Tips for a different Valentine’s day in Tuscany

As we all know, Tuscany can represent THE ideal location for romantic trips, so close your eyes and start thinking about what you want to experience. If you’re in the mood for walking and enjoying beautiful landscapes, immersing yourself in nature and maybe taking photographs with your partner, my suggestion is choosing one of the Tuscan legs of the Via Francigena, the ancient route that from France leads to Rome.

Travelling along these steps means taking in the sights of the incomparable natural, cultural and religious heritage of Tuscan history. You just have to pick a segment of the route and walk it, enjoying the surrounding landscape and slow living. For instance, you could take the third leg from Aulla to Sarzana (16.4 km) or the seventh leg that takes you from Lucca to Altopascio in 18.5 kilometers of easy walking. But if you want to see San Gimignano you should take the tenth leg that goes from Gambassi Terme up to the "town of towers" in only 13.4 kilometers.

If you want to explore another natural treasure  you should visit the Maremma National Park, which extends for 100 square kilometers and covers 9800 hectares. Going on the coast you’ll find a series of beaches with many different types of centuries-old plants that through the decades have constantly adapted to the sandy and salty area. From a naturalistic point of view, the Monti dell’Uccellina, the pine trees in Marina di Alberese, the mouth of the Ombrone river and the Trappola swamp form a precious mosaic of ecosystems, hardly touched by human hands. In the heart of Maremma you can also visit a beautiful hamlet and admire a lovely sunset from its heights: Semproniano in the Amiata region. 

If you like medieval villages you shouldn’t miss Anghiari in the Tiber Valley (or Valtiberina) at only 30 kilometers from Arezzo. Considered to be one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, it has been awarded with an Orange Flag by the Italian touring club.

As an alternative, if you want to relax you should know that Tuscan indoor and outdoor spas offer thermal and healing waters, soft massages and perfumed candles, creating the perfect atmosphere for intimacy and romance.

Right along the Via Francigena, you’ll find Bagno Vignoni, at only 50 kilometers from Siena. At the centre of the village, in piazza delle Sorgenti, there’s a 49-metre-long rectangular basin of steamy water. You can’t actually bathe in it, but it’s a wonderful sight and evidence of the area’s past. Its thermal baths, in facts, were first enjoyed by the Romans and then became popular – due to their position – with Christian pilgrims who travelled towards Rome and used to stop there to rest.

Moreover, in the heart of the breathtaking Val d’Orcia, there’s Bagni San Filippo. In the province of Siena, not far from Monte Amiata, these natural thermal springs are on record since the Middle Ages, especially the “Fosso Bianco”, a white and calcareous stream that flows into many waterfalls and natural pools, some hot and some cold.

Last but not least, another idea to spend your Valentine’s Day in Tuscany is visiting a castle. Go to Fosdinovo, a medieval hamlet in Lunigiana, and visit the wonderful Malaspina Castle surrounded by the Apuan Alps.

Try also our “Love route itinerary” in Tuscany and discover many other places that fit for you.

Wherever you choose to be, make your Valentine’s Day a day to remember!