Discover Tuscany, Italy in Five Days

1. The Bargello

The Bargello, which is also known as the Palazzo del Bargello or the Palace of the People, is a former Florentine prison and barracks that has been converted into an art museum.

The complex's name is believed to have been derived from the Latin word bargillus, which means "fortified tower" or "castle." It was originally constructed in 1255 and is Florence's oldest public building, originally built to house the city's podestà, or city council magistrate. In 1574, it began to be used as a prison and remained the Florentine police headquarters until the mid-19th century, when it was converted into a national museum by the Governor of Tuscany.

Today, it houses the largest collection of Renaissance and Gothic sculptures in Italy, including significant pieces by Michelangelo, Donatello, and Bernini. Significant collections of ceramics, tapestries, textiles, and metalworks are also showcased.

Via del Proconsolo, 4-50122 Firenze, Phone +39-05-50-64-94-40

2. Boboli Gardens

Boboli Gardens are a Florentine park that was originally constructed in the mid-16th century adjacent to the Pitti Palace.

The gardens were landscaped for Eleonora di Toledo, wife of Italian ruler Cosimo I de' Medici, and were constructed by architects Niccolò Tribolo and Bartolomeo Ammanati, with additional input by Giorgio Vasari and Bernardo Buontalenti.

They are among the oldest and most prominent 16th-century gardens in the country, serving as a model for similarly-styled gardens throughout Europe.

Today, they are operated as a public park showcasing a significant collection of sculptures from the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries, offering expansive views of the city, with water elements developed through irrigation sourced from the nearby Arno River.

Piazza Pitti, 1, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy

3. Florence Cathedral

Florence Cathedral, also known as the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore, is Florence's official cathedral, originally designed in 1296 by Arnolfo di Cambio and extensively renovated in the 19th century with a Gothic Revival-style facade by Emilio de Fabris.

The cathedral, along with the nearby Florence Baptistery and Giotto's Campanile, is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site preserving the city's historic city centre. The cathedral serves as the mother church for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Florence, currently overseen by archbishop Giuseppe Betori.

Notable features include a 15th-century brick dome constructed by Filippo Brunelleschi, which remains the largest brick dome in the world, and significant works of art by Paolo Uccello and Andrea del Castagno.

Piazza del Duomo, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy

4. Galleria dell'Accademia di Firenze

Galleria dell'Accademia di Firenze, known as the Gallery of the Academy of Florence in English, is Italy's second-most-visited art museum after the Uffizi, attraction more than 1.4 million annual visitors.

The museum was originally founded by Grand Duke of Tuscany Pietro Leopoldo in 1784 and is best known as the display site of the original sculpture of Michelangelo's David since 1873.

Though the museum was originally created as a display of Michelangelo works, it has become a general display museum of works by Florentine artists throughout the Trencento and Renaissance, including significant works by Sandro Botticelli, Domenico Ghirlandaio, Paolo Uccello, and Andrea del Sarto.

Via Ricasoli, 58/60, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy, Phone: +39-05-52-38-86-09

5. Gallery of Modern Art

Gallery of Modern Art is located on the second floor of the Pitti Palace in Florence, overlooking the palace's beautiful Boboli Gardens.

The museum has been open to the public since 1924, housing significant Italian works produced between the late 18th and early 20th centuries, from the rule of Pietro Leopoldo through the start of World War I.

It was begun with a collection of works produced from competitions by the Academy of Arts and Designs, housed within a space formerly occupied by the Lorraine family. Significant works include the works of the Macchiaioli, along with significant pieces by artists such De Chirico, De Pisis, Dupré, Morandi, and Boldini.

Piazza de' Pitti, 1, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy

6. The Hot Springs of Bagni San Filippo

The Hot Springs of Bagni San Filippo are one of Tuscany's premiere natural hot springs sites, used for healing and medicinal purposes since the Etruscan era.

The springs are considered to be a hidden local secret, less crowded than tourist-heavy hot springs such as the springs at Saturnia in Maremma.

They are located just outside the city of Bagni San Filippo within the Val d'Orcia and showcase a number of waterfalls, pools, and calciferous formations, including the spectacular White Whale calcified waterfall, which is located at the confluence of the hot springs and the cool waters of the nearby river.

A number of visitor pools are available for relaxation and healing purposes, which may be accessed for free year-round.

53023 Province of Siena, Italy

7. Isla de Elba

Isla de Elba is the largest island within the Tuscan Archipelago, known international as the exile site for French Emperor Napoleon during his 300-day exile in 1814 and 1815.

The island is Italy's third-largest island region after Sardinia and Sicily and is part of the expansive National Park of the Tuscan Archipelago, Europe's largest marine park. The island's connection to Napoleon is explored at Portoferraio’s National Museum of Napoleonic Residences, while its Napoleonic residences are preserved at Palazzina dei Mulini.

In recent decades, the island has become a prime wine tourist destination in Tuscany, known for its beautiful beaches and summertime resort residences. A network of road racing trails span the island, including a noted stretch between Rio nell’Elba and Porto Azzurro linked to famed 20th-century racer Fausto Coppi.

8. Ferrari Test Drive

Ferrari Test Drive allows Florentine visitors to take the wheel for a once-in-a-lifetime Ferrari driving experience, assisted by personal driving tutors.

All tours depart from the Piazzale Michelangelo and explore the Tuscan countryside, offering sweeping views of the region's surrounding natural wonders.

Tours are available in varying distance increments, ranging from four to 70 kilometers of driving time. Participants may upgrade their tours with stops at the hillside city of Fiesole, which showcases spectacular panoramic views of Florence.

Apertifs are offered as part of tour stops in Fiesole, along with Chianti country drives through Tuscany's famed vineyard regions. Preferred driving times may be scheduled in advance, though visitors should note that there may be a slight waiting period upon arrival for drives.

Piazzale Michelangelo, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy, Phone: +39-33-12-05-58-88

9. Fiat 500 Tours

Fiat 500 Tours allow participants to tour the beautiful Tuscan countryside in luxurious Fiat 500 vehicles driven by experienced tour guides.

Tours are available for individuals, couples, and small groups, departing each morning from Castellina in Chianti. From there, tours explore Chianti's iconic landscape, showcasing local monuments and attractions. Tours follow the path of Via Francigena, showcasing ancient hills and trees along beautiful country roads.

All tours include visits to local wineries, with three wine tastings offered, showcasing the region's top wines, before meeting at a local farmhouse for a traditional Tuscan lunch. The tour lasts approximately six hours and is available in Italian, English, French, and Spanish.

Via Gherardo Silvani, 50125, Florence, Italy, Phone: +39-0-57-71-48-10-01

10. Florence Baptistery

Florence Baptistery, also referred to as the Baptistery of St. John, is a basilica in Florence that is located in the Piazzas del Duomo and San Giovanni, near the Campanile di Giotto and the Florence Cathedral.

As one of Florence's oldest civic buildings, the basilica was constructed in the Florentine Romanesque style, completed in 1128. Its construction was influential in the development of Renaissance architectural styles utilized by architects such as Leon Battista Alberti, Francesco Talenti, and Filippo Brunelleschi and is internationally renowned for its three sets of artistic bronze doors crafted by Andrea Pisano and Lorenzo Ghiberti.

Until the 19th century, it served as the baptismal site for all Florentine citizens, including notable figures such as poet Dante Alighieri. Today, it still performance baptisms on the first Sunday of every month by appointment.

Piazza San Giovanni, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy