Taking a weekend break in Florence is an exciting prospect, even if it means leaving one of the most beautiful cities in the world behind for a few days. After all, the constant stream of tourists through the Piazza dei Signori and San Lorenzo markets can be tiring and may inspire a desire to take a short foray out of the city. Here are some of our top picks for a weekend away.
Weekend breaks in Florence
Cinque Terre
If you're looking for a weekend getaway with natural splendour, fantastic food, and beautifully authentic villages, you would be hard-pressed to find a better place to indulge than the Cinque Terre.
Cinque Terre is a string of five small coastal villages set on cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean. Easily accessible by train, the area is perfect for a hike between the villages, enjoying the scenery and admiring the colourful buildings dotting the enchanting, rugged coastline. The Via dell'Amore (the Way of Love) offers a lovely walk that is neither too long nor particularly challenging.
Versilia
Made up of a few small towns along the Mediterranean, the region of Versilia boasts a diverse range of activities, all within a two-hour train ride of Florence.
The world-famous Carnevale of Viareggio, with its parade of floats and masks, takes place each year in winter, and is rivalled only by Versilia's beaches in the summer – although you shouldn't expect to find a fee-free beach. The harbour in Viareggio is equally famous and is home to the greatest yacht makers in Italy.
Porto Venere
If walking between the towns of the Cinque Terre seems a bit daunting, you can visit Porto Venere, which is just before the Cinque Terre on the train line. Like Cinque Terre, Porto Venere is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Quaint seaside houses painted in bright colours stand against a stunning seascape, with a lone church hewn from rock and stone overlooking the sea. Porto Venere is a truly breathtaking place to spend a weekend.
Maremma
If you want to experience Tuscany at its most picturesque, South Tuscany and the Maremma are ideal for a quick stay. The natural hot springs of Saturnia will leave your skin feeling soft for days, and the area's exquisite wine and cheese are not to be missed.
Exploring the countryside of the Maremma is not easily accomplished in a single weekend. You'll be drawn back again and again by Pitigliano, the town teetering on a mountaintop composed entirely of volcanic rock. Montemerano is another village that will lure visitors back with its landscape of lush plants and gardens. Scansano also appeals to visitors, as the home of famous wines and a fantastic medieval festival.