Florence is the pinnacle of Italian culture; an open air museum full of exquisite architecture, ornate churches and spectacular palazzos. It is known as the cradle of the Renaissance, was the birthplace of great artists and poets like Donatello and Dante, and is often described as the most beautiful city in the world. If those accolades were not enough, Florence also happens to be the best place to get a taste of the rich gastronomy and wines of Tuscany.

As you walk or cycle the peaceful, cobbled streets of Lucca, you will experience that rare phenomenon all travellers secretly desire; the feeling that you’ve discovered a hidden gem that no one else knows about.

The historic core is set inside a ring of Rennaissance walls and enveloped by serene gardens. The city is known for its old churches, pretty green spaces and for its most famous son, opera supremo Giacomo Puccini, author of La Boheme and Madama Butterfly. The town centre is compact and mostly traffic free, making it an easy city to get around, while the Lucchese countryside offers up a bounty of delicious produce for the city’s chefs to play with, making Lucca a magnet for foodies.

The Leaning Tower and the Duomo, located in Miracle Square, may be the most exquisite examples of Italian Medieval architecture anywhere in the country, but there is so much more to Pisa than the ‘Leaning Tower.’ This charming old university city, once home to astronomer Galileo, is just over one hour from Florence and offers travellers colourful palaces, vibrant piazzas and romanesque artworks to explore, minus the crowds. A vibrant events calendar and a buzzing dining scene (Pisa’s proximity to the coast means seafood is the hero of many local dishes) round off an impressive menu of things to see and do. 

Siena is an exquisite Medieval masterpiece, a heady mix of the sacred and the profane. The city’s colourful history, architecture and artworks reflect that it was once one of the powerhouse cities of Europe. Highlights include the vast scallop shaped piazza, known as The Campo, one of the most beautiful squares in the world, and the dazzling Duomo featuring sculptures by Michelangelo. It’s well known as a laid-back alternative to Florence without the crowds, except when the famous Palio is in town.