Charming Tuscan towns

Certaldo FI

One of the cutest spots in central Tuscany is the small town of Certaldo. Actually this sleepy place is divided in two and the bottom part is increasingly busy and commercial but the old town, Certaldo Alto, occupies the highest point in the valley and can be easily recognised from a distance by its characteristic skyline. It's an atypical red-bricked castled village and fun events are held here all year round including Mercantia (July), a medieval dinner (June) and outdoor cinema in summer. Certaldo is the birth place of Giovanni Boccaccio (1313-1375), one of the fathers of the Italian language and you can visit his house, the Pretorio Palace, the small church or dine in one of the restaurants.

Volterra PI

One of Tuscany's lesser known gems is Volterra. Part of the beauty of Volterra is it's superb location, a walled city on top of rolling Tuscan hills. You can look out over the countryside, often swathed in mist over farmland. In town you can still see the remnants of the original Etruscan settlement, Roman ruins and the city is also known for its alabaster and there are numerous workshops dotted around the place. There are also some fantastic churches.

Pancole, 53037 San Gimignano SI

Pancole lies on the old Appian way, a medieval pilgrimage route for travellers between France and Spain. The route leaves Certaldo and takes the dirt road for Pancole with excellent views as you climb looking back to Certaldo and the old town. After some distance you also get views of San Gimignano. The first stop on the route (2kms) is the church of Canonica where a double row of cypress trees leads to Villa del Monte. From here it's another 2.5km of undulating road to La Piazzetta, a small borgo of houses and finally Pancole. This small town is a 17th century sanctuary rebuilt after WWII. A chapel was built here in recognition of the visitation of the Virgin Mary in 1670.

Bagni Vignoni

The quaint old town of Bagno Vignoni is on a hill about 20 minutes from Pienza. The name derives from an 11th century castle, Vignoni, and the bagno (bath) from the thermal waters that were frequented by the Romans. It must be one of the only towns in Italy completely centred around the baths, the natural springs that run through the town are concentrated in a central pool with medieval houses around. You can still visit the baths and receive curative benefits from arthritis and rheumatism. The thermal baths are operated by the Township of San Quirico d'Orcia and the waters have a constant temperature of 50º C. Suprisingly the population of the town is very small at some 40 residents.

Colle di Val d'Elsa SI

Colle Val d'Elsa, or Colle to locals, is a small town named for a hill (colle) on the Elsa river. It is renowned for crystal glassware and art that is made in the lower town. This is largely industrial part, whereas the "alta" (high) part contains the original medieval centre. Most visitors pass it by because they are put off by the industrial part and in a hurry to get to more famous places like Siena or Florence. But stop off and you can enjoy a quiet, tourist free wander of beautiful Old Bishop's Palace, the gorgeous main square and several fine museums.