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View of Piazza delle Sorgenti in Bagno Vignoni, with the thermal pool
Photo © G. Venturi
Photo © G. Venturi

Villages of well-being in Tuscany

10 places where time slows down

In Tuscany, well-being is not found: it is encountered. It happens when you slow down, when you stop in a square and listen to the wind or the water moving between the rooftops. Each village has a different rhythm: that of days without hurry. We have chosen ten places where beauty is measured in simple gestures and in the time you make for yourself.

Contents
  • 1.
    Bagno Vignoni
  • 2.
    San Quirico d’Orcia
  • 3.
    Monteriggioni
  • 4.
    Anghiari
  • 5.
    Barga
  • 6.
    Sovana
  • 7.
    Pitigliano
  • 8.
    Suvereto
  • 9.
    Casale Marittimo
  • 10.
    Buonconvento
1.

Bagno Vignoni

One of the thermal pools in Bagno Vignoni
The thermal pools in Bagno Vignoni - Credit: Jean François Bonachera

In the heart of Val d'Orcia, in Bagno Vignoni, thermal water fills the central square and the steam rises slowly between the stone houses.
The village is a warm breath in the silence, a place where the earth takes care of the body.
A little further down, in Parco dei Mulini, you will find ancient canals and natural pools. The presence of the water, warmth and silence create a naturally relaxing environment. It is a place that helps you slow down and lighten your thoughts very naturally.

1.

San Quirico d’Orcia

The Horti Leonini in San Quirico D'Orcia
The Horti Leonini in San Quirico D'Orcia - Credit: IAT San Quirico d'Orcia - pagina Facebook

San Quirico welcomes people arriving with the calm rhythm of its Horti Leonini.
The paths created by the perfect hedges draw spaces, inviting you to take a slower look. The bells and the scent of lavender accompany you as you stroll towards the Collegiate Church. The garden’s geometries and the quiet create a balanced rhythm that calms the mind. It is a village that invites contemplation through order, light and harmony.

1.

Monteriggioni

The village of Monteriggioni with its medieval walls and its towers
The village of Monteriggioni with its medieval walls and its towers - Credit: Mirella

Walls still intact, perfect towers, silence. Monteriggioni is a circle that protects and welcomes. The central square is large, filled with light and seems to be suspended between different eras.
Climbing onto the walls, the view opens up onto the hills like a slow wave. Its quiet, peaceful perimeter creates a feeling of protection that helps you decompress. It is a place that favors presence and stillness, thanks to its harmonious structure and the surrounding landscape.

1.

Anghiari

View of the village of Anghiari
View of the village of Anghiari - Credit: David Nicholls

Anghiari climbs gently up a hill overlooking the valley.
Around the workshops and stone lanes, time seems to move at a more human pace. From the bastion of the Castle keep, the view over the Valtiberina is a stretch of land that soothes the eye. The broad views help you to "breathe deeply", while the quiet lanes invite you to move at a slower pace. It is a perfect village for recovering your balance through the landscape, the history and the everyday quiet.

1.

Barga

Barga
Barga - Credit: Foto Toscana Promozione - Federico Bogazzi

A village nestled in the mountains, where the sound of bells mixes with the fragrance of bread.
From the Cathedral of San Cristoforo, the view embraces the Apuan Alps and the late afternoon light colors the façades.
In the squares, voices and birdsong blend together. The mountain setting and the rhythm of the village create an environment conducive to relaxation and mental clarity. Barga is a place where nature, clean air and silence become part of the well-being you experience.

1.

Sovana

Piazza del Pretorio in Sovana
Sovana - Credit: Claudia D'Aliasi

Sovana is a small village made of tuff, where the Etruscan vie cave (carved roads) tell you about the tranquility of this land. The cool rock walls and the filtered light create a silence that embraces you. When walking around here, you will feel an air of ancient times. The vie cave offer a feeling of natural protection that helps you slow down internally. It is an ideal place for those seeking grounding and a deep, almost primordial peacefulness.

1.

Pitigliano

Pitigliano
Pitigliano - Credit: Garik Ghazaryan Photographer

Pitigliano looks out onto a cliff, with houses fused into the stone that supports them.
In the Jewish Quarter, the synagogue and the bread oven still smell of memory.
The sunset lights up the tuff and everything seems to breathe slowly. The combination of spectacular scenery and historical memory generates a sense of depth and reflection. It is a village that stimulates a silent well-being made up of expansive views and cultural roots.

1.

Suvereto

An alleyway in Suvereto
An alleyway in Suvereto

In the hills overlooking the sea, Suvereto is a village where everything tastes of tranquility: warm stone, red wine, soft wind.
Walking through its streets, you can hear the village voices and the fragrance of wood.
From the Rocca Aldobrandesca, the view opens up towards the distant sea. The harmony between nature, cooking and village life creates a relaxed and welcoming rhythm. It is a place that promotes well-being through flavors, landscape and an atmosphere of kindness and simplicity.

1.

Casale Marittimo

The village of Casale Marittimo
The village of Casale Marittimo - Credit: Ambito Costa degli Etruschi

Casale Marittimo is a small stone terrace overlooking the sea.
On summer afternoons, the air smells of rosemary and salt, while voices bounce around between the houses. From the panoramic viewpoint, you can clearly see the islands in the distance. Its expansive views help you relax your eyes and clear your mind. It is a perfect village for those seeking a breezy atmosphere, light and open horizons.

1.

Buonconvento

Buonconvento
Buonconvento - Credit: Archivio Visit Tuscany

Within the walls, everything is friendly: the pace, the voices, the afternoon light on the porticoes.
In Buonconvento, the streets are filled with the aroma of bread and coffee and people still greet each other by name.
Walking through the alleys, time seems to expand. The orderly structure and slow daily rhythm create a natural environment for recovering tranquility. It is a village that invites you to stop and let yourself be carried away by the simple slow rhythm of everyday life. 

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