When planning a trip to Tuscany, the first cities that come to mind are inevitably Florence, Pisa, and Siena. Yet, the true soul of this region is often hidden in places less beaten by mass tourism, where time seems to have stood still, and history breathes in every alley.

Choosing Villa Le Torri in Montespertoli as your vacation base means having the privilege of exploring these hidden treasures with short, relaxing drives. Today we take you to discover two extraordinary villages, located less than 30 minutes away from our apartments, which gave birth to two of the greatest geniuses in Italian history and literature: Certaldo and Vinci.

1. Certaldo Alto: The Red Brick Jewel

Unlike most Tuscan villages built from gray stone, Certaldo Alto will surprise you with the warm color of its red bricks. It is the birthplace of Giovanni Boccaccio, author of the famous literary masterpiece, the Decameron.

The unique feature of this village is that its historic upper part (Certaldo Alto) is completely closed to traffic.

• How to get there: You can easily park in the modern lower town and then hop on a picturesque funicular railway that, in just a couple of minutes, takes you directly inside the medieval walls.

• What to see: Stroll along Via Boccaccio, the main street of the village, visit the writer’s house-museum, and do not miss the Palazzo Pretorio. This is the most important building in Certaldo, its facade beautifully decorated with dozens of coats of arms in glazed terracotta and marble.

• Fun Fact: If you visit Tuscany in July, Certaldo hosts Mercantia, one of the largest and most magical international street theater festivals in Europe. The village fills with jugglers, acrobats, and musicians, creating a fairy-tale atmosphere.

2. Vinci: On the Trail of Leonardo’s Genius

Heading slightly north, immersed in expanses of silvery olive trees, you will find Vinci. This small village nestled on the slopes of Montalbano is inextricably linked to its most illustrious son: Leonardo da Vinci. Visiting Vinci means taking a journey into the mind of the greatest genius of the Renaissance, surrounded by the exact same landscape that inspired the backgrounds of his most famous paintings, such as the Mona Lisa.

• What to see: The mandatory starting point is the Museo Leonardiano (Leonardo Museum), housed inside the Castello dei Conti Guidi. Here you can admire a vast collection of machine models (for war, flight, and engineering) perfectly reconstructed from Leonardo’s original sketches.

• The Birthplace: A few kilometers from the center of the village, in the locality of Anchiano, you can visit the house where Leonardo was born. You can reach it via a beautiful and easy walk through the olive groves, known as the “Strada Verde” (Green Road), a perfect experience for nature lovers.

The Slow Pace of the Perfect Vacation

Visiting Certaldo and Vinci in a single day is very easy and, above all, does not require waking up at the crack of dawn or spending long hours in traffic. It is the ideal itinerary for those seeking a day of culture but at a slow, relaxing pace.

After strolling among red brick palaces and Renaissance inventions, the drive back to Villa Le Torri will be short and pleasant. Waiting for you is the tranquility of your apartment and the space of our gardens, where you can relax by reading a book or planning your next Tuscan discovery.

👉 Seek out the real Tuscany, far from the crowds. Book your stay in our apartments in Montespertoli.