Need Adventure in Tuscany Area

Consider day trips to

Siena
Lucca
Pisa
San Gimignano
Volterra
Montepulciano
Cortona

For something completely different, and well off the usual tourist path, consider riding the bus up the hill from Florence to Fiesole. From the bus stop there you can walk along a pretty belvedere path thru a little forest out to Monte Ceceri where there's a small monument memorializing the first experimental test flight in history ... by Leonardo da Vinci and his crew in January of 1496.
The walk is a pleasant one and features some dramatic views of Florence and the valley of the Arno far below. Fiesole itself is quite pretty too - lots of cute places for lunch or a coffee, and one of the best preserved Roman amphitheaters in Italy.

To the list of cities to think about visiting I would Arezzo and Bologna. Both are easily accessible by train and while Bologna is a big city it is very different than from Florence.

And when you say "adventure" some other things spring to mind besides just visiting a new city/village. When will you be in Florence?
- June 24th is Florence's saint's day and there are festivals, fireworks and even a medieval rugby-style match between diffferent teams in town.
- The 3rd Saturday in Arezzo has the medieval reenactment and the "Joust of the Saracen" with horseback jousting the main piazza.
- In Cortona they have medieval fairs with flag throwing etc generally twice in early June.
- In June there are many "sagras" in Tuscany - which are celebrations of a single food item. They are often in small towns in the countryside so it may require organizing transportation but sitting and eating at long communal tables with locals celebrating some specific food - chestnuts, asparagus, boar etc - is something on my adventure list.
- There are tours of the Carrara Marble Quarry by jeep and car if you want to do something "out there". It's about 2 hours from Florence so it would be a trek but some people love this tour.

These dates are old (2022) but this website has an interesting list of potential things to visit: https://www.discovertuscany.com/tuscany-events/june-in-tuscany.html

Less "adventure" but still interesting Arezzo has a huge antiques fair once a month which might make it an interesting day to visit. Other local market days and events features local products are always fun days to visit places.

My only warning is that Italian's seem to be terrible at telling you what is going to happen but good at telling you what happened. So this means websites often have more information about last year's event than the one coming up. I can't explain it unless you're just supposed "to know" but it can make it a struggle to get firm dates or confirm tickets from the states.

Have a great "Adventure",
=Tod

If you have a car.....We had lunch at a family run sheep farm outside Pienza, with Elia, the farmer, all homegrown/made cheese and food, a tour of the farm, wine, and even beer! It was great. It's a small place, you should be able to contact them via Instagram or Facebook. The fresh made ricotta was absolute heaven.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g644280-d27702675-Reviews-La_Boutique_del_Pastore-Pienza_Tuscany.html

You are all amazing and what great responses. We really lucked up on an incredible budget friendly hotel 1 minute walk to the Uffizi. La Torre Dei Salterelli. Every response adds to our adventure. I had head on “The Lemon Experience “ on the Amafi Coast. Also the areas in Cinqui Terre area. We really love small villages and personal places to get to see the real Italian Life. In Switzerland we had the Swiss Pass for trains/boars/buses/boats. Is there anything for Italy compares to that?

All beach areas in summer will be touristy but whether it is Italian's at the beach for the summer - and usually some Germans mixed in - or mobbed with Americans and short term day trippers is the difference. CT is definitely the latter but if you're interested in coastal towns that are more regularly Italian I would recommend checking out:
- The south side of La Spezia bay - San Terenzo, Lerici and Tellaro - as well as Sarzana inland over the hill. San Terenzo will be the quieter town with Lerici being a little more "resorty" with a marina and Tellaro being very small.
- The Ligurian coast north of CT with Chiavari, Sestri Levante, Moneglia all easily accessible by train as well the more famous and glitzy Rapallo, Santa Margherita Ligure and Portofino further north.

I honestly don't have any advice on the AC. It is amazing from the water and in the rare quiet corner you can see rough hillsides and clinging house appeal that drew the romance writers but even at the very end of season it was way too manufactured and experience for me to enjoy. I was there so I went because it seemed silly not to but I can't imagine going back when there are other places to go.

Have a great trip!
=Tod

Angela I'm a little confused about what you are looking for outside of Florence.

Are you open to renting a car?
Many of the places suggested, above, are firmly on the tourist track--Cinque Terre, San Gimignano, Siena, etc.

Are you wanting to stay in Tuscany? Because you mention Amalfi Coast (??)
You are heading home in July, but when will you begin the trip and when is the Florence portion?

There are SO many wonderful areas of the country that might not be so packed in high season, but I don't know if I should be recommending these to you or not..... Would you consider heading to the Adriatic from Florence, by train?

Are beaches important? You know they will be crowded in hot weather but still......

Sorry I guess I did not understand enough about what you are looking for but would be happy to offer a few ideas..

All of you have been wonderful with your help. We left our home April 11 and have been having the time you couldn’t even imagine. We have been like a dandelion. We decided to visit Switzerland first and had so many unexpected fun surprises. Never visited before Zürich and just happened on their spring festival honoring the guilds(trades/crafts) that has been for centuries. It’s called Sechselauten and on Sunday is about a 2 hour parade of all children dressed in guild costumes. There was even a couple of camels from the zoo. Then Sunday over 3 hours adult parade absolutely amazing. There is a massive snowman they set on fire and depending how long it takes for the head to explode in fireworks, determines the kind of summer. My words do not even begin to explain. We visited Old Town, visited Rapperswil, discovered Coops, Rivella, spinatstrudel.. Went to St. Gallen and the Abbey Library where you put your shoes into slippers to protect the floors,Lucerne, Zermatt, Riggi Mountain, Chappell Bridgr, Interlauken, Golden Pass, Gornergrat, Matterhorn, toboggan 1 mile, ice caves,and so much more. We too the train from Zurich to Florence. Lucked up on a room 1 minute from Uffizi and 2 minutes from Ponte Vecchio. Caught Ubers, trains, to beautiful gardens, museums, etc. Found out about a Lemon Festival and took out towards Cinqui Terre Monterosso. The festival was amazing and the water soothing to our souls. We are taking trains to and from all 5 villages. Running into many Italians that have so many historical information and going to amazing small restaurants. Going back to Florence for undecided days then thinking heading to Scotland. We wake up and have coffee and then decide a few days at a time. When you are young and dream of retirement, we are actually living the dream. Thanks for the help and letting the wind blow us in directions. So blessed.

Wow! Very impressive! I am so happy for you that you are living your dream and going for it.

We are all envious but it seems like your trip is well deserved and your appreciation and gratitude over it is inspiring. Enjoy!