The most beautiful towns and villages in Tuscany are…endless. It seems that any place in the Tuscan countryside has at least one jaw-dropping view, be it a hilltop castle or medieval streets within a lush valley. We’ve trimmed such an endless list down to 10, so here are the most beautiful towns and villages in Tuscany you should include in your Tuscan vacation.
Image Credit: Getty Images, aluxum. Image Location: Anghiari, Italy
Anghiari
Closest station: Giovi (bus required)
Anghiari is a gorgeous Tuscan village that is just as captivating today as it was in the Middle Ages. Stone houses line this small town that is framed around a main street running down the hillside for miles, daring your eyes and feet to follow it deeper into lower Tuscany.
Fosdinovo
Closest station: Sarzana (bus required)
In the far north of Tuscany, you’ll find the fortified village of Fosdinovo. You can see the Ligurian Sea and the mountains from the 12th-century Malaspina Castle. The panoramic views are as rich as the Malaspina family who owned the castle; the walking and cycling trails surrounding the village offer more opportunities for horizon gazing.
Peccioli
Closest station: Pontedera-Casciana T. (bus required)
Peccioli was the winner of the 2024 Borgo dei Borghi, an annual competition which has Italians vote for the most beautiful village in Italy. Peccioli, now the year’s “Village of Villages”, is a hilltop village flanked with olive groves and vineyards. You’ll hardly find any of the 5,000 residents blocking your view; but, on the more crowded days, roam through the ancient forests and you’ll find solitude.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Peter Zelei Images. Image Location: Barga, Tuscany, Italy
Barga
Closest station: Barga-Gallicano
“The most Scottish town in Italy” has a castle, duomo, and one sprawling arringo lawn that grants amazing views of the valleys and dense forest-covered mountains. Barga is a must on every bingo card for the most beautiful towns in Tuscany.
Saturnia
Closest station: Albinia (bus)
Saturnia’s beauty washes over you in its thermal springs. On one hand, Saturnia is quite the stop on the tourist trail for those who are pros at vacation pampering. On the other hand, its popular spas are the reasons Saturnia is one of the prettiest villages in Tuscany.
Collodi
Closest station: Pescia (bus)
Collodi is one of the most beautiful villages in Tuscany for families. The town’s homes are built across a steep hill, creating a cascade of color amongst the green trees. The Garzoni Garden is a prime example of what an Italian Renaissance garden should look like, but your kids would much prefer a stop at Pinocchio Park, since the friendly wooden fairytale was set in this town.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Fani Kurti. Image Location: Montemerano, Italy
Montemerano
Closest station: Albinia
Though the hill on which Montemerano sits is small, the village still has commanding views of Southern Tuscany. Montemerano has the characteristic countryside and narrow-alleys of a medieval town that you want in a Tuscan village. There’s a reason you’ll fall in love with it; not least of which is its heart-shape.
Suvereto
Closest station: Campiglia Marittima (bus)
The many cork, oak, and chestnut trees bring a balance of nature to the atypical medieval streets Suvereto is known for. Lovely views exist outside of the labyrinth in the historical center, though there’s plenty of Middle Age architecture worth your attention. Suvereto is also one of the most beautiful villages in Tuscany for families. The cute Museo Artistico della Bambola is an elegant doll museum your little ones will love.
Certaldo
Closest station: Certaldo
Close to Florence, Certaldo’s preserved historic center makes its museums all the more immersive. It’s a small village, but supremely photogenic, so you can snap a shot of Certaldo at every angle. Take the funicular to the medieval Certaldo Alto and drink in the views above Certaldo Basso.
Image Credit: Getty Images, StevanZZ. Image Location: Borgo a Mozzano, Tuscany, Italy
Borgo a Mozzano
Closest station: Borgo A Mozzano
Borgo a Mozzano is one of the best places in the Tuscany countryside that’s near Lucca. Its wildly arched bridge — the Ponte della Maddalena — welcomes you to the Serchio Valley. It’s a relaxing village on the Serchio River, surrounded by hills, and provides a place to rest 364 days of the year — on Halloween, prepare for the biggest party in Europe.
What is the prettiest area in Tuscany?
If you want to get technical, Peccioli is the most beautiful village in all of Italy, so it must be the prettiest area of Tuscany. Peccioli, as the Borgo dei Borghi 2024 winner, earns its inclusion into any talk of the prettiest areas of Tuscany. We’d also nominate the gorgeous village of Montemerano, the tranquil Saturnia, and charming streets of Certaldo.
What is the nicest town in Tuscany?
Montepulciano, Cortona, and Lucca are three of the nicest towns in Tuscany. We don’t mean to play the hits, but these Tuscan towns are classics for a reason. With neighbors like Pisa and Florence, Lucca had no other choice than to put on its Sunday best: stunning 16th-century palazzos and medieval walls — designed by none other than Leonardo da Vinci himself — amplify Lucca’s charm.
When you’re half in the bag on Montepulciano’s famous red wine, you’ll be tempted to purchase a villa; and when its amazing Tuscan cuisine sobers you up, you’ll go through with the purchase. The Renaissance hilltown of Montepulciano is a beauty no matter which eyes you see it through. As for Cortona, it’s one of Tuscany’s nicest towns for the history lover, thanks to its well-preserved medieval and Etruscan remains. It celebrated a few hundred birthdays before Rome was born, if that’s any indication of the awesome archaeological adventures that await.
Where is a good base in Tuscany?
Lucca and Arezzo are two good base towns in Tuscany for visiting the villages above. Both have train stations that grant access throughout the region, and both are large enough to provide the hotels, restaurants, and activities you desire in a Tuscan vacation in between your day trips to the most beautiful towns and villages in Tuscany.
See also: How to take a day trip from Rome to Tuscany
Header Image Credit: Getty Images, StevanZZ. Image Location: city, country
