The 5 most beautiful villages in Tuscany

For those who wish to step back in time, Tuscany is full of fascinating medieval villages to visit at any time of the year. Far from the big cities and along the back roads, you can admire villages rich in history and great charm. These are small treasures that bear witness to the ancient and important past of this land. Fully included in the circuit of the ‘Most Beautiful Villages in Italy‘, they are the ideal destination for a trip out of town amidst beauty, tradition and taste.

Mark these villages, they will let you discover the most authentic soul of this region.

BARGA

In the province of Lucca, in the heart of the Media Valle del Serchio, lies the beautiful village of Barga, the sweet town with Pascolian echoes and narrow, steep streets, rich in splendid artistic testimonies. Certified as an Orange Flag town by the Italian Touring Club, Barga perfectly preserves its medieval structure, with several Renaissance palaces of noble appearance, among which are Palazzo Balduini, the construction of which is attributed to the famous architect Bartolomeo Ammannati; Palazzo Pancrazi, now the seat of the municipality, built by the wealthy merchant Martino Pancrazi in the style of Florentine architecture; and Palazzo Bertacchi, which houses the works of the painter Bruno Cordati. But the village’s main attraction is undoubtedly the Cathedral of San Cristoforo, built between the 9th and 15th centuries in alberese stone, a typical Tuscan limestone. Also worth a visit is the Conservatorio di Santa Elisabetta, which houses a beautiful altarpiece from the Della Robbia school (15th-16th century) and a 15th-century Crucifix. The hamlet of Castelvecchio Pascoli is home to the Casa Pascoli Museum, where the poet’s manuscripts, diplomas and books are collected.

COREGLIA ANTELMINELLI

Also in the Media Valle del Serchio, in the province of Lucca, is Coreglia Antelminelli, a delightful village in a wonderful panoramic position with the arch of the Apennines behind it. Since the 17th century, the art of the figurinai, craftsmen specialised in the production of plaster statuettes and prints, has developed in the village. Most of the subjects made by the figurinai, more than a thousand examples, can be admired in the Museum of Plaster Figurines and Emigration housed in Palazzo Vanni. Among the most valuable objects are the 18th-century kittens coloured with candle smoke and the original mask of Count Camillo Benso di Cavour. Among the village’s monuments are two churches that alone justify the trip: the Church of San Martino, built in the 9th century and inside which are preserved works of considerable value; and the Church of San Michele, built in the 11th century, where one can admire the oldest pulpit support of all the churches in the Serchio Valley. Among the civil buildings, the Antonimi and Vincenti palaces stand out.

MONTAIONE

Another village not to be missed is Montaione, in the province of Florence. Immersed in the heart of the Tuscan countryside, this enchanting medieval village is perched on a hill about 373 metres above sea level, from which it is possible to enjoy wonderful views dominated by woods, vineyards and olive groves. Montaione is especially famous for the Sacro Monte di San Vivaldo, a complex of chapels and Jerusalemite loci built by the Franciscan fathers in the early 16th century, which reproduces to scale the topography of Jerusalem at the time. In the historical centre, the Palazzo Pretorio stands out, a prestigious building dating back to the 15th century, symbol of political authority and home to the Civic Museum, which displays archaeological, palaeontological, mineral and fossil findings recovered in the area. Among the most important religious buildings in the village is the Church of San Regolo, founded in the 12th century and remodelled several times, where you can admire valuable sacred paintings dating from the 13th to the 19th century. For lovers of good food and truffles, the village is located in the Colline Sanminiatesi area, one of the most prized truffle-growing areas in Italy.

SAN CASCIANO DEI BAGNI

On the Sienese hills, almost on the border with Lazio, lies the ancient and characteristic village of San Casciano dei Bagni. Immersed in a suggestive natural context, it owes its fame to the rich presence of thermal springs. No less than 42 springs flow around the town, which have attracted visitors from all over Europe since Roman times. At the entrance to the village is the neo-Gothic Turrito Castle, built in the early 20th century. The village’s network of narrow streets and alleys revolves around the Collegiate Church of San Leonardo, the village’s main church. The building has a richly decorated Gothic portal and its interior houses a large altarpiece depicting the Coronation of the Madonna by the Sienese painter Pietro di Francesco Orioli in 1490. Other religious architecture includes the Church of Sant’Antonio, the Church of the Conception and the Church of Santa Maria della Colonna, the oldest monument in San Casciano, dating back to the 11th century. Strolling through the historical centre, one can admire beautiful civil buildings such as Palazzo Fabbrucci, Palazzo Bulgarini and the Palazzo dell’Arcipretura.

MONTESCUDAIO

In the province of Pisa, on the other hand, lies Montescudaio, a splendid village immersed in the Maremma Pisana and a few kilometres from the Tyrrhenian Sea. Its origins are very ancient and date back to the Villanovan civilisation, as testified by the discovery of some archaeological finds in the area. Its name derives from the Latin Mons scutorum meaning ‘mountain of shields’. Strolling through the village streets, one can admire several noteworthy civil buildings such as the 17th-century Palazzo Ridolfi and the 18th-century Palazzo Guerrini. Near the town hall is the Oratory of the Santissima Annunziata, built in the second half of the 15th century, although its current appearance is due to restoration work carried out in the 20th century. Also worth a visit are: the Church of Santa Maria Assunta, which dominates the village from a panoramic position; and Poggiarello, a district of small houses leaning against each other. For lovers of good wine, Montescudaio is the production area of the DOC wine of the same name. The Wine Festival, one of the most awaited and heartfelt events in the village, held every first weekend in October, dates back to 1968.