Even where you think you already know it, Tuscany with its timeless allure, can still catch you unawares.
A journey through Fiesole, Florence and Siena
This is a region that continually reveals new paths and extraordinary discoveries, where history, art and nature intertwine in a unique visitor experience, to be appreciated even more now that summer is upon us. Our journey touches on Fiesole, Florence and Siena, to experience the real character of these places from a new perspective. Fiesole is a candidate for Italian Capital of Culture 2028 and “Paesaggi Plurali” (Plural Landscapes) is a new museum that brings together forty sites of archaeological, artistic, natural and historical interest, Extending from the historic center to the surrounding countryside, here are four themed itineraries and four approaches to experiencing the essence of Fiesole.
Stunning vistas through a different lens
Sguardo (Through a Different Lens): a journey through Fiesole’s sweeping vistas that have inspired generations of travellers, writers and artists. From the Belvedere of Via Beato Angelico and Via Vecchia Fiesolana to the Panchina della Regina. And then there is the view from the Convent of San Francesco, Le Cento Scale (Hundred Steps) that visually connect the centre to the hill, the Parco della Rimembranza (Remembrance Park), the monument to Bruno Cicognani and the Oratorio del Santissimo Crocifisso di Fontelucente (Oratory of the Holy Cross of Fontelucente), a place of popular devotion and contemplative rest.
Historic villas, museums and churches
Thought: from Fiesole’s Pietro Porcinai Archive to the Giovanni Michelucci Foundation, our itinerary continues with the Primo Conti Foundation and Museum, the Espresso Coffee Academy, historic villas such as Villa delle Balze, and diocesan museums such as the Bandini Museum. It also encompasses religious institutions that have preserved culture and knowledge for centuries, such as the Bishop's Seminary, the Church and Convent of San Domenico, the Badia Fiesolana and the Church of Santa Maria Primerana.
The region’s Etruscan and Roman roots
Origins: this itinerary leads to the Etruscan and Roman roots of Fiesole, with the Civic Archaeological Museum, the Archaeological Area and the Roman Theatre, one of the best preserved in Italy, as well as lesser-known sites such as the Tomba del Bargellino, dating back to the 4th century BC. The itinerary continues with the Palazzo Pretorio, now the town hall, the Cathedral of San Romolo, the Convent of San Francesco, the Etruscan walls and the Fonte Sottoterra, an ancient water source linked to the legend of the city's foundation.
A monumental garden and a military cemetery
Armonia (Harmony): a journey through Fiesole’s nature and culture that takes in the Ontigano waterfall, the landscape architecture of Villa Peyron al Bosco di Fonteluce - with its extraordinary monumental garden - the Florence War Cemetery, a military cemetery from the Second World War and the monumental cypress tree of Pian di San Bartolo. Then on to country churches such as San Jacopo al Girone and San Giuseppe Artigiano, the Tabernacolo del Ghirlandaio along the ancient Via Aretina, the Fattoria di Maiano and the Villa di Maiano, a location beloved by filmmakers and writers.
Internationally renowned artists reinterpret Siena’s lanterns
In Siena public art and historical memory come together in “Assistere il buio” (Assisting Darkness), a project curated by Serena Fineschi and promoted by the Rotary Club Siena. It involved seventeen contemporary artists who reinterpret the historic wrought-iron lanterns that have illuminated the historic centre since the Second World War. These lanterns, silent symbols of the city at night, have now become permanent works of art that reveal a new geography of the city: an invitation to lose oneself in narrow streets, following the artists' lights and rediscovering Siena from a poetic and intimate point of view. Among the protagonists are internationally renowned artists whose works transform the lanterns into real “presences” that illuminate the past and accompany visitors on a journey that is also a reflection on the relationship between light and darkness, between memory and the present.
Discovering a forgotten garden in Florence
Florence also has its own gem to rediscover, namely the 18th-century garden of Villa La Quiete, which has opened to the public for the first time thanks to a philological restoration funded by the PNRR. Located on the Castello hill, the garden was commissioned by Anna Maria Luisa de' Medici, the last descendant of the Medici dynasty. The guided tour takes visitors on a journey of discovery through the Italian garden, with its mixed-style divisions reconstructed according to historical sources. You can also admire the interior of the villa, with the frescoed apartment of the Electress Palatine, the 17th-century pharmacy, the Church of the Holy Trinity and a collection of works of art including masterpieces by Botticelli, Ghirlandaio and other Renaissance masters. Visits, lasting about an hour, are by reservation only, and the calendar is available on the University of Florence website.
The Specola is the oldest scientific museum in Europe
The reopening of the garden is part of the celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the Specola, the oldest scientific museum in Europe, which has recently undergone major restoration. This is a unique opportunity to rediscover the scientific and naturalistic history of the University of Florence and to continue your journey through the lesser-known wonders of Tuscany.
