Artistic cities

What to visit in Tuscany? Discover artistic cities near Florence

Rufina is located in the centre of the Tuscan territory, so it is easy to reach Florence, Prato, Arezzo and many other artistic cities in Tuscany by car or train. A visit to Florence, the cradle of the Italian Renaissance and one of the most popular city in the world, is unmissable.

We also suggest you to visit the nearby Prato, often overlooked by mass tourism: its historic centre is charming and still surrounded by the original medieval walls. If you have enough time, don’t miss visiting the Castle of the Emperor, the northernmost of the Italian residences of Frederick II of Swabia.

Your tour can also include Arezzo, the birthplace of Francesco Petrarca and Giorgio Vasari. . What to visit in Arezzo? ? You can chose between Piazza Grande, that hosts the Giostra del Saracino every year, and the fresco cycle  “Stories of the Real Cross by Piero della Francesca inside the Basilica of San Francesco, just a stone’s throw from the cafe where “La vita è bella” movie by Roberto Benigni was filmed.

Day trips can also be easily arranged to Siena and San Gimignano, the towered city that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you love folklore and want to immerse yourself in the most typical manifestation of Tuscany, visit Siena during the Palio (2nd July and 16th August), the horse race between the “Contrade” held in Piazza del Campo since 1260.

Closer to the Tyrrhenian coast there is Lucca with its walls (4 kilometres) still intact and the square formed by the route of the ancient Roman amphitheatre. A few kilometres from Lucca is its historic rival Pisa, famous for the Piazza dei Miracoli (“Square of Miracles”) and the Leaning Tower.

Etruscan archaeology and history lovers can visit Volterra and Cortona, both of which grew in a panoramic position on the ruins of the ancient Tyrrhenian civilization. And to deepen the knowledge of the Etruscan people, as well as a nice walk through the old town, it is also recommended to visit the Archaeological Park and Museum of Cortona.