Luxury Holidays in Tuscany

Postcard-perfect countryside, romantic cities, and unbelievable Renaissance architecture. You couldn’t invent a destination so beautiful if you tried. It’s possibly Italy’s most dreamed about region – and once you experience the rolling landscapes and beautiful culture for yourself, it’s easy to see why. If you’re looking for sheer luxury and indulgence on your next Italian escape, Tuscany ticks all the boxes.

While it’s well-known amongst the holiday crowd, there are hidden corners and secret spots that will make you feel a million miles away from the main tourist track. Even in the bustling centres of Florence or Pisa, every moment is worth it. These remarkable cities are famed for their artistic legacies, and the region has huge influence on high culture across Italy and the rest of Europe. To enjoy the high life as the locals do, Tuscany is the place to be. And for foodies and wine enthusiasts, there are experiences galore to elevate your journey to a whole new level of extravagant. Lavish hotels, ornately decorated villas and country mansions surrounded by vineyards will complete your 5-star holiday experience. To book your bespoke tour, get in touch with our team today.

Where to Visit in Tuscany

Renowned for great food, outstanding wines and awe-inspiring nature, Tuscany has a lot to offer a first-time visitor. Some of the most loved cities during a luxury holiday are Florence, Pisa, Siena and the ancient walled city of Lucca. While you’re in Florence, don’t miss the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the Uffizi Gallery, the Ponte Vecchio bridge area, Palazzo Vecchio and Pitti Palace. Of course, the Leaning Tower of Pisa is a must, and Siena and Lucca both have some great historic sights.

If you’re here for a Tuscan wine tour, you’ll find destinations stretching from the magical coastline all the way to the heart of the region in the area of Chianti. A classic tour of the Chianti wine-making route takes in municipalities of Greve, Panzano, Radda, Gaiole and Castellina (as well as Florence and Siena). Or for something different, head to the Maremma Toscana region for an exclusive Etruscan Experience and learn about Italy’s ancient civilization through costumes, displays and traditional wine made with unique spices and flavours.

Another place we recommend for your tour is Vernaccia di San Gimignano, a town that’s been dubbed as the “Medieval Manhattan” due to its unique mix of tall towers and ancient buildings. Surrounded by verdant hills and vineyards, this is a postcard location that true romantics won’t want to miss. We also do tours to the quaint and beautiful areas of Montepulciano and Montalcino. Or if you want to combine your Tuscan adventure with Italy’s most glamorous coastline, let us arrange a joint tour to the Amalfi Coast.

When to Go in Tuscany

Italy has a Mediterranean climate, so visitors to Tuscany will be able to enjoy lovely weather all year round. The summers are hot and dry, while winters can be cool and wet. But there aren’t often any extremes in temperature, so travellers arrive in every season here. The most popular time to travel is during the summer months, particularly for those wishing to spend time at the beach.

Spring offers milder weather, making it a lot more comfortable for outdoor pursuits such as hiking, cycling or vineyard tours. If you plan on sightseeing in the busy cities, this is also a pleasant time to go. With fewer crowds, you can benefit from not having to queue up for famous attractions.

For wineries and vineyard tours, arrive at any time of the year. These tend to stay open to the public year-round, and each season boasts something unique and exciting. The months of March, April and May give you the best scenery, with the entire region in bloom. While January and February are quiet, atmospheric and great for arranging private tours.

Wine in Tuscany

Tuscany is home to some of the most scenic vineyards and is also one of the most remarkable wine-producing regions, celebrated by wine lovers and experts across the globe. There are over 70 DOCG wines in Italy, and 11 of these are produced in Tuscany alone. As DOCG-labeled wines are stringently checked and tasted by government–licensed staff before being bottled, the quality across the region is close to perfection.

The Chianti wine country is also Italy’s oldest, dating as far back as the 8th Century BC. So it’s a fantastic destination for wine fans who enjoy a bit of history with their tasting experiences.

The most popular grape is the native Sangiovese, known for creating tannic and acidic wines. Their delicious fruity and aromatic fragrance is present in almost all of Tuscany's top wines. Some of the best varieties in Tuscany to try are Carmignano (made from 50-90% Sangiovese grapes), Chianti (made from 70-100% Sangiovese, 0-10% Canaiolo Nero, and 0-10%Malvasia Chianti and/or Trebbiano Toscano), Brunello di Montalcino, Montecucco, Morellino di Scansano, and Elba Aleatico Passito (made with 100% Aleatico grapes).

Where to Stay in Tuscany

Let us create a completely customized holiday package to Tuscany with amazing sights and experiences, and some of the most extravagant accommodation properties. We have accommodation styles to suit every type of luxury traveller. From a huge private villa with pool and an elegant countryside estate with 5,000 acres of land to chic boutique hotels, we’ve left no stone unturned.

We can also arrange for unforgettable escapes to some of Tuscany’s most awe-inspiring castle hotels with vineyards on all sides. Or if you’re here to explore the very best of Tuscan wine-making, let us whisk you away to a dedicated wine and spa resort.

Places to Eat and Drink in Tuscany

Tuscany is perhaps the only place in the world where comfort food is a refined sort of luxury. The words “comfort” and “fine dining” rarely go together, but here they are bedfellows. From famous Florentine Steak to the bread-based soup known as Pappa al Pomodoro, simplicity rules in Tuscan kitchens.

Some of our favourite restaurants to experience this amazing Tuscan food are the Michelin-starred Osteria di Passignano outside Florence, Castello Banfi - La Taverna in Argiano, and Osteria del Grigio in San Felice – which all focus on creating traditional menus for their guests.

For international and fusion dishes made with the freshest local and seasonal produce, we recommend the glamorous Restaurant la Magnolia near Massa. Or for an authentic meal in a traditional, family-run venue that goes back four generations, book your table at Trattoria da Burde in Florence.

 

Wine Paths can create dream holidays to Tuscany for luxury seekers who want high culture, award-winning restaurants and world-class wineries. Find out more with our local expert Filippo.

Suggestions

You may also like

Book a tailor-made package with our local experts

Why book with Wine Paths?