What are the secret places of Tuscany?

The most discreet spots are found mainly in the Maremma and the Garfagnana : essaie Sovana, the Etruscan trails around Sorano or the village ofIsola Santa. “Secret” is relative: Pitigliano and the hot springs of Saturnia are well known, but the surroundings can be visited more peacefully if you avoid summer weekends.

À Sovana, the center is small; the interest also lies outside, in the necropolis and the vie cave, those paths carved into the tuff. A walking route between Pitigliano and Sovana takes about 10 km and takes 4 hours : bring good shoes, water, and check the condition of the trails after rain. The hamlet ofIsola Santa, in the Apuan Alps, is reached by a mountain road, about 13 km from Castelnuovo di Garfagnana. It is peaceful, but the houses are partly unoccupied: don't go there expecting shops or guided tours.

To enjoy these corners, favor the spring or early autumn ; in midsummer, the heat makes exposed walks unpleasant and the best-known places fill up. A car is handy, especially around Sovana and Isola Santa; public transport doesn't always make it easy to link the villages together. If you're looking for calm, arrive early and keep time for the small roads rather than adding too many stops.