Ahhhh, Tuscany…the beautiful land of history, cheese, and wine (of course). While there isn’t a single town/city in Italy that I have visited and haven’t fallen in love with, Tuscany has its own unique charm from the rest. The vast sprawling hills and vineyards, the charming cobblestone streets & masonry buildings, and the abundance of art, history and culture are just a few of the many reasons to visit this wonderful region.

During our time in Tuscany, we spent 4 days in Florence then rented a car and drove south to San Gimignano & Siena, making stops along the way as we pleased. The drive is so peaceful, making it an easy and enjoyable trip. If you were to make the drive from Florence to Siena without stopping, you could get there in a little over an hour. Although, I would highly advise you to take your time and make as many stops as you can along the way to take in the beauty of your surroundings. We spent two wonderful nights in Siena.

 

Florence 

 

During our time in Florence, we stayed in an airbnb in Santa Croce and loved the area. The neighborhood centers on Basilica di Santa Croce and has a lively atmosphere filled with plenty of cafes, shops, and things to do nearby. Eclectic restaurants line the neighborhoods medieval streets which fill up quickly with people out and about searching for the perfect place to have an aperitif. We would recommend this neighborhood to those visiting Florence.

 

WHAT TO SEE AND DO:

1.    Visit the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore

2.    Stroll the Piazza Santo Spirito street market

3.    Tour the Uffizi Gallery

4.    Walk across the Ponte Vecchio bridge (lined with markets for jewelry and souvenirs)

5.    Visit the 13th century palace, Palazzo Vecchio

6.    Stroll through the Boboli Gardens

7.    Get lost in the back streets of Santa Croce

8.    Tour Pitti Palace (Renaissance palace & art gallery)

 

WHERE TO EAT:

1.     La Giostra – (a must- get the pear ravioli and warm cheesecake)!

2.     Trattoria Pandemonium Brogi

3.     Ditta Artigianale

4.     Gurduulu

5.     Il Coccolo- (Stracchino famous dish and donuts- good lunch/brunch spot)

6.     La Osteria Personale

7.     Locale-  (fine dining/great cocktails)

8.     Osteria Vini e Vecchi Sapori-  (extremely authentic experience. You feel like you are eating in the house of a local. It is very small and cozy with a handwritten menu outside. MUST CALL AHEAD FOR RESERVATIONS)!

 

WHERE TO DRINK:

1.     Mad souls and spirits

2.     Il Santino- (Cozy wine bar)

3.     Le Volpi e l’Uva- (most revered wine bars in the county. Part bar/part shop – offering daytime tastings)

4.     Enoteca Alessi- (vintage wine shop/bar and desserts)

5.     Mayday club

6.     Sabor Cubano- (Cuban flare cocktail lounge)

7.     Bitter Bar- (one of the most respected bartenders in Florence)

8.     Manifattura –(must go)!

9.     Locale- (this was one of our favorite cocktail spots. The ambiance is great and so are the people)

10.  Rasputin–  (Florence’s first secret bar. Located underground in Santo Spirito, can be discovered by either following hints given over the phone or through word of mouth).

 

Siena

I will start off by saying that Siena was our favorite town in Tuscany. The food was incredible, the streets were full of charm (not crowds), and the main square, Piazza del Campo, is a place we found ourselves sitting at with a bottle of wine for hours during both nights of our stay. The town is filled with authenticity and overflowing with unique character. We absolutely hope to make our way back to Siena again one day!

When making the drive from Florence to Siena, you must stop at San Gimignano along the way. This small and unique town is filled with medieval houses, towers, and the Piazza della Cisterna. You can walk the entire square in less than an hour, but you could could definitely take your time touring the town for a bit longer if you would like. There are many shops, walk-up cafes, as well as patios in the center. We had a very nice lunch and aperitif before heading out and making our way to Siena. If you are making the drive to Siena from Florence, it would be a shame to miss out on visiting San Gimignano. One piece of advice: try to come a bit early to avoid any crowds.

 

WHERE TO STAY:

We spent two nights in Siena and stayed at an amazing bnb, Palazzo Bruchi. This historic and beautiful building is located 300 meters from Piazza del Campo. All rooms overlook the valley and gardens below, and many come with Fresco paintings on the high vaulted ceilings.  This bnb is in the perfect location to experience a bit of the town center as well as the Tuscan countryside!

Palazzo Bruchi

 

WHERE TO EAT:

1.  Taverna di San Giuseppe- (this was our absolute favorite)!

2.  Osteria La Sosta di Violante

3.  Osteria da Divo