Tourism
Eight UNESCO sites (Florence, Pisa, San Gimignano, Siena, Pienza, Val d'Orcia, Medici villas, Montecatini Terme). Tuscan Archipelago, Tuscan-Emilian Apennines and Casentino Forests parks; Chianti, Versilia, Maremma, Elba. Florence and Venice are the Italian cities under most tourist pressure. Municipal tourist tax.
Sections: Attractions · Museums · Nature · Itineraries · Excursions · Accessible visits
UNESCO sites and parks
UNESCO sites: the historic centre of Florence (1982), Piazza del Duomo in Pisa (1987), San Gimignano (1990), Siena (1995), Pienza (1996), Val d'Orcia (2004), the Medici villas and gardens (2013) and Montecatini Terme among the Great Spa Towns of Europe (2021). National parks: Tuscan Archipelago (Elba, Giglio, Capraia, Montecristo, Pianosa, Giannutri), Tuscan-Emilian Apennines and Casentino Forests (with Emilia-Romagna); regional parks of the Maremma, Migliarino-San Rossore and the Apuan Alps.
Areas and seasons
Florence, Pisa, Siena and San Gimignano are crowded from March to October with peaks at Easter, long weekends and September; the coast (Versilia, Etruscan Coast, Maremma, Argentario) and Elba work from May to September; Chianti, Val d'Orcia and the Crete Senesi are best in spring and autumn (grape harvest, oil, San Miniato truffles). Abetone and Garfagnana offer skiing and snow from December to March; the spas (Montecatini, Saturnia, Chianciano, Bagno Vignoni) work all year.
Rules
The tourist tax is municipal: Florence applies one of the highest rates in Italy, and Pisa, Siena, Lucca and the coastal resorts also apply it. Florence has adopted municipal rules to limit short-term tourist rentals in the UNESCO historic centre and the use of key boxes; Pianosa, Montecristo and Giannutri have capped access managed by the Archipelago Park with booking. The Palio di Siena and Florence's historic football have regulated access.
Sources
Updated: 2026-10-14
Updated: 2026-10-14
Updated: 2026-10-14
Reviewed: 10/20/2026 · by piero.avolio · rev. 1 · Period: → 2027-10-31
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