Things to do in Tuscany

Galleries & Museums
There is an enormous wealth of Art in and around Tuscany including many priceless treasures from the Renaissance. There are a number of very important galleries and museums many of which are in Florence. They can be extremely busy in summer and have enormous queues. One way of avoiding disappointment is to book in advance on line. If you’re thinking of visiting the Uffizi Gallery (Florence), you can also book a guided tour of Vasari’s corridor, a secret passage between the Uffizi and Palazzo Pitti that runs along the Ponte Vecchio. Built so that the Medici family didn’t have to mingle with the people in the street going between their palaces (open for 4 months of the year, limited admittance tel: Firenze Musei 055 2654321 (or book on line- dependant on availability).

Villas & Gardens
Why not visit one of the many grand Villas just outside Florence, many have stunning views over the city with glimpses of the “Duomo” and the many spires towering over the city skyline. Some like Villa la Petraia at Castello have a guided tour of the fabulous interior that includes a glass-covered courtyard with 17th century frescoes around the walls, used as a ballroom and a tiny family chapel whose beautiful frescoes. Upstairs, are the many royal apartments used by the King of Italy. On a hot day a stroll through the landscaped woodland behind the Villa would be a treat in itself.

Here is a description of one or two:

Renaissance Gardens
Villa Gamberaia

Villa Castello
The villa was acquired by the Medici family in 1477. The villa was sacked in 1527 and the family were run out, but they returned to rule Florence again and Cosimo 1 began restoration work and additions to the villa (carried out by the architect Vasari). Tribolo was called from Bologna in 1537 to design the gardens. Botticelli was commissioned to paint two masterpieces for the family villa: “Il Trionfo della Primavera” (1477-78) and “La Nascita di Venere” (1485 ca), which now hang in the Uffizi gallery in Florence. Terraces stretch out towards the hills, there are grottos, nicchie, ninfei, statues and fountains that adorn these beautiful gardens. The villa was gifted to the state by the Savoy family in 1919. The Villa is now open to the public and a small entrance fee is payable.
Via Castello, 47 - tel. 055/454791
Opening hours for the Villa & garden :
March & October 9.00 - 17.30
April, May, September, 9.00 - 18.30
November, December, January, February 9.00-16.30
June, July, August 9.00 - 19.30
Closed: 2nd & 3rd Monday of every month.
Entrance fee: Lire 4000 (around €2.5)( also includes entrance to Villa Petraia)

Villa Petraia
Forms part of the same estate as Villa di Castello and was originally a medieval tower owned by the Brunelleschi family. It was acquired by Cardinal Ferdinando de’Medici in 1575, who completely renovated and added to the tower to create this splendid villa that was used as the summer residence by the Medici, who also held court here in the 17th and 18th centuries. The entrance courtyard was covered in glass in the 19th century so that it could be used as a ballroom. It is decorated with frescoes by Volterrano (17th century) depicting the Medici family at the height of their powers. The grounds are a splendid example of an Italian formal garden and were designed by Tribolo. It was the third to be planned after Castello and Boboli. The garden is on several levels linked by steps. There are terraces of roses, wildflowers and pear trees, with the smell of lemon and thyme on the breeze. It has boxwood hedges and a lawn with terracotta pots of citrus fruits and statues leads onto a panoramic terrace overlooking Florence. Nursery gardens are surrounded by topiary hedges cut into animal shapes. The main garden is divided into eight large flower beds, which were used for cultivating vegetables and for botanical experiments, one of the Medici family’s favourite sciences. The upper garden is planted with an ornamental woodland of oaks, cedars, pine and plane trees laid out by landscapist J. Fritsch. The villa was gifted to the state by the Savoy family in 1919 and is now open to the public with guided tours of the royal apartments throughout the day. A minimal entrance ticket is payable and includes entrance to both Villa Petraia and Villa Castello. They are situated close together.
Via della Petraia, 40 - tel. 055/451208
Opening hours for the Villa & garden :
March & October 9.00 - 17.30
April, May, September, 9.00 - 18.30
November, December, January, February 9.00-16.30
June, July, August 9.00 - 19.30
Closed: 2nd & 3rd Monday of every month.
Entrance fee: Lire 4000 (around €2.5)( also includes entrance to Villa Medicea di Castello)

An alphabetical index with opening hours and entrance prices for all the museums and monuments in Florence including the state owned gardens are available on line.

Alternatives
If you are all frescoed out, try the Salvatore Ferragamo Shoe Museum as an interesting alternative, situated above their beautifully stylish store in Via Tornabuoni, Florence, which has shoes and lasts of Hollywood’s most famous feet including stars such as Audrey Hepburn and Sophia Loren to name but a few and tells the fascinating story of Ferragamo.It is open to the public by appointment only on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and 2 to 6 p.m. Admission is free. There's even a bookshop with postcards, slides, videos, posters and small gifts including scarves with a shoe motif, for example.

Salvatore Ferragamo Shoe Museum
Palazzo Spini Feroni
Via Tornabuoni no. 2
50123 Florence
Tel: +39 055 3360456
Fax: +39 055 3360475
www.ferragamo.com


Exhibitions
There are many great exhibitions held throughout the year especially in Florence, including many famous names in art and photography.

Possibly one of the best - kept secrets in Tuscany. The area south of Siena is full of thermal springs that have been used for their curative powers as far back as Roman times. The water is often at a temperature of more than 30°. The spa centres whether big or small are well organised and well kept. They usually consist of one or several outdoor pools with water of different temperatures depending on the proximity to the outsource. The water in different areas has a different mineral content hence the link with different curative qualities. For example the water at Terme di San Giovanni in Rapolano Terme, rich in sulphur, is said to be beneficial for skin conditions and is also used for inhalations to help ears, throat and bronchial tubes.

They are often located in lovely country locations and some have great views such as Bagno Vignoni. Apart from being great for relaxing and your general health they are also fun and enjoyable. What better way of sending a day, soaking in the hot water, then sunbathing in the soft Tuscan breeze around the pool. They are well worth a visit. If you fancy taking things a bit further, check out there beauty and health programmes. Many offer massages and mud treatments. Usually a Doctors visit (on location) is required before you begin your day. But it usually only consists of answering a few questions relating to your health.
The spas are very popular with Italians and can be quite busy in August.

CASTIGLIONE D’ORCIA
Terme di San Filippo
Loc. San Filippo 23
Tel: 0577 872982
e-mail: termesfilippo@tin.it

CHIANCIANO TERME
This is a town with several spa centres
.

Terme di Chianciano
Via delle Rose
Tel: 0578 68111
termechianciano@ftbcc.it

Aqua Santa Spa
Piazza Martiri Perugini
Open all year round

Parco Fucoli Spa
Viale G. Baccelli
Open April – October

Sillene Spa
Piazza G. Marconi
Open all year round

Physiotherapy Centre
Piazza G. Narconi
Open all year round

Inhalation Centre
Viale Roma
Open all year round

Centre for Relax
Piazza G. Marconi
Open all year round.

Sorgente Sant’Elena
Viale della Libertà 112
Tel: 0578 31141
info@termesantelena.it
Open from April – November

MONTICIANO

Bagni di Petriolo
Terme Salute Ambiente
Tel: 0577 757104
info@termesaluteambiente.com
Open from April – November

MONTEPULCIANO

Terme di Montepulciano
Sant’Albino di Montepulciano
Via delle Terme 46
Tel: 0578 7911
info@termemontepulciano.it
Open all year round

RADICONDOLI

Bagni delle Galleraie
Terme Salute Ambiente
Loc. Le Galleraie
Tel: 0577 793151
info@termesaluteambiente.com
Open May - October

RAPOLANO TERME

Antica Querciolaia
Via Trieste 22
Tel: 0577 724091
infoterme@termeaq.it
Opening times:
Winter: 10.00 – 18.00
Sat: 10.00 – 23.00
Summer: 10.00 – 19.00
Frid & Sat: 10.00 – 24.00

Terme di San Giovanni
Loc. Terme di San Giovanni
Tel: 0577 724030
Info@termesangiovanni.it
Open from May – October 9.30 – 19.30

SAN CASCIANO DEI BAGNI

Fonteverde Thermal Centre
Loc. Terme 1
Tel: 0578 58023
fonteverde@termedisancascianobagni.it
Open all year round

SAN QUIRICO D’ORCIA

Bagno Vignoni
Compagnia delle Terme
Piazza del Moretto 32
Tel: 0577 887365
bagnovignoniterme@tin.it
Open from June - October

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