Cobbled stone houses, sitting on a hill, with valleys in the background and a golden light shimmering. Woman in a white dress, standing in a street with a cobbled stone house, with wooden shutters and a door, next to hanging plants in vases. Explore

Villages in Tuscany Worth Slowing Down For

Tuscany Explore:

Deep into Tuscany’s rolling hills, these five villages reveal an unparalleled glimpse into Tuscan splendour and are perfect examples of the region's slow pace, of its gentle and intended way of living.

1:

Volterra

Volterra crowns a hilltop in central Tuscany, offering splendid views over the surrounding countryside.

Yellow toned village with cobble stoned buildings and a tower.

The remarkably preserved Etruscan walls and graceful cobblestone streets will instantly make youleave the modern world. As you stroll through Piazza dei Priori, your eyes will stop at the grandeur of the imposing medieval façades. Before you notice, you will then be pulled, as if by magic, into the narrow alleys that penetrate into the heart of the town, each more picturesque than the previous one.

Yellow houses with hanging and climbing plants, on a stone path.
Street alley with several arches,with red flowers on the walls, cobbled stone façades and floor.
Wooden door on a cobbled stone house, with climbing plants and dark green mail boxes.
2:

Montalcino

Cradled amidst vineyards that originate the esteemed Brunello di Montalcino, this exceptional hilltop village is a real harbour for wine connoisseurs.

Cobbled stone houses, sitting on a hill, with valleys in the background and a golden light shimmering.

While it is worth visiting the different wine shops that offer wine tastings of the local star, the village itself is a gem, with narrow streets are as enchanting as the medieval fortress, the Rocca, whose ramparts reveal sublime panoramas over the Val d’Orcia, revealing a landscape of lush vineyards and softly rolling hills that have remained in stillness for centuries now.

Lively streets with a light orange house, with brown doors, hanging products and vases with plants on the floor, next to a set of iron chairs.
Church bells standing on two cobbled stone towers.
Street alley on a hill, with valleys in the background and a golden light shimmering.
3:

Montemerano

Quite surely the least frequented village of them all, where the gentle rhythm of local life, appears to be quietly guarded as a secret.

Woman in a light blue dress, walking in a street with cobbled stone houses, with wooden shutters, next to hanging plants in vases.

As you walk its streets, among the vines that trail up weathered façades, you will see scenes of ordinary everyday life that look like simple poetry, from an elderly lady drawing water from the public fountain in Piazza del Castello to groups of men sitting at the cafés chatting the afternoon away. Its tranquillity sets Montemerano apart from more frequented towns and makes it the ideal Tuscan dream for the slow traveller.

Cobbled stone house, with shuttered windows and several vases with plants on the floor.
Cobbled stone houses, with shuttered windows and several vases with plants on the floor.
Streets with cobbled stone houses, shuttered windows and several vases with plants on the floor.
4:

Cortona

Almost lost in eastern Tuscany, near the border with Umbria, this hillside village with comprehensive views of Val di Chiana is a charming must-visit.

Village centre, with several cobbled stone houses with arches and shutters. Stone floor with benches, tables, vases with flowers and people walking around.

Renowned for Piazza della Repubblica and for many scenes in 'Under the Tuscan Sun', Cortona is a picture frame of charm and character. Meandering alleyways, a graceful town centre, sunlit stairways, and westward views all come together in perfect synchrony, leaving an impression that is both lasting and delightful.

Staircase with hanging vases and plants, next to a red bike. A green door at the top of the stairs with a stone arch on the top.
Woman in a white dress, standing in a street with a cobbled stone house, with wooden shutters and a door, next to hanging plants in vases.
Old wooden door with glasses to see the interior with random objects.
5:

Pienza

Considered the most romantic small medieval town in Tuscany, Pienza sits high on a hilltop overlooking the unique and utterly beautiful landscape of Val d’Orcia

Woman in a teal dress, standing in a street with cobbled stone houses, with wooden shutters, next to hanging plants in vases.

While past its walls the hills extend infinitely all around Pienza, within them, its perfect Renaissance lay-out, with regular cobbled streets sided by red-hued limestone façades that contrast beautifully with the vibrant greens of the potted plants and ivies that adorn the doorwarys and balconies, makes Pienza a unique treasure within the whole of Italy.

Cobbled stone houses, sitting on a hill, with valleys in the background.
Golden valleys seen from a hilltop, with several trees and houses.
Garden with roses, bushes and trees, in front of a church and a old building with arches.
Tuscany Explore:

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A Guide to Tuscany - the cover page, by Simply Slow Traveler

Tuscany is a treasure trove of scenic beauty and picturesque experiences, which deserves to be discovered in the most complete and intended way.

Explore my guide to 7 Days in Tuscany and discover all the most romantic small villages that have inspired authors and movie-makers throughout the ages.

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