Five days in Tuscany: 72 hours to fall in love with…

Tuscany is one of the world’s most loved destinations, but suppose you have just 72 hours to spend here, how can you organize your time in order not to miss something that is really worth it?
Time is money: don’t get lost in this rich region!
With this post we offer you three 72-hour itineraries, so you don’t miss all of the Tuscan secrets, are able to discover the hidden treasures and enjoy the unmissable experiences that this region has to offer! These are three step-by-step trips lasting 5 days related to three different areas of Tuscany: if you can stay two weeks, it’s perfect! To use these itineraries to the fullest, the best solution is renting a car and stopping for the time you want to stay in each place.

Itinerary 1: From Pisa to Carrara
The river Arno in Pisa - Picture Credits: Fabrizio Angius on Flickr
This itinerary has been created in order to discover the northern area of Tuscany. It touches several cities, like Carrara or Colonnata, that are outside the classic tourist routes as well as the better known cities, such as Pisa and Lucca: a great mix full of lesser known jewels and famous monuments! This is our trip:
Pisa: the Lungarni, the medieval squares, the famous Piazza dei Miracoli and its Leaning Tower, the Keith Haring Mural, Piazza dell Vettovaglie, the San Marco Museum, etc.

Lucca: Porta Santa Maria, San Michele in Foro and Piazza San Michele, the Medieval Walls, the San Martino Cathedral, Porta Elisa, Via Fillungo, Piazza Napoleone, The Basilica of San Frediano, the Anfiteatro square, the Torre Guinigi, etc.

Versilia: a walk along Viareggio’s promenade, Art Nouveau buildings, pinewoods, beaches, the Apuan Alps, luxury shops in Forte dei Marmi, the pier, and the discos!

Carrara and Colonnata: Carrara’s 12th-century Cathedral, the Ducal Palace (Palazzo Cybo Malaspina and Castello Malaspina), the Baroque church and convent of San Francesco, the famous “lardo di Colonnata IGP” (lard of Colonnata) and … marble, marble, marble.

Leghorn: Piazza Mascagni, the Aquarium, the sea, the quartiere Venezia (Venice quarter), Castello del Boccale, Castello del Romito, a tour of the canals, etc.

Volterra: Guarnacci Etruscan Museum, Piazza dei Priori and Priori’s Palace, Palazzo Pretorio, the Cathedral and the San Giovanni’s baptistry, the Roman theatre, the fortress pertaining to the Medici family, etc.


Itinerary 2: From Florence to Siena and the Chianti countryside
This itinerary includes some universally known cities like Florence and Siena, but also smaller jewels of this vast territory like Fiesole and San Gimignano. Let’s discover the heart of Tuscany!
Florence: Piazza della Signoria, Uffizi Gallery, crossing the Ponte Vecchio, the San Lorenzo market, a visit to the Duomo and Giotto’s bell tower, Piazzale Michelangelo, Santo Spirito and much more!

Fiesole: the Romanesque Cathedral, the panoramic view over Florence, the Roman theatre, the church of San Francesco, etc.

Prato: the Emperor Castle, Santo Stefano Cathedral, the Duomomuseum, renaissance and medieval palaces, the Pecci contemporary art museum, shopping, etc.

Pistoia: the San Zeno Cathedral, Palazzo Comunale, Antico Palazzo dei Vescovi, Palazzo del Tribunale, Torre di Catilina, the old church of Santa Maria Cavaliera, Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo, the Baptistery, Piazza della Sala, Ospedale del Ceppo and the underground areas of Pistoia (like Montecatini Terme).

Abetone: during winter: Ski runs extend for over 50 km across four valleys; during summer: enjoy some trekking and walking in nature.

Siena: Piazza del Campo, Palazzo Publico, the Duomo or Cattedrale dell’Assunta, the Sanctuary of Saint Catherine of Siena, the Basilica of San Domenico, etc.

San Gimignano: the entire town is aUNESCO World Heritage Site. You can see: the Porta di San Giovanni, piazza della Cisterna, the Cathedral square, palazzo del Popolo, the loggia.

Monteriggioni: the medieval walls, the castle, the towers, the Romanesque church, and the museum.

Chianti countryside: enjoy green landscape and rolling hills, drink wine and visit hidden villages.

Itinerary 3: From Arezzo to Grosseto
This is the itinerary for people who want to discover the southern area and inlands of Tuscany, and more specifically the areas known as Maremma and Amiata. Here are some tips for you.
Arezzo province: a visit to the Valtiberina, Valdichiana, Valdarno and Casentino areas. Discover the center of Arezzo and the smaller jewel of Cortona.
Monte Amiata: the Monte Amiata area is a paradise for sport lovers. You can ski in winter, walk and go trekking or biking in summer and much more.
Grosseto: the Cathedral, Piazza Dante, Palazzo della Provincia, the Archeological museum, the art museum, etc.
Grosseto province (Maremma): don’t forget to visit the towns of Massa Marittima and Castiglione della Pescaia, the Natural Park of Alberese, and the towns of Scansano, Pitigliano, Sorano, Sovana, Manciano, Capalbio, Porto Santo Stefano, Porto Ercole.

Massa Marittima: this is a hidden Tuscan jewel with a superb Cathedral, a mining museum, an archeological museum, the Fonti dell’Abbondanza, a Siennese Fortress and the Chandelier Tower.