For more information and to book please visit www.mrandmrssmith.com or let us arrange your whole trip, by calling +44 (0)20 8987 4312 or from the USA dial 1 866 610 3867.
If the slopes dotted with cypress trees and olive groves don’t win your heart, the aromas and flavours of the flourishing farmlands will, via your stomach. Perfectly preserved Renaissance treasures in culture-packed ancient cities scream out for attention, while the quieter lure of Maremma, Italy’s Wild West, is characterised by beautiful coastline, hot springs and marshes once patrolled by cowboys. Don’t let Tuscany’s popularity with tourists fool you into thinking you can’t get away from it all here – sure, this beloved province will treat you to the gamut of holiday activities, but whether you feel like touring mediaeval hilltop villages, hitting the designer boutiques, or flopping on a lounger-for-two for poolside sun-kissed snoozing, Tuscany’s allure can be enjoyed at every pace.
Wend your way through ‘Chiantishire’, between Siena and Florence, and comb this territory of vineyards for your own favourite bottles of Italy’s legendary wine. Just promise us that you won’t include one of the straw-covered variety in your haul. Other options include the wine-growing regions of Montepulciano and Montalcino.
… paying a visit to beautiful Poggio Antico winery in Montalcino (+39 0577 848044; www.poggioantico.com), high in the Brunello mountain range. Have lunch or dinner while you’re there.
Our round-up of the hippest hideaways and romantic boutique hotels in Tuscany
The Scottish restaurateur owners took three years to furbish and restore the 10-roomed Villa Bordoni in the rolling Tuscan countryside, half an hour from Florence. It's wonderfully relaxing and great for family holidays, too.
A boutique hideaway in Tuscany's Maremma countryside, L’Andana offers a relaxed retreat with the best of the Tuscan hills and the Mediterranean combined.
This refined boutique hotel near Siena in Tuscany is set in an antique-bedecked 13th-century villa – a stay at Borgo Santo Pietro will have you feeling like Italian aristocrats enjoying a lazy weekend away at their luxury country house.
Castello di Vicarello rises from the forests of Tuscany like a fairy-tale; this 11th-century Italian castle, olive orchard and vineyard is a rustic-luxe boutique hotel with home-cooked food, an organic spa and staggering panoramas.
Fans of contemporary cool will appreciate the way Villa Fontelunga in Tuscany combines Starck and Jacobsen with flourishes from the locale.
Slate-coloured wood floors, spacious and airy rooms, cosy fireplaces and a tranquil garden with panoramic views of Tuscany make Villa Sassolini peaceful perfection.
With its sleek minimalist design, the Continentale in Florence is the very antithesis of Room With a View-style hotels, and it’s a hit with lovers of a contemporary vibe.
Modern lines and a minimalist-inclined decor contrast with the flagstone streets and centuries-old architecture on the doorstep of the Gallery Hotel Art in Florence.
Florence's Hotel Savoy is elegantly styled by Olga Polizzi in her trademark neutrals and is also super-central, with the Ponte Vecchio, the Uffizi and the Duomo all within easy reach.
In JK Place in the heart of Florence, painted ceilings, panelled walls, antique fireplaces and extremely well-edited modern pieces sit comfortably alongside every audiovisual requirement.
Secluded on a hilltop in rural Tuscan countryside, this restored farmhouse is now a boutique hotel with heart, soul and a tempting wine cellar…
A brief meander from the arty heart of Florence, Riva Lofts is an architect-owned boutique bed and breakfast is smart and modern in design, yet reassuringly unpretentious in attitude.
Planes, trains, automobiles, or maybe even helicopter – we tell you the best way to go.
Late April–early July The auditory delights of Maggio Musicale Fiorentino are a must for lovers of classical music (www.maggiofiorentino.com). May A historic archery contest takes place in the main piazza of Massa Marittima on the first Sunday after the 20th; the crossbowmen get another go on the second Sunday of August. July/August The two Palio dates in Siena see bareback horsemen fight tooth and hoof to win the race round the Campo (www.paliosiena.com). Early September Where better to get stuck into a wine fair than at Greve, for the Chianti Classico festival. Head to the Joust of the Saracens in Arezzo for mediaeval mayhem and lance-waving; there’s a second event at the end of June (www.portacrucifera.it). For more events and activities in Tuscany, also see our Florence destination guide.
Nannini’s patisserie in Siena is renowned for making the city's best panforte, cantucci and chewy, orange-infused almond riciarelli biscuits. This original outpost at Conca D’Oro opened in 1931 and is still the place to go for a coffee and a little something sweet, or an aperitif.
24 Via Banchi di Sopra, 53100 Siena, Tuscany
Another branch of Siena's best speciality patisserie; this one has tables at the back where you can sit and take your time over your Tuscan pastries. You could also have a light lunch here – sandwiches, wine and beer as well as ice-creams are all up for grabs - or stock up treats to take home.
42–44 Via Massetana Romana, 53100 Siena, Tuscany
A Sienese gourmet favourite for dinner, this landmark local restaurant has an airy dining room lined with clever wine-storing cabinets, and alfresco tables spilling onto the street outside. Pork dishes are a speciality: the owner rears his own rare-breed pigs. Reservations essential.
33 Via del Porrione, 53100 Siena, Tuscany
Traditional Tuscan staples are given a modern spin at this intimate restaurant in Montepulciano. White tablecloths and excellent service make for a romantic meal; try lake-fish ravioli, home-made spelt pasta, salt-cod with chick pea farinata or roast sucking pig on deep-fried vermicelli. The tasting menus are excellent and everything on the à la carte sounds delicious – so make sure you're feeling decisive and have a big appetite.
6 via delle Erbe, Montepulciano, Tuscany
The best trattoria in Pienza by far, if you ask us – cosy, fun, cheap, delicious. The pici al Ragu (hand-rolled pasta in wild-boar sauce) is worth making a lengthy detour to devour. A long, relaxed lunch outside on the terrace on a summery day = perfection. Closed Tuesdays; booking essential.
2–4 via San Carlo, Pienza, Tuscany
This restaurant near Greve is a smart choice for typical Tuscan food in a rustic farmhouse setting, with lovely countryside views (try to get a table on the farmyard terrace if the weather's fine). Dishes use regional produce, most sourced from the farms of Rignana. Try rabbit or veal grilled over a wood fire, washed down with Fontodi Chianti Classico Riserva Vigna del Sorbo. (Closed Tuesdays; www.lacantinettadirignana.it)
Località Rignana, Greve in Chianti
If you’re in Florence and fancy sophisticated Italian cooking in contemporary surroundings, visit Villa Bordoni’s sister restaurant in the Oltrarno district. It's also an upscale wine bar. For more Florence restaurant recommendations, check out Mr & Mrs Smith's Florence guide.
1 Piazza degli Scarlatti, 50125 Florence, Italy
This traditional but incredibly elegant enoteca in the centre of Siena has nigh-on 1,000 different wines; try one of the tasting plates while you sit in the quiet mediaeval courtyard, or settle in for a delicious dinner of Tuscan specialities. Closed Sundays.
7 Via dei Termini, Siena, Italy
This legendary restaurant on Via Ghibellina is a pricey thrice-Michelin-starred wine-lovers’ paradise; grab a table on the jasmine-scented courtyard. Only open Tuesday, Thursday to Saturday.
Via Ghibellina 87, 50122, Florence, Italy
This homely osteria not far from Paganico on the way to Grosseto is worth a detour if you're visiting the area; there are fantastic views from the town and seasonal dishes bursting with traditional flavour, all enhanced with local extra virgin olive oil. Home-made pasta is a speciality. Get a table on the terrace. (www.locandanelcassero.com)
29–31 Via del Cassero, 58045 Civitella Marittima (Paganico), Tuscany
A sweet enoteca and pizzeria near the Monte Antico train station, serving giant, tasty, traditional pizzas (none of that doughy deep-pan rubbish here, thank you very much) and rustic regional specialities.
10 Via Firenze, Monte Antico, 58045 Civitella Paganico, near Grosseto, Tuscany
Come here for authentic Tuscan cuisine (Chianini beef, roasted vegetable, handmade pastas), matched with a best-in-class selection of Chiantis and other regional wines. The food more than does justice to the amazing views across the countryside from the terrace – you can see as far as San Gimignano (www.ristorodilamole.it).
6 Via di Lamole, 50022 Lamole, nr Greve in Chianti, Tuscany
Il Canto's chef has been hailed as one of Italy's top five, and he certainly punches above his weight at this slightly formal hotel restaurant. The main dining room is all gilt chandeliers and marble mantles; we love lunching in the rustic kitchen or on the pretty patio; for dinner, get a table in the courtyard cloisters. Menus focus on produce picked in the kitchen gardens.
Hotel Certosa di Maggiano, 82–86 Strada di Certosa, 53100 Siena, Tuscany
Fine wine and dining at the Poggio Antico winery, a five-minute drive from Montalcino, with gorgeous views across the vineyard to Monte Amiata. Opening times vary, so ring ahead to book a table for lunch or dinner and make a day of it by doing a tour of the estate while you're there (www.poggioantico.com).
53024 Montalcino (Siena), Tuscany
A charming little wine bar that serves simple, quality food - warm, welcoming and authentic.
Via I Maggio, 2, 50022, Greve in Chianti, Italy
With a fantastic position right on Siena's mediaeval Campo, wine bar Liberamente is a fun place to have a few drinks and watch the world go by. Pair your glass of wine with delicious plates of cured meats and cheeses, or have a light lunch with some prosecco. Open 11am–1am.
27 Piazza del Campo, 53100 Siena, Tuscany
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