Tuscany has thousands of villages. Let’s go exploring.
You know those little clusters of stone houses perched on a distant hillside? The ones you spot from a winding road and think, what on earth is up there?
Well, that’s exactly the sort of place we’re interested in.
Welcome to TuscanyVillages, an independent guide to the towns, villages, hamlets and hidden corners of one of Italy’s most beautiful regions.
Not just the famous places. The tiny ones too. The villages with barely a handful of residents, the lanes that lead somewhere unexpected, the places you might never find in a traditional guidebook.
And you don’t even need to book a flight to start exploring.
Explore Tuscany without leaving your sofa
Can’t get to Tuscany right now? Or perhaps you’re planning a trip and want a proper look around before you go?
Our interactive village map lets you explore Tuscany from wherever you are. See where the villages are, how they sit next to one another, and what’s hiding in the hills beyond the usual tourist spots.
Depending on what’s available for each place, you can:
- Find villages and hamlets all over Tuscany.
- Explore the roads and village surroundings with Street View.
- Discover nearby towns and villages you might otherwise miss.
- Open places in Google Maps for directions.
- Follow links to our village guides, photographs, articles and local stories.
Fancy disappearing down a winding Tuscan lane for half an hour? Go on. We won’t tell anyone.
Planning a trip? Let’s make it a good one.
If you’re heading to Tuscany, there’s plenty here to help you make the most of it.
Explore beautiful villages, find somewhere lovely to stay, plan scenic road trips and discover places that don’t always make it onto the usual itineraries.
You’ll find practical guides to getting around, airports, car hire, day trips, local food, markets, festivals and more.
Arriving for a long weekend or staying for a month? Either way, the idea is simple. Less time wondering where to go, more time enjoying being there.
Not quite sure where to start? The village map and our trip-planning guides will help you put it all together.
What’s it really like living in a Tuscan village?
Ah, now that’s a different story.
It’s easy to fall in love with a medieval stone house, flower-filled windows and views that stretch across the hills.
But what’s everyday life actually like?
What happens when you need to carry the shopping up steep stone steps? How do deliveries work down narrow lanes? What’s winter like in a centuries-old house? And what about the neighbours, village traditions, local services and the practical side of buying somewhere?
TuscanyVillages explores the wonderful, occasionally frustrating and often surprising realities of village life.
Because there’s a lot more to living in Tuscany than sipping wine on a terrace. Although that bit is rather nice too.
Have a look at our stories about village life, local traditions, buying property and the everyday side of Tuscany.
Real places. Real photographs. Real experiences.
A huge part of TuscanyVillages is its original photography.
I’ve spent years wandering around Tuscany with a camera, photographing the villages, landscapes, streets and little details that make each place different.
But Tuscany is a big region, and there’s always more to discover.
Have you photographed a Tuscan village you’d love to share?
Perhaps you live in Tuscany, have family there, or stumbled upon somewhere wonderful on holiday. I’d love to hear from you.
Suggest a village, share a local story or offer photographs for consideration. All contributed photographs remain the property of their creators and are only published with permission and proper credit.
And if there’s a village you think deserves a little more attention, tell me about it!
A little about the founder
Hello, I’m Susan, the founder, writer and photographer behind TuscanyVillages.
I’ve been exploring Tuscany for over 20 years, including living in a little medieval hillside village near Pescia, in the beautiful Svizzera Pesciatina.
Living in a Tuscan village gave me a completely different perspective on the region. I got to know the neighbours, the winding roads, the local traditions and those little places that are so easy to miss when you’re just passing through.
I’m rather obsessed with Tuscan villages, particularly the lesser-known ones. And after all these years, I still haven’t run out of places I want to discover.
My story with Tuscany actually began in Saudi Arabia, of all places. That’s a tale in itself.
If you’re curious, you can read From Saudi Arabia to Tuscany.
There’s always another village around the corner
That’s what I love about Tuscany. Just when you think you’ve seen everything, another little road takes you somewhere extraordinary.
Planning a holiday, dreaming of village life or just having a virtual wander from the sofa? I hope TuscanyVillages helps you discover somewhere new.
Now, go and explore. There’s a whole lot of Tuscany out there.
The easiest way to say hello for now is on the socials. Follow along on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest or YouTube, send me a message, and tell me about your favourite village.
Susan x