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Near by
Castelvecchio di Compito (3km)
The neighbouring village is Castelvecchio di Compito. It has a lower part which is not that interesting and another almost separate village which you see on the hill opposite our house. This is known as Castelveccio Alto. It’s an attractive village with great views, but no bar or restaurant to take advantage of them. It’s a great place to visit in the early evening for views and sunsets.
Ruota (3km)
The next village up the valley. Turn right out of the house and keep on going or walk up through the woods. Not a day trip, but a nice little rural village worth taking a look at. It is well known locally as the home of Aldo Mei, a priest who helped many Jews escape the Nazis during the war. The previous owners of our house were Mei and are related to him.
Sant’Andrea di Compito and Pieve di Compito (5km)
Sant’Andrea di Compito is a pretty village with narrow winding streets just up the next valley. This village together with neighbouring Pieve di Compito is known as the town of the camellias. The collection was started in the 18th century and is preserved now in the Camellietum (a garden of 10,000 square metres which is home to a thousand camellia cultivars). There is also a tea plantation (another variety of camellia).
Vicopisano (12km)
Attractive town nearby with a fabulous castle. The castle is only open to visitors at the weekend and is well worth the €7 entry fee. For this you get a guided tour provided by a volunteer. A series of steep steps and ladders take you to the very top of the tower with great views. Health and safety does not feature highly so maybe not for small or unruly kids. Great outing for a weekend afternoon.
Lucca (13.5km)
We love Lucca. It’s what attracted us to this area. It’s a walled city and the entire wall is in tact. Inside the ramparts is the older, more attractive part of the city. The streets are narrow and the buildings tall so walking in the old city you are often on shady streets which are a fair bit cooler than outside the walls. Things to do in Lucca:
- Walk on the walls
The whole circuit is about 4km
Go in the late afternoon / early evening when the sun is low and the light golden
Some of the gates are very interesting to take a look at - Get lost in the old city
Be sure not to miss the Piazza dell’Anfiteatro - Visit the botanic gardens
- Visit Palazzo Pfanner
It has a lovely baroque garden that is popular for weddings - Lucca is known as the city of 100 churches.
Not to be missed:- Cattedrale di San Martino
- Basilica of San Michele in Foro
- Basilica di San Frediano
- Climb the Torre Guinigi
It has 400 year old oaks growing at the top and great views
When we visit Lucca, we invariably park in Via Delano Roosevelt. It is a very short walk from the city walls at Porta San Jacopo and invariably has space to park for free.
Montecarlo (18.4km)
Pretty little hilltop village with a castle and one of our favourite places to go for lunch (InCucina).
Various historical villas
Day trip
Pisa (26.3km)
You know what to expect in Pisa and that’s most of what you get.
Montecatini Terme (31.9km)
A formerly grand spa town, now rather faded. The Parco delle Terme is well worth a visit. The buildings are really impressive and beautiful and the small park is pleasant. Nearby is a delightful old Funicolare built in 1898 which takes you up the hill to Montecatini Alto which is a lovely hilltop village with plenty of restaurants in the main square. We chose the Vecchia Posta as it was more reasonably priced than most and rather popular. Good choice. We have also eaten at Il Giardino which has a panoramic terrace out the back (that they never bothered to mention when we arrived).
Pistoia (40km)
A really attractive old town with meandering streets and interconnected squares with places to eat and drink. A really nice day out. We had a delicious lunch in Taverna Gargantua – highly recommended.
By the sea (about 45km)
The Italian seaside is not what attracted me to this area, but it has something. If you want to spend a day at the beach, you will have to pay to stay at one of the private beach facilities. For one with a pool, it’s about €50 for the day and you will also get changing facilities, restaurant/bar, parasol with deck chairs/loungers for 4 people. We’ve tried two and Bagno Roma was better by far.
As it is very flat, bike hire is popular and you can cycle along the promenade between the connected seaside towns below.
- Forte dei Marmi
- Pietrasanta. As well as the beach area, there is a small and attractive town set in the hills above.
- Viareggio. Has a nice park.
We are still searching for a really nice place to visit the beach.
Near Viareggio is Torre del Lago Puccini generally known as Torre del Lago which is worth a visit if you’re down that way and fed up with the beach towns. It’s a large lake with some villas on its shores. Most notable of these is Villa Puccini where he lived and composed. Operas are staged there. There is a museum and you can hire boats.
Livorno (45km)
Bustling city south of Pisa with a busy marina, an area with canals that it characterises as “Little Venice” and a long waterfront with a promenade of sorts. On a warm day, there are lots of people making use of the small rocky beaches and piers. A very nice day out.
Boveglio (Martin’s road trip down memory lane 50 km)
This route will take you past Lucca and up into the hills to the north. You will pass the devil’s bridge and see Bagni di Lucca (popular with English expats). The windy road into the hills above Bagni will take you through Benabbio where my parents had their house and the two of us first came to know Tuscany. Further up is Boveglio which is a very attractive village with steep narrow streets. There is a bar / restaurant called Bar Ferrari there with a small vertiginous terrace from which you will get views across the valley.
Possibly combine this trip with a visit to Barga.
Barga (50km)
Very picturesque hilltop village in the mountains. The streets are steep and narrow. The views from the cathedral at the very top are spectacular.
Volterra (60km)
A large attractive walled town south of here dating from Etruscan times. Fortress, busy streets, great views, lots of shops and restaurants. Worth a visit.
Florence / Firenze (70km)
Florence is a beautiful bustling city. The tourist crowds can be something else, but there are plenty of reasons so many come to visit. It is the capital of Tuscany and the cradle of the Renaissance. There are many wonderful places to visit in Florence:
- Ponte Vecchio
- Piazza della Signoria
- Palazzo Vecchio
- Uffizi Gallery
- Michelangelo’s David
There is a copy in Piazza della Signoria
The original is in the Academia Gallery - Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore
- St John’s Baptistery
There’s so much more. Look it up on the proper internet or visit a tourist information office. Also just wander the streets, soak up the atmosphere, sit outside a bar and watch the world go by.
If you want to spend a couple of nights there in luxury, consider Villa la Massa. It’s right on the river Arno just outside the city. It has a shuttle bus to Ponte Vecchio and serves a lovely breakfast by the river.
Fiesole (80km)
An ancient Etruscan city on the hills above Florence. Charming to walk around and stunning views across the city below.
San Gimignano (80km)
An incredibly beautiful walled medieval hill town with bags of character and towers. It is set in rolling verdant countryside and the views from the top of the Torre Grosso are stunning. The frescoes in the duomo are absolutely lovely. Climb a tower, visit the duomo, wander the streets, fabulous. Don’t miss this one out.
San Gimignano is a very popular place to visit and parking can be a challenge. It’s best to arrive before 10am to miss the worst of the car park bun fight.
We have had a good lunch at La Griglia which has a terrace with great views.
Stay overnight
La Spezia and Cinque Terre cinque (90km)
Cinque Terre (the five towns) is a string of five old fishing villages perched high on the Italian Riviera in the region Liguria. You can reach the villages by train or boat from La Spezia. This is a very popular tourist spot and cruise destination with large crowds of tourists.
Siena (140km)
Beautiful city south of here. The region between Florence and Siena is known as Chiantishire and is a very popular location for the holiday villas of Brits with more money than us. Your route will likely take you through this region. In Siena there is much to see:
- Piazza del Campo where the horse race takes place
- Torre del Mangia for the views
- Piazza del Duomo
- Duomo of Santa Maria Assunta – fabulous, not to be missed
- Piccolomini Library (inside the duomo)
- Baptistery of San Giovanni
- Santa Maria della Scala
Given the length of drive and the amount to do in Siena, perhaps a night or two in a hotel makes sense.
A nice day out from Siena is the Val d’Orcia with beautiful countryside and a series of hilltop towns: Montalcino, San Quirico d’Orcia and Pienza.
While you are heading down to Siena (or on the way back) you could also visit:
- Monteriggioni
Small fortified hilltop town. Lots of Via Francigena walkers and cyclists. - Colle di Val d’Elsa
The old town is stretched along a ridge. Narrow streets. Bags of character. - San Gimignano
Beautiful. A day out in itself (see above) - Volterra
Large, bustling hilltop town (see above)
To do
- Parco Alpi Apuane (70km)
- Bologna (140km)
- Genoa (170km)