If you need a break from the crowds of Florence, escape to these towns in
Tuscany for a day or longer. While renting a car would be nice, most of these towns can be reached by
public transport (bus or train).
BUS:
SITA (Via Santa Caterina da Siena 17r, tel. 055/214.721,
www.sita-on-line.it) and
Lazzi (Piazza della Stazione 4-6, across the train staion, tel. 055/16685.6010)
TRAIN:
Stazione Centrale di Santa Maria Novella (Piazza della Stazione, 055/14788.8088)
First, review
this list of towns in Umbria and Tuscany by Frommers.
Here are some other towns to consider a visit for day trips:
Fiesole - Closest
escape from Florence. Take bus # 7 from Florence train station, which lets you off in the town's main square, Piazza Mino. Main sights: Church of San Francesco, Duomo, Roman Theater, Civic Museum, Bandini Museum. For restaurant recommendations, go here.
Sansepolcro - The town of Sansepolcro, which developed around the large Benedictine Abbey, has conserved its medieval urbanistic structure and has, over the centuries, been enriched by important Renaissance and Baroque buildings. Weekly market Tuesday and Saturday mornings. (120 km from Florence.) Visit Sansepolcro.net for more info. (For more info. on the area of Arezzo, click
here.)
Collodi - The birthplace of Carlo Lorenzini, the father of the most famous puppet of all, there is a park, the
Park of Pinocchio.
Montecatini Terme - Thermal baths. Here is more info. on this
spa town.
Torre del Lago Puccini/Viareggio - on the west (Ligurian Sea), next to Lago Massaciuccoli. Can go swank or rough it (camping). Home to
Puccini Opera Festival.
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