Tuscany is consistently listed as one of the top locations for groups of friends, extended families, and multi-generational family groups to book a getaway together and for many good reasons! But why exactly does it work so well? Here’s our list of reasons as to why you should book a group getaway at a villa in Tuscany...
Something For Everyone
Tuscany is a place that really packs a punch when it comes to attractions and things to see and do. It is incredibly geographically diverse – with mountains offering wonderful hiking and winter sports, a lovely coastline dotted with incredible beaches and pretty towns, lush valleys like something from a dream full of vineyards and farmland, stunning historic towns and impressive cities, and more – but is also manageable in scale. This means that all, or many, of its delights can be easily enjoyed from a single base when you book a holiday rental in Tuscany.
Furthermore, this means that there really is something for everyone in the group, whether you’re talking about kids, teens, young adults, cool aunts and uncles, parents, or grandparents... So, if you want to ensure that everyone is entertained and happy throughout the trip, Tuscany is an excellent location. You’ll be able to enjoy:
- Art and Culture
Of course art and culture have a massive place on this list. Florence is commonly referred to as the Birthplace of the Renaissance and is home to impossibly influential architectural gems, breath-taking churches like the city’s Duomo, preserved historic homes with astounding interiors, museums like the Uffizi, great works like Michelangelo’s David, and much more besides. Many other towns and cities from Pisa - with its famous Leaning Tower of Pisa and its modern masterpiece of a mural by the late Keith Haring - to tiny towns you’ve never heard of with perfect untouched historic centres have all sorts of historic and artistic wonders to uncover.
For culture vultures, therefore, Tuscany is a dream destination while for little ones, it presents real-life opportunities to learn, and for everyone else it offers heavy-hitter tourist attractions to tick off the bucket list.
- Spas
If you have some stressed-out parents who need to chill, Grandparents due a treat, or anyone else exhausted from daily routines, Tuscany is an ideal place to leave all your worries behind. First of all, if you book a villa with pool in Tuscany, you’ll always have somewhere to stretch out in the sun, good book and/or cocktail in hand, cool waters lapping gently nearby for a dip, maybe a hot tub too, and just maybe a sauna as well. Get in touch if you are looking for more spa facilities at home as some of our listings do offer home spas.
However, you won’t necessarily need a spa at home as Tuscany has been well-known for her natural thermal springs since Antiquity and is home to a long list of spa towns! With mineral-rich waters that come out at temperatures perfect for melting your stress away and have both rejuvenating and therapeutic properties, these natural hot springs have drawn tourists from all over Europe for centuries. Any town with “terme” in the name is likely to have some free, naturally-occurring springs to visit but many of the more famous examples also now have luxury day-spas, spa resorts, thermal baths, skincare clinics, and all sorts of other spaces where you can get massages, have a facial, do body treatments, and generally leave the rest of the world behind for a while. Saturnia and Montecatini Terme are two of the most famous examples but there are endless smaller spa towns and facilities to discover. Chances are that you’ll have one not too far from your vacation rental in Tuscany!
- Seaside adventures
As noted, Tuscany has a long and rather lovely coastline as well as a bunch of little islands to discover, including Elba, where Napoleon was famously exiled. Coastal towns like Viareggio, Forte Dei Marmi, Porto Ercole, and more differ wildly from buzzing resorts to pretty fishing villages and everything in between but give a picture of the variety of seaside experiences on offer in Tuscany. Whether you want an unspoiled and hidden little bay, a private beach club with the amenities to match, or a long sandy stretch for fun with the family, you’ll find what you’re looking for when you book a villa on the Tuscan Coast or if you’re staying inland and planning day-trips to the seaside.
- Mountains, parks and nature
Similarly, the varied landscape that we mentioned earlier offers ample choice of outdoor pursuits that will delight kids and adults alike during a group vacation. Mountains such as the Apennines, the Apuan Alps, and Monte Amiata offer dramatic scenery like marble peaks and quarries, dormant volcanoes, and lush forests for hiking, biking, and exploring, and more. The mountain of Abetone, meanwhile, is popular for skiing and winter sports.
Then, there is the famous Orcia Valley with its iconic rolling green hills for which Tuscany is renowned and rewards those who book a villa in the Orcia Valley and head off on bike or by car to soak up its beauty. There are several nature reserves for bird-watching and wildlife-spotting including along the coast where you have the likes of the Maremma and the Lagoon of Orbetello and its famous flamingos. In cities and around historic homes, meanwhile, you’ll discover where nature and man come together impressively in the stunning parks and gardens of the region, including the beloved Boboli Gardens in Florence.
Peasant Cuisine and Culinary Delights
Food, meanwhile, is a massive crowd-pleaser in Tuscany. Rooted in peasant cuisine traditions, dishes in the region are generally hearty, comforting, and very tasty and between familiar pasta dishes, pizza, and gelato, kids are sure to be well-fed throughout a vacation in Tuscany. Adults and little ones with more adventurous palates, meanwhile, will be able to enjoy the more complex dishes and flavours or simply dive further into more specific regional specialities. Food festivals, hidden gems, unique culinary experiences, visits to vineyards, and much more besides await. Just head to the Food and Wine section of this blog for a truly endless list of things to delight gourmands, foodies, and anyone else who wants to eat well in the group!
The Villas Themselves
Of course, we think the main thing that makes Tuscany an ideal group getaway destination is our villas. We have lots of larger villas in Tuscany to choose from that not only have ample bedrooms but often have multiple living rooms, kitchens, and more, ensuring everyone has their own space while still staying together to make memories and enjoy quality time. Our luxury villas in Tuscany are also often larger properties that aren’t actually that expensive once you divide the cost between the group – maybe it’s the chance to enjoy a luxury experience that you might not otherwise! So, if you all want to get away together then we think Tuscany is the perfect base for that reunion or to simply make memories that will last a lifetime together.