Valdichiana

Where do you find some of the best hill towns in Tuscany? In the Valdichiana.

Visit eight charming Valdichiana hill towns in Tuscany to learn more about the culture and people. I suggest setting up a base in Arezzo to visit the hill towns in its valley.

• Visit Civitella in Valdichiana to learn its tragic history during a World War II massacre.
• Shop at the daily market in Monte San Savino and visit the unique art and ceramic museum in its fortress tower.
• Go back in time in the Etruscan museum and excavation in tiny Castiglion Fiorentino.
• Meander through small Foiano della Chiana and discover its hidden art treasures and excellent restaurants.
• Explore the small medieval town of Lucignano with its intact medieval walls and fascinating Museo Civico.
• Spend a day at two at the best museums in Cortona, then sit in the Piazza Repubblica with a gelato and watch people go by.
• Study Etruscan artifacts at the superb Etruscan museum in Chiusi and then go underground to visit the old Roman labyrinth of tunnels and cisterns.

PRAISE FOR GUIDEBOOK SERIES

— Scott Tiezzi Grabinger is an American who . . . has written a series of guides to its province and the southern part of Siena Province, fascinating and beautiful parts if Tuscany that few tourists see on their first visit to the region. He takes you through lesser-known villages and churches in the same detail that the big commercial guides provide for the usual must-sees, so that you come to understand what a cultural wealth is to be found in even the most out-of-the-way places. The guiding is interspersed with historical information, recipes, and helpful tips for enjoying your time in Tuscany. —