Tuscany, Italy

Tuscany

The countryside immersion

The countryside rewards slowness: a house, a market town, and days that find their own rhythm.

Longer stays, villa living, food and wine, small towns, and the pleasure of settling into a regional rhythm.

A farmhouse among cypress trees on rolling green Tuscan hills

Tuscany is a region, not a single place. Life is very different from one base to the next, so start with where to base yourself.

Best months
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
Suggested stay
1–3 months
Long-stay homes
Strong
Private arrival
Florence (FLR)
Mondetto Sensory

A sense of Tuscany

Sensory details you won’t experience anywhere else, and only really notice when you stay awhile.

Taste

Olio nuovo in NovemberPeppery, green new oil, just pressed, on toasted bread.
PiciThick hand-rolled pasta from the hill towns around Siena.
Pecorino di PienzaSheep’s cheese, aged in the town that gives it its name.

See

Cypress lines in morning mistAlong the ridges of the Val d’Orcia at dawn.
Poppies in MayRed through the green wheat fields.
Sunflowers in JulyWhole hillsides turning toward the light.

Hear

Church bells across the valleyNoon, from three villages at once.
Cicadas in the olive treesThe sound of a July afternoon.
Nightingales in MaySinging through the night from the hedgerows.

Feel

Sun-warmed farmhouse stoneStill warm at dusk when you lean against it.
Thermal springsWarm, open-air pools in the Tuscan hills.
Strade bianche underfootThe white gravel roads between farms.

Smell

Wild fennel and rosemaryCrushed underfoot along the lanes.
Crushed grapes at harvestDrifting from the cantinas in September.
Woodsmoke and chestnuts in autumnFrom village festivals and kitchen fires.

Best time to go

BestGoodBetter avoided

Bars show the typical daily high; beneath each are the typical low and monthly rain. Climate figures are approximate monthly averages.

Through the year

Palio di Siena2 July and 16 August
Grape harvestSeptember to October
Olive harvest and new oilNovember
Recurring events. Confirm exact dates with official calendars before you book.

Better avoided

Jan–Feb, Aug

You will need a car or driver in the countryside.

Where to base yourself

The base you choose shapes the whole stay. Three we would consider for a long stay, and what you trade for each.

Chianti

Vineyards and hill towns between Florence and Siena.

Suits
Easy access to both cities
The trade-off
Busy roads in summer

Val d’Orcia

Cypress-lined hills around Pienza and Montalcino.

Suits
Deep countryside quiet
The trade-off
Remote, with long drives to airports

Lucca

A walled city with walkable streets and a real town life.

Suits
Living without a car
The trade-off
Less of the classic countryside

Find a home in Tuscany

Our homes in Tuscany are coming soon.We’re preparing a small collection of homes suited to weeks and months here: room for your people, a place to work, and minimum stays that fit a long stay. Until then, you can browse long-stay homes on Plum Guide.
Browse homes on Plum Guide

Also consider onefinestay for Tuscany: homes with a full concierge service, from Accor’s luxury home collection.

Explore onefinestay

Getting there

The right arrival airport makes the first day of a long stay easier. Private aviation is worth it for a long stay with more people and more luggage.

Plan the journey to Tuscany
Main international
Florence (FLR), Pisa (PSA)
Private aviation
Florence (FLR); Pisa (PSA)
Worth knowing
Florence’s short runway limits larger aircraft, so Pisa is the common alternative. Plan on a car or driver.

Empty legs into Tuscany

All empty legs

Checking for empty-leg flights…

From the Villiers empty-leg feed, matched to LIRQ, LIRP. Mondetto may earn a commission on bookings.

Living in Tuscany

What to look into for a long stay here: coastal versus inland bases, summer demand, shoulder season, airport-to-home access.

Entry and visas

Rules depend on your passport and length of stay. Check official immigration sources before you plan.

Health and safety

Official travel advisories and local emergency information.

Connectivity

Coverage and home-internet options from official and provider sources.

Household help and childcare

Local agencies and services, chosen with care.

Coworking and workspace

Places to work a little, close to your base.

Getting around

Drivers, transfers and local transport, with luggage and longer stays in mind.

Official sources we check: Visit Tuscany regional tourism portal · Italian national and regional statistics · Local municipality event calendars

The honest trade-offs

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