15/12/2025

Tuscany. The name alone evokes a certain sweetness of life, with the scent of summer evenings. And images of hills covered with vineyards and olive groves, medieval villages winding around Romanesque chapels and sumptuous cities where the greatest artists of the Renaissance expressed their inspiration in the marble of palaces and churches immediately come to mind. Forget watches and GPS on your camping vacation in Tuscany. You need to know how to get lost on the back roads of the Tuscan countryside to fully appreciate this little corner of Italy.

Firenze, city of art

The biggest problem on your first camping vacation in Tuscany is how to reconcile the desire to take your time and savour the gentle way of life that pervades the whole region, strolling through colourful markets or sipping a glass of chianti in the shade of an olive tree in the cobbled piazza of a medieval village, with the desire to see as much as possible. For Tuscany has long been a land of artists. And few places in the world can boast such a profusion of masterpieces. Its towns, in particular, are home to architectural treasures left over from the great hours of the Middle Ages and, above all, the Italian Renaissance. Here, every facade, every fountain and every church is a source of wonder. It has to be said that in the 14ᵉ and 15ᵉ centuries, when Italian art was lighting up Europe, Tuscany was home to, or saw through, all the greatest creators of the era. Whether sculptors, painters or architects, they all seem to have come together to turn the region into a veritable museum. While every city can boast one or more monuments of outstanding beauty, our preference is for Florence, Pisa or Siena. Florence is the jewel of the region. The entire city is a veritable museum, with some of the most spectacular Renaissance monuments and the world’s finest collection of Renaissance and medieval paintings. Here, the glorious past of the city where the Medici reigned is present around every corner. Its cathedral boasts a sumptuous façade of pink, white and green marble, ranking it among the country’s most famous monuments, and the Palazzo Vecchio, the city’s traditional seat of government offers a plunge into 14thᵉ century Florentine magnificence. Such a profusion of masterpieces has one unfortunate consequence, however: the influx of tourists from all over the world. For these unmissable sites, remember to book your place in advance.

Pisa, a leaning city

Pisa’s Piazza dei Miracoli, dominated by the famous Leaning Tower, boasts a cathedral (Duomo) that was once the largest in Europe. Its facade of green and ivory marble stripes served as a model for the Romanesque churches of Tuscany. A closer look at the city will surprise you to discover that, while its tower may owe its reputation, the entire city is actually leaning. The city’s soil is made up of a mixture of sand and clay, making it particularly loose. A fact not taken into account by medieval architects. As a result, the Duomo and Palazzo Agostini lean without reaching the tower’s inclination. As do many of Pisa’s bell towers. But that doesn’t detract from their majesty.

Siena, a medieval city famous for its Palio

Siena, for its part, is a medieval city where Gothic architecture triumphs over Renaissance art. Its cathedral, in particular, is a jewel of its kind. However, the city’s main attraction is its maze of cobbled streets and historic centre, where traffic is banned wherever possible. Although Siena can be visited at any time of year with equal pleasure, discovering the city during the Palio, its legendary horse race in which the different districts of Siena compete against each other, is a unique experience. For those who don’t mind the crowds!

Tuscany, land of good food

Alongside these large conurbations, Tuscany boasts a multitude of small medieval towns and villages, often perched high in the hills. Their architectural interest may vary, but their charm is often more authentic than that of the larger Tuscan cities. But towns and villages are only one aspect of Tuscany. You have to leave them behind to discover the rich countryside where vines and olives are grown. For the land is an essential element of Tuscan culture. It’s synonymous with good things. The region boasts 8 DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) wines, including the famous Chianti. But don’t hesitate to move away from the most famous appellations and try some of the less prestigious crus, which are full of tasty surprises, particularly off the Etruscan coast, south of Livorno.

Tuscany’s natural beauty

Due to the exceptional artistic heritage of its cities and the quality of its agricultural production, it is often easy to forget that Tuscany is also a region where nature plays an important role. This small part of Italy is home to three national parks: the Parco Nazionale delle Foreste Casentinesi (the largest and best-preserved forest in Italy), the Parco Nazionale den Apenino Tocano Emiliano (which encompasses the Apennine Mountains) and the Parco Nazionale dell’Arcipelago Toscano, the largest marine park in Italy. According to legend, it was in the latter that Venus was born, throwing jewels into the sea. These jewels are said to have become the islands of the archipelago off the coast of Piombino, the largest of which is Elba. It also reminds us that Tuscany has an extensive coastline dotted with Etruscan archaeological sites and seaside resorts where you can bask in the sun and enjoy seafood specialities.