Southern Tuscany

Making the Most of Your Time

The towns in southern Tuscany are fairly close together, so it's possible to pick one of them as your base and take day trips to almost everywhere else in the region. Pienza, in the middle of the Val d'Orcia, makes an excellent place to begin your trip. Other good choices include Montepulciano and Montalcino. From any of these it's only a short drive to all the other towns in the Val d'Orcia, as well as the famous abbeys in and around Le Crete.

If your main reason for visiting this region is a dip in the hot springs, you should stay in Saturnia or one of the surrounding villages. (Because so many people go there for a soak, Saturnia has the most luxurious lodgings.)

If your destination is the Tuscan archipelago, you'd do best to choose one island, as there is no ferry service between them. Elba is more famous, but it's hard to find a place to lay your towel in the summer months. Giglio has less crowded beaches, and a few accessible on foot or by boat that you might have to yourself.

Southern Tuscany Planner

• Getting Oriented
• Life's a Beach

• Making the Most of Your Time

Southern Tuscany Transportation

• By Bus
• By Car

• By Train