Planning a fall break in Tuscany? Want to enjoy the beautiful rolling green hills, forests, and endless valleys of the region as the leaves turn to orange and red and golden hues? Want to enjoy the bounty of the harvest season and eat well? Want to appreciate the immaculate cosy atmosphere of this time of the year in Tuscany? Of course you do! It sounds like a dream vacation to us. When you get there, the loveliness of your surroundings and the excellent food alone will be enough to perfectly unwind and enjoy an incredible getaway but if you’re looking for particular things to see and do in Tuscany at this time of the year, then here is our list of five great things to ensure an amazing autumnal vacation at one of our Tuscany villas.
1. Picnic in a vineyard at sunset
Is that not the dreamiest combination of words that you have ever read? Picture this: You’ve visited a vineyard, maybe gone for a tour of the grounds, learned all about how the winery works, and then you’ve enjoyed a guided tasting of their wines. After all that, the perfect way to cap off the day has to be picnicking in the surrounds of the lush vines with the golden light of the end of the day illuminating the scenery before admiring the beauty of the pastel skies. Sounds like a dream but it can be a reality! The Movimento Turistico del Vino, a non-profit organisation made up of members of carefully selected and prestigious wineries in the area, see members open their wineries to the public during the harvest and offer a programme of events from grape harvesting with your family to special lunches and dinners on the grounds to the aforementioned picnics. Just book your villa in Tuscany and then check out their website to find a participating winery that offers this experience.
2. Soak in thermal waters at a spa town
When temperatures begin to lower and you are facing into the winter, it’s time to warm your bones, soak in waters with restorative properties, and totally unwind. A perfect complementary activity to days spent exploring vineyards and famous wine towns, a day in one of the gorgeous spa towns of Tuscany is the ideal way to get cosy this fall. With various options to choose from or base yourself out of, from the more well-known to the hidden gems, the natural wonders to built-up and elaborate spa complexes, the free to the costly multi-step immersive experiences, there’s a spa experience for everyone. From the iconic pools of Saturnia to the stunning buildings of Montecatini Terme, book a vacation rental in Tuscany and head to a dream spa this fall.
3. Attend a food festival
Eating is, of course, central to an autumn break in Tuscany and you can eat well in places and eateries all over the region but one of the key foodie experiences for those who holiday in Tuscany is attending one of the array of food festivals hosted by one of the region’s many charming villages and towns. Many of these food festivals are dedicated to one food in particular but almost always also have other dishes on offer as well as various other entertainments. Try incredible chestnut-based sweet and savoury treats at the Marron Buono Exhibition Market in Marradi each Sunday in October; the soup, polenta, and various other foodie festivals in the town of Sassetta throughout fall; the truffle festivals and fairs in San Miniato, Fiesole, San Giovanni D’Asso, and more; and Boccaccesca with its grand food festival inspired by the great writer and favoured son of its host town of Certaldo, Boccaccio. In fact, if you planned your vacation in Tuscany right, you could attend all sorts of food festivals during your trip – sounds delicious!
4. Make the most of the perfect hiking conditions
The gorgeous and famous landscapes of Tuscany are full of incredible hiking trails where you can immerse yourself in nature, breathe fresh air, and enjoy some excellent walks. Coming in autumn to hike these beloved routes in the region is a brilliant idea for several reasons. Not only are the weather conditions at the start of the season absolutely ideal – not too hot, not too cold, less of a chance of rain – but the views are potentially at their loveliest at this time of the year. The already picturesque landscape of Tuscany is impossibly more beautiful when painted in fall colours. You could undertake sections of the Via Francigena, the famous pilgrimage route that extends from Canterbury, all the way to Rome, with a decent stretch passing through Tuscany. You could head to a villa on the Tuscan Coast and explore the beloved trails on the beautiful island of Elba. Or you could make your way to one of the national parks of the region, such as Casentino, and admire the trees as you walk, while also keeping an eye out for the stunning deer that popular the area.
5. See the autumn scenes from a steam engine
If hiking is not your thing, however, there are many other ways to get out and explore the beauty of fall in Tuscany – you can rent bikes, go horse-back riding, drive your own rental car around or go on a guided vintage car tour – the options are endless! However, the way we think you should do it? By steam engine! Really slow things down and appreciate the experience in a unique fashion by taking the steam train that passes through Marradi, Mugello, Monte Amiata, Trequanda, and many other towns and villages in the Metropolitan area of Florence. If you book a luxury villa in Florence and you’re looking for a perfect, lazy day out, it’s a dream option and you might even be able to combine it with a visit to one of those famous food festivals in the area if you time it right.
So, come enjoy the endless delights of the harvest season, the cosy and slow pace of life, and the beauty of the fall colours this year by booking your villa in Tuscany for an autumn escape!
