10 unmissable hilltop villages in Tuscany

Tuscany's famous hilltop towns (San Gimignano, Siena, Lucca, Volterra) get all the attention, but there are dozens of equally stunning ones that stay wonderfully quiet. Here are 10 towns and villages worth seeking out, most of which sit within an hour or two of Siena or Arezzo, so you could string several together into a slow, off-the-beaten-path loop.

1. Pienza, main image

Regularly voted one of Tuscany's most beautiful villages, Pienza sits 30 miles south of Siena, with spectacular views of the Val d'Orcia. Thanks to its immaculately preserved Renaissance architecture, it's a Unesco World Heritage Site, which means it does attract its fair share of tourist buses – get there by 8.30am to avoid the masses. It's a foodie haven, known for the locally produced pecorino cheese – stock up at La Taverna del Pecorino, on Via Condotti. And if Pienza looks at all familiar, it's because the 'Elysian Fields' scene from the 2000 film Gladiator was shot there – you can retrace Russell Crowe's steps by walking the Strada di Terrapille from the church of Corsignano.

3. Casole d'Elsa

West of Siena, perched above the Val d'Elsa, you'll find Casole d'Elsa, with a medieval core, a small archaeological museum and none of the crowds of more famous neighbouring towns such as Volterra. It's an arty kind of place, thanks to the Verrocchio Art Centre, which accommodates 15 working artists in its studios, and the town is dotted with sculptures. And the views? The countryside is sublime.

4. Radicofani

Since 2004, the incredible landscape of the Val d'Orcia has been a Unesco World Heritage Site, and Radicofani sits at its southern end. It's one of Tuscany's most dramatic fortress towns, perched on a volcanic outcrop along the old Via Francigena pilgrim route, with a tower that's visible for miles and which marked a defensive boundary between Tuscany and the old Papal state of Lazio. When you're done admiring the view from the ramparts, make your way through Radicofani's maze of alleyways to flower-filled Piazzetta del Teatro – as perfect a village square as you'll find anywhere in Tuscany.

5. Sorano

Carved partly into tufo (compressed volcanic ash) rock, Sorano is often called the 'Tuscan Matera'. It's dramatic, atmospheric and generally free of tourists, perhaps because it is in Maremma, the largely overlooked southwestern corner of Tuscany. Built on top of a cliff, it's a jumble of alleys, stairways, arches and cobblestones, steep inclines and pockets of greenery. It's not picture postcard perfect – but it is very authentic. Catch your breath at the Piazza Cairoli before heading up to the Orsini fortress for the best views of the ravines and forest that surround the village.

6. Murlo

An almost perfectly preserved circular medieval village near Siena, home to an Etruscan museum, with a population of under 2,000. From its hilltop, Murlo dominates the wooded Crevole valley and the views are outstanding. It is surrounded by the Basso Merse Nature Reserve, a pristine sanctuary that's home to rare river species like otters.

7. San Casciano dei Bagni

A hilltop town near the Umbrian border that was recently the site of a major archaeological discovery of bronzes in the mud of an old Roman bath, San Casciano dei Bagni is one of Italy's most famous spa towns, with more than 40 natural springs. You don't need to book into a luxe hotel such as Fonteverde (although it would make the most magnificent treat) – there are free open air baths such as Terme del Bagno Grande and Bagno Bossolo.

8. Anghiari

Near Sansepolcro in eastern Tuscany, the medieval village of Anghiari is famous mainly for a 1440 battle (subject of a lost Leonardo fresco) rather than tourism. As you drive up from the valley below, you're greeted by the Borghetto, the old town surrounded by 16th-century walls. Its steep stone lanes lead up to Piazza del Popolo, where you'll find the Giardini del Vicario cafe – prepare to have your socks knocked off by the sweeping Tiber valley views from its terrace.

9. Suvereto

Near the west coast, south of Pisa, Suvereto is a honey-colored medieval town with Romanesque churches and excellent wine, far from the tourist bus circuit. They're missing a trick because the views from the Rocca Aldobrandesca fortress are sensational, sweeping down towards the sea. It's a place of immense natural beauty, surrounded by chestnut, oak and cork trees, and cooling Mediterranean breezes. Heavenly.

10. Barga

The medieval town of Barga, in the mountains north of Lucca, is a jumble of pastel houses in the shadow of a majestic Romanesque cathedral. Everything you'd expect of Tuscany. Except one thing: it's been dubbed 'the most Scottish town in Italy'. Sixty per cent of its population have Scottish roots and they have fully embraced their heritage: you'll find fish and chips on local menus, the Scottish Saltire flies from flagpoles, they eat haggis on Burns Night and it's twinned with four towns in East Lothian. It's fair to say there's nowhere else in Italy like it.

Photo by rolf neumann on Unsplash

Photo by Lewis Patrick on Unsplash

Photo by Matej Drha on Unsplash

2. Montefollonico

A brilliantly preserved and charming medieval walled village near Montepulciano and Pienza, with barely 500 residents, incredible views over the Val di Chiana, and one of Tuscany's best-regarded restaurants (La Chiusa) tucked inside its walls. Montefollonico is known for its vin santo dessert wine, produced from the vines that surround it.

Photo by Tomáš Hirsch on Unsplash

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