You can’t go fast in Tuscany. Everything here encourages you to enjoy a slower pace of life. The sunset literally takes its time. Dinner turns into all-night conversations. The scenery with endless olive groves and rolling vineyards is like a painting by someone who didn’t believe in the concept of a deadline.
Here we explore some small towns in Tuscany that are perfect for the slow travelling approach: Lucca, Volterra, Greve in Chianti, Cortona, Pienza, Pitigliano. Places that offer a full immersion in the best Tuscany has to offer, and where it’s easier to connect with local culture.
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Why Tuscany Is Made for Slow Travel
The concept of Slow Travel is intimately related to the one of ‘Città Slow’ (Slow Town), and Slow Food, both of which started in Italy a few decades back. The principle behind these like-minded movements is the focus on authentic and sustainable experiences for the traveller, while enhancing and protecting the territory and its tradition.
At its core Slow Travel means spending more time in a place, to be able to capture the unique spirit of a destination, its people and way of living. Slow travel allows more meaningful experiences, a deeper connection with the place you’re visiting. Just think that less time spent on buses, means more time spent enjoying great dishes made with local ingredients, or browsing in an artisanal market!
When it comes to Tuscany, slowing down means appreciating lesser known small towns and their centuries-old heritage, and following the relaxed rhythm of the beautiful countryside. It’s a different Tuscany from the popular (and busy) highlights of Florence and Pisa. And even if you are staying in the same place for an extended time, you should get long stay travel insurance over 70 to protect your mind from the stress of placing all the essentials of travel into a to-do list.
Travelling is not just going from A to B, it can be a rewarding experience if you learn to slow down and enjoy the details. Let’s get started with these towns in Tuscany that can make slow travel a lifestyle, not just a strategy.
Lucca: A Walled Town Made For Walking
Lucca has kept a very relaxed pace of life. Still surrounded by its massive Renaissance walls, on top of which you can walk or ride a bike in total tranquillity, it’s a town that offers a charming blend of Tuscan traditions, exquisite food and wonderful views.
Walking is a real pleasure in Lucca, being practically car-free. Another favourite activity is to sit in one of the charming squares flanked by cafes, small shops and a welcoming atmosphere. Lucca is a place that invites you to take things easy. Why rush? Enjoy the details of the palazzi, look for those hidden little shops and listen to the myriad stories this town has to tell.
Find out 8 Unique Things to do in Lucca
Nearby – In the surroundings you have the mountains of the Garfagnana on one side and the coast on the other, making it a perfect spot for exploring various sides of Tuscany.
Greve in Chianti: Where ‘CittàSlow’ was born
The small town of Greve in Chianti is where the CittàSlow movement originated. The idea behind ‘SlowTown Association’ is to ‘improve co0nviviality and conserve the local environment’, making sure small towns keep their heritage while becoming examples of top-quality tourist offerings. It encourages sustainability, social cohesion and love for the land and its traditions.
Famous for its Chianti wine production, the Chianti territory is a perfect example of a place where man and nature can find a perfect balance. The carefully kept countryside offers its best produce, with excellent wine, olive oil, fresh vegetables. Here you find family-run trattorie that cook the same recipes from hundreds of years ago, and producers that still use traditional methods.
The Chianti territory and its small towns are perfect for slow travelling. Here you can really take part in the best that rural Tuscany has to offer.
Pienza: Tuscany’s Ideal City
Pienza is perfect. Not only is it beautiful, but it’s also proportionally perfect. It was rebuilt by Pope Pius II in the 15th century to be the ideal Renaissance town, exemplifying how architecture and landscaping work to be in harmony with one another, and it still feels that way today.
The main Cathedral square is the heart of the town, surrounded by cobbled streets and photogenic corners. Pienza is knowns for its sheep-milk cheese (pecorino), with many artisanal cheese stores where you can sample and purchase it to pair with the local honey and delicious red wine.
As a plus, Pienza has some of the best views over the iconic Val d’Orcia. This is a landscape made for meditation, for taking in all the delicate beauty of the golden hills dotted with cypress trees. Pienza is a place where one can lose track of time, and be filled with peace.
Cortona: A Hilltop Haven with Etruscan Roots
With Etruscan origins and roots, history is in every stone of Cortona. There are great museums, little art galleries, ancient churches and craft stores in town that feel homey. It’s very lively and feels quite artsy, thanks also to the vast expat community that lives here. Cortona in fact became popular in the ’90s after the success of the book ‘Under the Tuscan Sun’ by Frances Mayes, that inspired many foreigners to choose Cortona as their second home.
This town is perfect for long strolls, from the main square to the quiet side streets where local cats are sunbathing. The views are remarkable. You are looking over the Val di Chiana where the landscape makes time feel irrelevant. Cortona is a good place for inspiration-filled days spent drawing, reading, or thinking everything over with a good espresso.
Volterra: Ancient Stones and Authentic Tuscany
Volterra is still not as overrun with tourists as nearby San Gimignano, and it’s a good option for those looking for Medieval vibes and a friendly atmosphere, still off of the main tourist track. Etruscan walls, Roman remains and a beautiful Medieval main square give the town a great character.
Volterra’s alabaster workshops are a highlight. It’s so soothing watching the craftsmen hand-carving the delicate pieces, and browse in the shops to find little luminous treasures. There’s no rush, no queues, just genuine lived history and culture. It’s Tuscany, but there’s no theatre. It’s just the way it is. Authentic. Welcoming. Dignified.
* Pick your favourite Medieval Town: Shall I Visit San Gimignano or Volterra?
Pitigliano: the Gem of Southern Tuscany
Maremma should probably be top of the list for those looking to slow-travel in Tuscany. A region in southern Tuscany where nature reigns supreme. Less busy, less known, less developed than the rest of the region, Maremma is for the connoisseurs.
Pitigliano is one of the most scenic towns, an awesome discovery for the curious traveller that here finds a maze of picturesque streets, fascinating museums and Etruscan heritage to explore. Spending some unrushed time here means getting to know a side of Tuscany that few discover. Enjoying nature, hiking ancient roads, exploring the coastline which is the most beautiful in Tuscany, and speaking to the locals who are always welcoming.
Tuscany is a Place That Rewards Those Who Take Their Time
Tuscany is not a checklist, but a rhythm. It’s revealed in the glow of the sunset on stone, the clatter of cutlery in a courtyard restaurant, and the smell of bread cooling in the afternoon warmth. Each town offers a unique twist.
So, pick the town that best reflects your inner tempo. Spend time observing how the residents live, let the scenery speak to you, and discover just how good the food tastes when you aren’t rushed to leave.
And if you’re taking a longer trip, especially if you’re going at a slower pace, just make sure you have your long-term travel insurance for people over 70 sorted before you leave. It trades uncertainty for the opportunity to be amazed.
