Tuscany was our long wanted destination to explore. Faith had it, if you wish for something to happen, then it actually might, sooner or later, become reality. We came back from Budapest (2 days in Budapest - what to see?) and i again received an email from Ryanair with cheap tickets to now Pisa.
Tickets nicely paired with Valentine´s day and so we got it. It was only when we started planning our trip we realized how big Tuscany actually is and that we might not be able to see everything as we thought.
That is why we are able to share with you only a Tuscany guide for the northern part.
See our Tuscany itinerary and what to do and see in just couple days.
1.day
The first day was very short for us as we landed around six o´clock in the evening, went straight to car hire agency and headed to our hotel accommodation we booked on booking.com for only one night. The Palazzo Del Borgo is situated on a hill of Chianni village and the enter way to the hotel is very steep. Hotel has a nice view to the surroundings though, which you can enjoy from a pool. Truly beautiful and kind stay, just too short for us.
2. day
The other morning after a nice breakfast we headed to San Gimignano a medieval village approximately 50 mins from our hotel in Chianni. We were really looking forward to this visit as on the pictures it looked just stunning. Reality is even better though. Something like eight centuries old walls are just breathing the historical tales at you and you have to be
admiring the architecture.
Visiting in February gave us enough space to move around as well as stop whenever we wanted. We were told that during the summer - understand the touristy season - it is packed with groups who come here for an hour or two and rush somewhere else again.
Be sure to visit Gelateria Dondoli on Piazza della Cisterna. Two scoops of ice-cream cost 3eur and you get to try some interesting flavors out of natural and seasonal ingredients.
We were told there are no free parking spots available. Well there are big paid parking lots, i think three of them, but if you are coming from the other side and not towards the main gate then there are several free parking places. Such as this one, where we parked. Walk to the gate of the city took us maybe 3 mins.
In the afternoon we moved to Volterra which is another beautiful town only 40 minutes from San Gimignano. This town is even older and dates back to the 7th century and i have to say that it was buzzing with life much more, but maybe because we were there after the school and working hours as well. here you can see two ancient structures of Teatro Romano and Etruscan Acropolis. we have to say that it is quite badly marked so if you have gps in your phone, you might want to use it. Or simply see a map before you go.
After these two sights we drove to another accommodation place and that was Livorno. We booked a room through Airbnb (if you register through this link, you get 725 czk discount on your first stay - equivalent to 28 eurs), which was closest to the train station as the next day we wanted to go to Pisa and Florence by train.
5 TIPS TO TRAVELLING AS A COUPLE read our blog
3. day
This was the day which we entirely booked for Pisa and Florence. We tried to do some research before, regarding parking possibilities and we found it simply too difficult and also expensive to park there, that we decided to book a cheap apartment in close by city (Livorno) and explore by train.
Trip to Pisa took about 15mins from Livorno and was very cozy. Trains are kind of new and well kept so the trip was rather enjoyable, even though there is not much to see on the way. From the train station you basically go straight down the street to cross the river and within 10 mins you are able to see the tower (and tourists trying to "hold" the tower) We were here just past nine o´clock in the morning and tourist groups were already busy taking pictures. It was one of the structures or buildings that just make you say wow and drop your jaw. Really, just stop and stare at it, stop hunting bunch of photos that millions of people did before you already.
On the way back you can stop by I Porci Comodi a small bistro offering cheap street food such as baguettes with prosciutto.
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Our Tuscany experience would be too long for one blog and so we divided it.
Continue to read about THE TRIP TO CINQUE TERRE here.
Are you interested to know, how much we paid for a week in Tuscany?
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