Italy, and Tuscany in particular, is a country rich in beauty of all kinds, landscape and artistic. In 2001, to safeguard one of these beauties, at high risk of abandonment, the Tourism Council of the National Association of Italian Municipalities (ANCI) decided to create the Association of the most beautiful villages in Italy. Why is it so important to preserve Italian villages? They are wonderful places made of history, art, culture, environment and traditions that risk being forgotten, given the continuous depopulation and being often marginal compared to traditional tourist destinations.
Tuscany is present with 27 villages, to which is added, from January 2023, the village of San Donato in Poggio.
Starting right here, let's discover six unmissable villages in Tuscany that are part of the list of the most beautiful villages in Italy.
Six unmissable villages in Tuscany
San Donato in Poggio (fraction of Barberino Tavarnelle), Florence
The new entry of the most beautiful villages in Italy is a small village located between Florence and Siena, nestled in the Chianti hills: San Donato in Poggio. The village is small but absolutely fascinating: it is surrounded by defensive walls dating back to the twelfth century, with their watchtower.
The village is composed of stone and brick buildings, well restored, and the remains of the ancient tower-houses are still visible.
Anghiari, Arezzo
Made famous by the battle between the Florentines and the Milanese in 1440 (later immortalized by Leonardo da Vinci and to whom a museum is dedicated), the village of Anghiari is located in Valtiberina, in the province of Arezzo.
In addition to the famous museum, the village is full of places to visit: the Praetorian Palace, the Castle of Montauto, the Church of Santo Stefano, among others. A wonderful village to visit calmly, to enjoy all the beauty of the good life of the Tuscan villages.
Barga, Lucca
Immersed in the Garfagnana we find Barga, another of the unmissable villages in Tuscany. The village is a small gem set in a breathtaking panorama of mountains and woods. In addition to the town center, where we find the Cathedral of San Cristoforo, whose construction began before the year one thousand, the House Museum of Giovanni Pascoli is not to be missed. The house was inhabited by the poet from 1895 to 1912, the year of his death, during periods of rest from teaching, and still preserves objects and period furniture, thanks to the care of his sister Maria.
Porto Ercole, Grosseto
We move to the coast, precisely on the Argentario promontory, for this village overlooking a wonderful crystal clear sea: Porto Ercole. The center, forbidden to cars, is enclosed in the walls of the Spanish Rock (one of the three Spanish fortifications dating back to the sixteenth century and still perfectly preserved), and walking along its alleys you can admire enchanting views of the sea.
Poppi, Arezzo
Another small, but wonderful jewel, the medieval village of Poppi: its castle dominates the whole Casentino, and is worth the visit alone. The Castle of the Counts Guidi dates back to the thirteenth century, inside there is the Rilliana Library, which preserves 25,000 ancient volumes, a ballroom and the chapel of the Counts Guidi , frescoed by Taddeo Gaddi, a pupil of Giotto.
San Casciano dei bagni, Siena
Last of our selection of unmissable villages in Tuscany, San Casciano dei bagni. The name derives from the peculiarity of the country: since the time it was a destination for visits because of its thermal waters. In fact, there are 42 thermal springs present, so as to be considered the most beautiful baths in the world: the ancient Roman baths are largely not only preserved, but even usable, allowing a real dip in the past.
We have presented a small selection of six must-see villages in Tuscany, but we invite you to visit them all, because they are really worthwhile. The villages are a precious heritage to be protected and preserved, and only through their enhancement and tourist rediscovery we can not lose so much wealth and beauty, for us and for the future of our children.
Image sources: toscana.info, Borghi.toscana,Viaggianza, Expedia, Wikipedia, TV2000
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