up or down, stop in the small town of Seravezza with its Medici Palace.
Sanctuary of La Verna and place of pilgrimage
The Sanctuary of La Verna is one of the places in Italy associated with Saint Francis and many people go here for that reason. It was here that Francis is said to have received the stigmata. The sanctuary is perched on a rocky headland in a forested setting with great views of the valley below, so a trip here makes for a fine day out in the country.
