Spring is a magical time in Tuscany. The days get longer, the temperatures are perfect and all around nature shows off the best of Mediterranean colours. Easter here is celebrated with events and festivals, making it a very special time to visit.
Top things to do in Tuscany in Spring – Gardens with a view over Florence
Florence’s gardens are a delight at this time of year. The Rose Garden in the Oltrarno can be found on the way up to Piazzale Michelangelo, and May is the ideal time to come. Their elevation gives them a spectacular view over Florence.
If you’re visiting in April, a visit to the Villa Bardini’s garden rewards you with a long wisteria-covered pergola and a view of the city beyond. Walk to the top and enjoy the terraced garden that dominates the city, and affords a spectacular view of the Arno and the Cathedral dome rising above the red roofs of Florence.
If you want to know more about parks and gardens in Tuscany, we’ve put together a list of our personal favourites.
=> See some Popular Guided Tours of Florence, including Uffizi Gallery and Duomo.
Make the most of the Tuscan countryside
The flowers are out, the temperatures are ideal and the countryside is a rich shade of green. Spring is a great time to enjoy the many pleasure of Tuscany’s countryside.
Hop on a bike or a Vespa, and take to the winding country roads. With this great Vespa Tour from Florence you’ll explore the beautiful Florentine hills on a Vespa, in true Italian style!
Walking tours are the perfect way to enjoy the Tuscan landscape: make like a pilgrim on the Via Francigena by joining this Hiking Tour from Siena, that includes some wine tasting in the suggestive Medieval village of Monteriggioni. A unique experience.
Or you could go in search of the perfect wine around the Chianti area where the vineyards are in their full splendour. If you’re not driving, and would like to do some wine tasting during your holiday, check out this Full-day Chianti Wine and Food Tour from Florence with a local guide who will lead you around the historic cellar of an ancient villa set in the Chianti hills.
Just want to relax? Then make yourself at home in a country home or agriturismo and experience the tranquillity of spring, the smells and the quality of the air.
If you’re the artistic type, you might want to check out a painting class so you can learn to capture the hues of spring. Then grab your easel and head out into the Chianti and Val d’Orcia to take in the highlights of the Tuscan landscape.
Planning a trip to Tuscany? Find out about the best things to do in this wonderful region!
Get out and enjoy nature: from mountains to beaches
Because the temperature is very mild and still not hot, Spring is the perfect time for hiking in Tuscany. There are plenty of opportunities, from the verdant valleys of the Garfagnana north of Lucca to the Apuan Alps that overlook the coast with their marble-white tops.
Or you could choose southern Tuscany, and discover the many faces of the Maremma region. Walking in the Uccellina Nature Reserve is all about sea views and the gorgeous smell of pine trees. It’s a good time to explore the Maremma, before the summer holiday start in June and families come to enjoy some of the best beaches in the region.
Easter treats for visitors
The Easter week is a very special one in Italy, and Tuscany is no exception. The towns organise Easter events, which involve decorating churches, processions and reenactment of Christ’s passion – in Grassina, near Florence, a very atmospheric one takes place on Good Friday evening.
The most spectacular event is the Explosion of the Cart in Florence that happens on Easter Sunday in the Cathedral Square. This is certainly one of the top things to do if you visit Florence during the Easter holidays.
Do you like the idea of traditional Italian festivals? Discover all the best festivals in Tuscany!
Get a chocolate egg or join the local and attend mass where the eggs (usually boiled) are blessed. To complete the Easter experience, don’t forget to try the traditional dove-shaped colomba cake, decorated with almonds.
=> Visiting Tuscany in May? Find out all the best May festivals & events and 5 Amazing Flower Festivals that are on in Spring in Tuscany.
=> Experience the Tuscan countryside: wine tasting, bike tours & more!
Author: Sabrina Nesi, founder of Lovefromtuscany.com, passionate about sharing the beauty of Tuscany and Italy with the world.
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