Tuscany hill towns you don't want to miss

The undiscovered hill towns of Tuscany - a bit of fun!

If you have no idea where to start exploring these hill towns in Tuscany and are a bit of a romantic, why not dive in instead by choosing a door?

There are more than 100 Tuscany doors to choose from. But you only get one key.

Take your time. Be sure.

Or don't be! Choose the one that the moment you see it, you know. Even if you don't know why. It is the one. And take a chance.

But just the one. No cheating! I will know ;)

When you are ready, click on your door.

And find out where in Tuscany it takes you.

Which Tuscany door will you open?

Buriano

Once a rival Aldobrandesca fortressed town to the neighbouring hill town of Vetulonia (from which this image was taken), Buriano is home to the lost church of Saint Andrea and the hermitage of Malavalle.

It is for the sheer silence and within its walls and that of its castle and the panorama that you should visit.

Photo by kind permission of Ricsen.

Caldana

Caldana

Visit the open wine cellars during the town's autumnal festivities for a unique experience deep beneath a medieval town.

Canneto

Canneto

Sometimes, walking through the portals of a place for the very first time in this part of Tuscany can send a wave of excitement through you telling you that you have stepped into a very special place indeed. And magical is the only way to describe it. And that is exactly how I felt when I walked into this tiny castled village high up in the woodlands within the Province of Pisa: Canneto :)

The video.

Campiglia Marittima

Campiglia Marittima

Campiglia Marittima Tuscany: Maremma's medieval city of arches. Be ready to swoon!

Take a morning or an afternoon to explore this towns many medieval streets, eat a picnic in the gardens of its ruined castle the Rocca Aldobrandesca with museum and stunning views and then visit the Parco Archeominerario di San Silvestro for a day you will never forget.

Capalbio

Capalbio Italy, the last fortification between Tuscany and Lazio, is best seen in her winter coat.

Castagneto Carducci

Castagneto Carducci

Close to the Bolgheri vineyards and wineries, a popular place for an aperitivo after a day spent on the beach along the Costa degli Etruschi.

Gavorrano

Gavorrano

Once a rich pyrite mining centre, Gavorrano is a splendid medieval town in which to while away an afternoon.

It is home to the festival each August of the "Salto della Contessa" that records the murder in the nearby castle of Castel di Pietra of the Sienese noble lady Pia de Tolomei on the orders of her husband Lord Pannocchieschi. So he could be free to marry his longtime love, the beautiful Margherita Aldobrandeschi, the Contessa of Sovana and Pitigliano.

A visit to the international mining museum will take you underground through the old galleries and, in the same location on a summer's night, return again for a theatrical performance in the theatre of the Teatro delle Rocce - theatre of the rocks.

Gerfalco

Gerfalco

Gerfalco is a traditional hill town situated on the highest peak of Maremma's metalliferous hills and at the foot of the Cornate mountains, with three churches, two towers and two medieval entrance gates. A place of cool respite from the summer coastal heat.

Giuncarico

Giuncarico

Giuncarico is a Tuscan hill town in need of a little love and attention, with sweeping panoramic views across the plain of the River Bruna.

The video.

La Leccia

La Leccia

Lovely La Leccia sitting above the Valle del Diavolo - the valley of the devil.

Tiny it may be, but it packs a punch in medieval history, a legend and not to mention a miracle or two!

Lustignano

Lustignano

The tiny castled medieval hamlet of Lustignano, on the sulphur trail in Maremma in a landscape of spitting black mud pools and hissing stinky vapour outlets!, has a habit of unveiling ancient treasures to the world!

Magliano in Toscana

Magliano in Toscana

One of the better known Tuscan hill towns in Maremma, its encircling walls of are its most impressive feature.

Don't miss nearby ruins of the Monastero di San Bruzio.

Massa Marittima

Massa Marittima

Massa Marittima is a spectacular fortified medieval and Renaissance city and one of my very favourite places in Maremma.

Of all the wonderful towns in Tuscany, this one is not to be missed. Especially for lovers of costumed medieval festivals, archery and gorgeous gelato :)

Montecerboli

Venture into Maremma's Valley of the Devil and between steaming vaporous plumes and boiling mud mots you'll find ever so tiny ancient heart of Montecerboli. Once a medieval castle and now a well-tended oasis of quiet with the odd petrified local!

Montegiovi

Montegiovi

Montegiovi will catch your imagination from your very first glimpse from afar and light a quest within you to visit to meet it in person.

A romantic quest that has no roots in rhyme or reason, for there are so many other picturesque hill top villages in Maremma beckoning you to visit.

But which, nonetheless, you will follow. For you must.

Montelaterone

Montelaterone is Maremma's Watership Down. It's ups and downs and alleyways that split and connect the concentric streets within this hill town's ancient castled medieval walls, will have you going around in circles. More than once.

Send your kids off ahead to explore and they will be keeping a frequent eye on you, whilst you won't see them! Have fun!

Montemassi

A small and very quiet medieval town dominated by its castle, the Castello di Montemassi: both of which appear in the famous 1328 fresco of "Guidoriccio da Fogliano".

Montemassi is a lovely "slow travel" place to visit.

Montemerano

Montemerano

Montemerano Italy is one of Italy's most beautiful villages and it is in Maremma :)

But it is for its unique cat flap, a hole in a wall, and a great Italian salad eaten with locals that you should visit!

Montieri

Montieri

Set within dense woodlands, until the 1990's Montieri was still the actively mining pyrite, lead and silver from the local hills.

Ruled by Volterra bishops for four centuries and with its own silver mint, it is a town especially rich in mining history and changes of ownership.

Pereta

Pereta

Pereta, a sleepy castled village with Maremma's tallest medieval tower at its centre, has an incredible history of invasion and hardship.

Walk through its 14th century gate, up into its 10th century castle and touch the stones of its walls to see if they will tell you what they have witnessed.

Pitigliano

Pitigliano

Pitigliano is probably Maremma's most well known town: sat upon and carved out of a tufa outcrop, it is an incredible place and stunning.

But when you learn of its history, its hidden city, buried "piazza", and its Etruscan Vie Cave, the magic that started with the "Wow" that you exclaimed as you first caught sight of it begins...

Populonia

Populonia is a pretty little medieval "borgo" enclosed within a 15th century fortress sitting at the highest point of the Monte Massoncello peninsular, along Maremma's Costa degli Etruschi.

Well away from the regular Tuscany tourist trails, it is here that a prosperous Etruscan civilization built their only city by the sea.

Visit and you will understand why.

Photo by Opaxir

Prata

Prata

Prata in Maremma may not be the prettiest of Tuscan hill towns and it may well leave you feeling nauseas in order to reach it - as it has done to travellers for centuries - but that shouldn't stop you making the trip to see it.

For this dank dark backwater bred men and women of fighting spirit. And there is a story waiting to be told within its walls. Two, in fact.

Ravi in Maremma

Ravi in Maremma

With the absence of any shabby corners - in fact it is round - Ravi in Maremma is clearly very much loved by its inhabitants and its tiny tiny still lived in castle is a treasure of a gem.

Just be warned! a visit inside by two of you will make it feel crowded! Tuscany doesn't come much more undiscovered than this.

Roccalbegna

This stunning Tuscany town is Roccalbegna: one of the places in this world that will make your heart skip a beat and have you racing to reach it - don't miss this one!

The climb to the top of its "Rocca" fortress will take your breath away in more ways than one. And there is a treat in store on the way up for kids :)

Roccastrada

Roccastrada

Roccastrada: there is an English saying that, "clothes maketh the man", but in the case of this medieval Maremma hill town it isn't true.

It's external facade hides a fascinating history and character you shouldn't miss.

Roccatederighi

Roccatederighi

If you are going to visit Roccatederighi - and you should - do so in the summer because something magical happens in its historic heart that will fill your day with surprises at every corner.

And then there is the stupendous view that will have you sat on a rhyolite massif just staring...

Sassa

Sassa

Bathed in sunshine on a distant hill, Sassa caught my attention and so I drove there to find out more.

Situated in the Val di Cecina, this hill town in Tuscany not far from Volterra or the coast is fast becoming a ghost of its past with lots of empty properties for sale and restored second homes.

The video.

Sassetta

Sassetta

A lovely cool retreat set high in woodlands in Maremma Livornese territory, with the hills bedrock protruding in masses between and under its medieval buildings.

Although only a short drive from its posh neighbour Castagneto Carducci, Sassetta has none of its pretenses but all of the charm.

And it will keep your children amused for a good hour or two - completely for free - for there is so much to see and touch!

Sasso Pisano

Sasso Pisano

Home to the hottest natural thermal spring waters in the whole of Tuscany and set in a landscape of hot rocks, Sasso Pisano isn't the prettiest Tuscan town around these parts, but it will delight lovers of medieval history and geology.

Scansano

Scansano

Scansano is one of those towns in Maremma that when you enter it by car you cannot be sure that you are meant to continue through it along the "main road" that brought you there: for the road narrows to a single lane - it is still two-way traffic! - and no matter what the Italian highway code may say, here, pedestrians rule and you will have to squeeze your way through! Just try it on market day and you will be forgiven for thinking that the access to the car park is in fact the through road!

Best time to visit is during the grape festival.

Scarlino

Scarlino

The grounds of Scarlino's lovely middle ages castle with its unique combination of three different towers and panoramic views across the river plains and wooded foot hills to the sea and the Gulf of Follonica is one of my favourite places to just sit and stare, or type away writing this guide.

And in the town itself below the castle you will find a hoard of gold treasure coins discovered in the ruin of the castles church and a bronze Etruscan monkey... Scarlino.

Semproniano

Semproniano

It would be easy to drive past the quiet hill top town of Semproniano. And, in all honestly, with its church bell tower or two and what looks like from a distance to be an ancient bit of old wall here or there, it is like so many others in Maremma.

But, just like its counterparts on other hill tops, that little bit of wall has a story to tell. A story that warrants a stop to touch its stones to listen to the tale.

And.

And because there is a street tucked up tight within that wall that is veritable box of cotton candies. The kind that will drive a photographer nuts trying to capture its contents because you just can't get all of them in shot!

Sorano

Sorano captured my imagination and stole my heart upon first sight and that is saying something as Maremma is packed full of very special places.

Sat precariously on the edge of a tufa outcrop, half crumbling but very much lived in, with shored-up walls, missing buildings, no entry and falling masonry signs, all between medieval palazzo's, churches, shops... And a massive fortress.

Not to mention the myriad of medieval alleyways that will make you doubt whether you should continue down them or not.

And all around incredible panoramic views of tufa escarpments, glimpses of caves, Etruscan tombs, the sound of rivers and water falls.

It is a magical fantasy mix that will have your imagination running.

Visit!

Sovana

Sovana

The tiny but once so grand Sovana has lost its raw Maremma charm, but is a history treasure trove nonetheless. Home to some exceptional medieval art and the hidden gold treasure of Monte Cristo.

It is worth a visit just for the drive through the tufa tunnel to reach it!

Sticciano

Sticciano

Sticciano is a tiny hamlet in which time has all but stood still, and the signs at the foot of the hill to reach it tell you that the road is dangerous!

Its' not! (other than in extreme winter conditions) and the view across to Roccastrada, Montepescali, Buriano and Guincarico is very special.

Suvereto

Suvereto

Sweet spot Suvereto Tuscany.

There are places in Maremma that are more magnificent. Places that will leave your head swooning. And locations that you won't want to leave. In a way that this small hill town just won't.

But.

Suvereto offers something that you won't experience anywhere else.

Tatti

Tatti

Tatti is a wonderful mystery within a medieval castle.

The legend of its well will have you returning if you follow it.

And its incredible number of doors and low passageways will ignite your imagination and leave you wanting to solve its secrets.

A very special place indeed.

Tirli

Tirli

Tirli sits high up within thick woodland between Follonica and Castiglione della Pescaia and is famous for its dishes of wild boar pasta and stew (although, I have to say the quality can vary from excellent to terrible from one visit to the next).

Travale

Travale

Even though once home to the most infamous witch in Maremma and to a rare document that no scholar of the origins of the Italian language would not know about, Travale is so tiny that it is never going to feature on any Tuscany tour or guide circuit :)

But you should visit! The circular castle at its heart and near vertical alleyways it contains are well worth a discovery.

Vetulonia

Vetulonia

Vetulonia. The lost city of gold here in sleepy backwater Maremma. Hidden under woodland floors and farmers fields for more than seven hundred years. Take a walk along the preserved streets of the capital of Etruscan civilisation, past houses, taverns and shops.

Give your children an Indiana Jones adventure in its treasure chest tombs.

And then visit its museum - to which locals donated all of the treasures they and their grandfathers had found over centuries whilst working in their olive groves - in which everything that sparkles is gold.

Bolgheri

Bolgheri

Boring Bolgheri isn't a typical Maremma town: its wine fame has been at the expense of losing its rural character and becoming a tourist destination of souvenir shops and plastic covered multiple language restaurant menus.

The best bits are the drive along the famous cypress tree-lined road to reach it and the wine route to Castagneto Carducci.

Montioni

Montioni is a tiny hamlet in which you will find a bar/restaurant and wild boar roaming the nature reserve that takes its name and the car park!

It was once a thriving alum mining village and the home of Elisa Bonaparte Baciocchi, the Grand Duchess of Tuscany.

Valpiana

What at first glance might appear to be a bland Italian village, Valpiana was once the centre of the most productive of iron-ore smelting and steel foundries in the whole of the region.

It is from here that the Medici family tried, but failed, to create an iron monopoly.

The best beach towns in Tuscany

The best beach towns in Tuscany are in Maremma. Family-friendly seaside towns, small coastal retreats with coves, or a Riviera ambience, Maremma has them all. And some.