Visit the Tuscan cities of art

A holiday in Piè di Costa is the ideal choice, not only to relax and enjoy the beautiful landscape of the Tuscan countryside, it offers its guests the chance to admire cities rich in art and culture by organizing day trips, being all reachable in less than an hour drive.

In addition to the major cities of art, worth visiting are smaller medieval centers such as the village of Certaldo, the castles near Montespertoli, Vinci with the house of Leonardo, Cerreto Guidi and Medici villas, Montelupo and ceramics museum, Monteriggioni and its ancient walls, all along the roads from which you can admire the beautiful landscapes of the Tuscan countryside.

Florence - Distance from Piè di Costa 50 km

Flowed through the Arno river and surrounded by hill with olive groves and vineyards, Florence is the most famous and charming city of Tuscany.
Founded by Romans in the Ist century b.C., in the XV Florence's power peaked under the rule of Medici family. Since than, the most famous artists like Giotto, Cimabue, Michelangelo, Brunelleschi, Botticelli, have left with their works unforgettable memories that today we can still admire their paintings, sculptures and monuments like the 'Duomo' and 'Palazzo Vecchio' and much more.

Siena - Distance from Piè di Costa 55 km

Notable artistic interest is represented by the 'Duomo', dated back to the XIV century, 'Piazza del Campo' - where every years it's run the Palio of Siena - the surrounding buildings and 15 museums like Palace and Civic museum, the National picture gallery and the museum of 'Tavolette'.

Pisa - Distance from Piè di Costa 50 km

Pisa has ancient origins, born from an etruscan village and later became a romans settlement. In fact is still possible to look at archeological ruins in religious and civil buildings, thin alley and in the shape of the squares.
Pisa is flowed through the arno river and reached its power peck during the XI century as important naval republic and thanks to the commercial business in the Mediterranean Sea. The most known monument id the Leaning Tower and the 'Duomo', even if it's worth seeing the church of Santa Maria della Spina, and the old church of 'San Paolo a Ripa d'Arno' which is an example of roman's architecture.

Lucca - Distance from Piè di Costa 60 km

Lucca is one of the few towns in Tuscany and in Italy that still preserve intact its enclosing walls that, built between 1504 and 1645 has never been used as defence. Lucca has been famous in the XV century for the art of Silk which was the main economic activity. Today is still possible to visit the 'Palazzo della Signoria', the church of Saints Giovanni and Reparata and San Martino's square where there is the 'Duomo' dedicated to San Martino which is the most famous religious building of the town.

Certaldo - Distance from Piè di Costa 17 km

Certaldo is an ancient village built between the XII and XV century, located on a hill, overlooking the river Elsa valley .. Famous for being the birthplace of Giovanni Boccaccio (known poet and writer of 1300) this fortified village has come to this days almost unchanged. Its main feature are the walls, the buildings and the streets in bricks which give the town a reddish color and creating a charming and unique atmosphere. Worth visiting inside the Praetorian Palace, the Church of St. Thomas and San Prospero where some frescoes by Benozzo Gozzoli, the Sacred Art Museum and the Museum and House of Boccaccio. Do not miss the chance of a scenic ride on the funicular to reach the oldest part of the village.

San Gimignano - Distance from Piè di Costa 22 km

San Gimignano is famous all around the world for it's 14 towers. Situated in the heart of Tuscany countryside between Florence and Siena at 334 mts a.s.l. on a hilltop dominating the Elsa valley.
In the past, San Gimignano was a little estruscan settlement of Hellenistic age (200/300 years b.C.), and it has started to extend only after the X century, taking the name from the Bishop of Modena 'Gimignano' which saved the village from the barbarian's assault. In the Middle Age, the towers represented the power and the wealth of the aristocratic families, and there were 72.

Volterra - Distance from Piè di Costa 34 km

Located on a hilltop dominating the valley of the river cecina and Era, Volterra is and ancient walled town, not important only for its etruscan and medieval memories, but also for the Tuscan alabaster working, whose manufacturing represent today the local handicrafts.
After the flourishing period as an etruscan village, Volterra went under the Romans becaming a municipality. The village has been unchanged in the centuries, and give us the opportunity to admire in the medieval alley the 'Vallebona Theatre', the 'Priori Palace' of the XIII century, the 'Palazzo Pretorio' with the embattled tower called 'Porcellino' and an enchanting landscape the Tuscany countryside. it's also possible to admire the 'Balze' an erosive phenomenon at the west side of Volterra which has destroyed the oldest churches and etruscan's necropolis.

Vinci - Distance from Piè di Costa 34 km

Located at the bottom of "Montalbano", Vinci is a small medieval village known for being the birthplace of the famous Leonardo, inventor, engineer, technologist, who helped make Tuscany famous all over the world thanks to his insights and inventions handed down to the present day. Do not miss the museums dedicated to the genius of Vinci as the Library, the Museo Ideale and Museo Leonardiano. In the center of the village, still surrounded by ancient walls, stands the Castle of the Counts Guidi, while in the immediate surroundings, in Anchiano, is the birthplace of Leonardo.

Monteriggioni - Distance from Piè di Costa 45 km

Set on a low hill, Monteriggioni appears majestic to the eyes of visitors with its ancient walls arrived intact to the present day and on which stand out the 14 watchtowers. Walking through the streets of Monteriggioni will make you relive the medieval atmosphere of a village where time has stopped. You can also get on some part of the ancient walls from which you can admire the wonderful view of the village and the surrounding hills. Entering from the medieval gate, you reach the big square which overlooks the pretty Romanesque church, the "Monteriggioni in Arms" museum and small shops of craft and typical products.