Having a Great Time in

Tuscany without Breaking the

Budget

Explore. Experience. Enjoy.

Tuscany has an upscale reputation for its natural beauty, luxurious hotels and high-end wines.

You can actually keep the costs down without sacrificing spectacular outdoor views, breathtaking art, fine wine and great food.

Here’s our guide to having a great time in Tuscany without overspending.

Florence The beautiful city of Florence is a must see on any Tuscan itinerary. Be sure not to miss out on these

three amazing activities while you’re there.

The dramatic dome of the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore is one of the most recognizable sites in Florence.

Climb the stairs of the Duomo - yes all 463 of them - and see the double-vaulted interior of the dome.

Purchase a ticket online for only 10 euros

that includes entrance to

1) Galleria dell’Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore,

2) Brunelleschi’s Dome, 3) Giotto’s Bell

Tower,

the 4) Baptistery of San Giovanni

and the 5) Crypt of Santa Reparata.

The Baptistery of San Giovanni and Giotto’s Bell Tower

Cross over to the Arno river from Florence’s historic center to the neighborhood known as Oltrarno.

Piazzale Michelangelo

This quieter side of Florence is where you will find the Renaissance-Mannerist Palazzo Pitti which is almost always hosting an interesting exhibit.

photo credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/

The best Florentine street food is the Panino

di Lampredotto, a kind of tripe made from

the fourth stomach of a cow. Look for one of

the famous kiosks scattered about the

historic center or markets.

photo credit: http://it.wikipedia.org/

Leaning Tower of Pisa

This is one of Tuscany’s most iconic must-see spots.

Piazza dei Miracoli is really extraordinarily beautiful with the grand Romanesque cathedral, the round marble Baptistry and of course, the famous Leaning Tower.

Piazza dei Miracoli is really extraordinarily beautiful with the grand Romanesque cathedral and the Leaning Tower.

If you didn’t know, the tower leans because of the soft Pisan soil and a poor foundation.

These imperfections in engineering panned out nicely, as the structure has remained

stable through the decades despite its inclined state,

resulting in a unique, world-famous site.

Pitigliano

Visit medieval, Renaissance and Baroque-era churches filled with frescoes and sculptures in this pretty

Tuscan hill town.

Perched on a high ridge carved by wind and time from volcanic tuffa stone, this breathtaking town is also known as Little Jerusalem due to its Jewish settlers since the 15th century.

photo credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/

Tuscan Hot Springs

The area known as Maremma in southern Tuscany is filled with wild natural hot springs.

You can find well-appointed spas with a menu of facilities and services or a rustic open public spring if you’re more inclined towards the outdoors.

Eating and Drinking in Tuscany

One of the most delicious ways to eat pici, a hand-rolled pasta, is to try the type that’s topped with a rich and hearty sauce made from wild boar called ragu di cinghiale.

photo credit:www.giornaledelcilento.it

Learn about Sangiovese and Trebbiano grapes.

There are almost 800 wine estates in

Tuscany.

Spend a day at a vineyard in one of the 40

DOC wine-growing regions of Tuscany.

Drive the well-known Chianti Road

(Strada Statale 222) for names like

Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino.

Another way to taste a variety of Tuscan wines is to visit an enoteca or wine shop which you will find in almost any town in the region.

To make the most of your euros in Tuscany, follow these golden “travel expenses” rules.

Book your train tickets ahead of time. Fares are drastically reduced the farther ahead you book, but only a few of these tickets are available on each train.

Stand up. Have your morning cappuccino and afternoon coffee standing up at the bar. It can cost up to double the price if you choose to sit down.

Stay in the country. Agriturismos are working farms with accommodations for travelers.

They offer great value for your money and

they’re an excellent way to see the gorgeous

Tuscan countryside. Accommodations often

includes a kitchen so you can shop at

local markets and grocery stores so you can

make a few of your own home cooked Italian

feasts.

Fresh italian sausages found in Tuscany

There’s so much more to see, do and eat in

Tuscany than one blog post can do justice to.

The best way to experience this wonderful

region is to pack your bags, take a leap of

faith and see it for yourself.

For more information about travel to Italy,

visit our website www.touritalynow.com

or call our travel experts at 800.955.4418.