10 Best Things to Do in Tuscany in Autumn or Fall
/Although we all love a Summer break the fall, or Autumn as we say in the UK; is one of my favourite times to travel to Italy. There are fewer crowds, the heat is not so overpowering, but often there’s a warm sun. The mediterranean climate really lends itself to these lovely long days, making it an ideal time to explore in the low season.And the autumn colours make this season the best time of year to visit Tuscany. Local festivals which suit the seasons are in abundance and most importantly the food in Italy is so comforting!
Last month I ventured back to beautiful Tuscany and as usual, the break was wonderful but too short! There is so much to do in this region and it’s easy to miss out or just visit the obvious hot spots. There are many unique things to do in Tuscany in the fall. Between food festivals and wine tasting, there are many non touristy things to do in Tuscany!
If you’re considering an Autumn break these are my suggestions of:
10 Best Things to Do in Tuscany in Autumn or Fall
Our accommodation, Villa La Tornaie, Palazzuolo.
1. Take part in an authentic Italian cooking class!
We organised for a fantastic company called Cooking in Florence to come to our holiday accommodation and teach us how to cook a four-course Italian meal.
Not only have I learnt so much and have four new recipes to add to my cookbook! They were so knowledgable and full of little tips on different products, how to cook to improve digestion. How to be patient with certain foods and showed us the best way spot the exact moment that something is cooked.
The owners, Laura and Gianluca were also great fun, spoke brilliant English and had us laughing all the way through our interesting attempts at culinary success! They obviously knew what they were doing as everything tasted amazing and I have since made the Melanzane alla Parmigiana for my Italian Husband to rave reviews! Cooking with such wonderful items from this beautiful region added to the experience. From learning about the olive harvest, fruit trees and local produce, a good time was had by all.
Myself and Emma from Emmaand3 Blog enjoying our fun Italian cooking class.
2. Join an art tour in Certaldo or paper making in Chiosco ai Renai
It seems like every spot of this landscape is steeped in history, art and adorned with stunning frescoes! A great way to see these and actually understand what you’re viewing is to take a tour with Rome based firm Family Travel Italy. They offer experiences all over Italy but here in Certaldo, they take groups and private parties around the wonderful Palazzo Pretorio or you can head off to try Florentine paper making on a Tuscan hilltop at sunset, such as here at Chiosco ai Renai. It is one of the most unique things to do in Tuscany!
Florentine Paper Making with Family Travel Italy at the beautiful hilltop location of Chiosco ai Renai.
Photo credits: Press Trip with Violet Glenton.
3. Hire an Italian Villa!
If you’ve always wondered about hiring a villa with cypress trees lining the drive. Hanging out by the pool and filling the place with friends and family, try it! If you're thinking of visiting out of tourism season (early September onwards), then you can still enjoy pleasant temperatures at this time of year. Alternatively, I can only imagine what a wonderful vacation time it would be to come for a winter holiday and spend Christmas here. In the out of season months, you can enjoy lower prices with cooler temperatures.
We recently stayed in a 7 bedroom villa with a pool, sauna, gym and much more. It was complete relaxation and I wouldn’t hesitate to go back. We found the property through Bookings For You who specialise in Italian properties and we stayed at a Mansalto Villa in the village of Palazzuolo. Watching the sunset from our courtyard is something that will stay with me for a long time….
One of the prestigious Mansalto Villas here in Tuscany, booked through luxury villa experts Bookings For You.
4. Drink Chianti!
After all this is the region of Chianti grapes! We took a Vineyard tour with Francesca and her team at Mansalto Villas. They were the hosts of our villa and they run the Vineyard nearby. We tried several red wines and a delicious sparkling rose’. Mansalto also harvest their own olive oil so it was a great opportunity to try olive oil, fresh bread and chunks of Parmigiano all the while tasting Chianti classico! We learned all about grape harvest and olive oil.
A wine tasting at Mansalto Vineyard.
5. See Siena
A great city to walk around and get a little lost! It’s beautiful, unspoilt by crowds at this time of year and has one of the best piazza’s in Italy. In my humble opinion of course! Standing in the centre of Piazza del Campo as it sweeps up and around you is quite something. It’s also the perfect spot to let children run around if you’re travelling as a family.
Remember that food is very regional in Italy so try some local dishes here. Pici pasta, sugo with Aglione; a giant delicate flavoured garlic. We were taught all about this special garlic by wonderful Barbara of Ristorante La Scuderia. Pasta con fagioli (Tuscan bean broth), Chianina steaks. Panzanella salad with crispy guanciale (pig cheeks). Trust me it’s so good!
6. Visit a white truffle fair
Close to Pisa in Corazzano is the International Market and Fair of the White Truffle!
Taking place during the first weekend of October this is considered a most prestigious event where you can sample and buy truffles to take home.
We had a pizza night whilst we were staying in Tuscany and one of these made by local artisan chef Massimo was covered in truffle shavings!
If you enjoy finding authentic Italian food fairs this is not to be missed. Truffles are a big part of Tuscan cuisine so sample some while you’re here. And if you are feeling adventurous you can even go truffle hunting; autumn is the perfect time for it.
Truffle pizza made by Chef Massimo of Ristorante Belvdere, Monte San Savino.
7. Have a pizza party!
Our villa hosts kindly arranged a pizza night for us when we arrived tired from travelling, so we didn’t need to cook. The benefits of hiring a villa like this is that you can have someone come in and use a decent sized kitchen to make things for you.
Massimo of the local restaurant in Monte San Savino, Ristorante Belvedere, came to visit us and put on quite a spread. We had traditional crispy fried pizza dough with homemade tomato sauce. Pizza with truffle savings, a capricciosa, another with anchovies, a classic Margherita and to finish…. A Nutella dessert version with a hazelnut cream topping. It was divine!
8. Try Arezzo
I know it’s tempting when visiting Italy to tick off every sight your friends have visited (San Gimignano and other small towns are usually all over social media). Or all those big cities that you may have been dreaming of. However, Italy is full of hidden gems, with fewer tourists and these can be much more authentic, spectacular and more enjoyable than the obvious places.
Arezzo is often missed as it’s so close to Florence, however, this is a medieval hilltop town, with a beautiful cathedral. If that wasn’t enough it also holds jousting competitions in June and September! There are incredible food fairs which take over the streets and it also has a strong aperitivo trend with great bars and views across Tuscany. Arezzo is a good option for those wanted to experience the authenticity of Tuscany in full swing. With it's local culture, musical festivals and more, it is one of the main cities that brings me so much joy!
Houses on the Piazza Grande in Arezzo, Italy. Credit: AngusKirk
9. Don’t miss Montepulciano
Another place which is easy to miss is the small but perfectly formed town of Montepulciano. A must-visit for wine lovers as the famous Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG is created here. Like Siena it is a hilltop town, and therefore has beautiful views on tuscan landscapes!
I visited for the first time as a newly-wed. It was in the middle of a July heatwave and I’ll never forget sitting in a small courtyard bar eating crostini with lardo. Which is literally slices of toasted bread with very finely sliced lard laid over the top and this melts into the bread. I know this is not for the vegetarians but it was delicious! The summer heat really hit!
Montepulciano has a very active community and they are often hosting events, music concerts and other interesting things to experience. It’s a really vibrant little place and I would always return to it despite not being on the main tourist trail.
Montepulciano. Credit: flickr/William
10. Chestnuts galore!
October and November are chestnut season so make the most of it by visiting some of the fairs in various Tuscan towns. These events are one of the things to do in Tuscany Italy when visiting with children! They will certainly love the different food tuscan make with chestnuts.
Chestnuts here are eaten roasted, boiled or in various desserts that are prepared with chestnut flour. Sometimes you can even find pasta made with this delicious flour and then served with a porcini sauce and one of my favourite restaurants puts them in a tiramisu!
To experience all of this for yourself head to the Chestnut Fair in Marradi on weekends in October, this in the Mugello area. Or Bagno Vignoni at the start of November.
Further south in Abbadia San Salvadore there is a special Festival of the Chestnut! So you will have plenty of opportunities to try these popular little treats. Autumn has definitely arrived once you start attending these lovely events!
For more on Tuscany and its beauty click here.
If you love food tours there are so many wonderful dishes to discover across the country, read more about the best food cities in Italy to plan your future travels.
All in all, whether you're visiting in the summer months during peak tourism dates or when things are a bit cooler, then you can enjoy many activities from harvest festivals to musical festivals. Easter holidays can be the most busy as many destinations celebrate the patron saint of their area and celebrations on Easter Sunday (and the whole of the Easter Weekend). If you are looking to escape the warmest months of the year, then consider visiting in the ski resorts in the winter months for something a little unique. Some of the most popular destinations are in the Aosta Valley ski area and the best time of the year to go is November-December.
I hope this has tempted you to visit Tuscany in Autumn.
Where are you thinking about travelling in the next year? Tell me below…
Frequently asked questions
What are some exciting things to do in Tuscany Italy?
What are some unusual things to do in Tuscany?
How can I best make use of a week in Tuscany I want to avoid tourist traps?
What is the best area to stay in Tuscany?
What are the coolest places to visit in southern Tuscany?
What are some great places to visit in Tuscany?
What is the best time of year to visit Tuscany Italy?
What is it like to travel to Tuscany?
When is the best time to go to Tuscany?
What do people want to visit in Tuscany? Why do they go there?
Where is the best place to stay in Tuscany Italy?
What makes Tuscany so beautiful?
Is Cinque Terre in Tuscany worth a visit?
How would you recommend seeing Tuscany?
Is Tuscany a city in Italy?
Why do people love to visit Tuscany? Is it especially popular with women?
What are the major cities in Tuscany Italy?
Disclosure: I recently took part in a Press Trip to Tuscany organised by Bookings For You. Due to this some of the activities above were organised for us. However all opinions are 100% my own.
