Tuscany, one of the world's most popular tourist destinations, still hides some undiscovered (or almost) corners: interesting and surprising places to explore with your family. Some are just a few kilometres from the hu Montescudaio village, while others are about an hour's drive away, but well worth it.
Vada, white beaches and more
Vada is often overlooked by tourists, who only come out of curiosity to see the famous Caribbean-like ‘white beaches’ nearby. This small town is within the Rosignano Marittimo district and was the ancient port for Volterra and northern gateway to the Costa degli Etruschi (Etruscan coast), an area definitely worth exploring. We would suggest that you seek out Vada’s true Tuscan soul. It’s in the fishing boats that come back early in the morning with fresh fish, in the quiet shady avenues, in the expanse of pine groves and in the beautiful, huge central square - Piazza Garibaldi - which in the summer comes alive with markets and shows. It is a fantastic place to get a tan, anywhere along the kilometres of wide beaches, mostly free of bathing establishments, that stretch as far as the hamlet of Mazzanta, where there is a Bau Beach (where dogs are allowed) equipped for you and your four-legged family members. Stay in Vada until the evening for an aperitif, dinner, or even an after-dinner drink at Fichi Secchi: its friendly, relaxed atmosphere makes it a favourite spot for the young crowd.
Piazza Garibaldi Park, Vada
Gallorose Park, Cecina’s zoo
Cecina is a lively town and a great place to shop: the weekly market held on Tuesdays (8 a.m.-1 p.m.) is very busy and is one of the largest in Tuscany. The Marina di Cecina coastline has beaches accessible to all, a lush 15-km long pine forest (the Tomboli Nature Reserve that stretches up to the Marina di Bibbona and is perfect for walking, cycling or horse riding) and a long promenade packed with shops and clubs and that’s popular in the evenings. But there is more to this town. An archaeological museum tells the story of area and the family that gave it its name, the Caecina, while the Gallorose Park is a journey among animals from every continent, from iguanas to Madagascar lemurs, from the Amiata donkey to the Australian kangaroo. Surrounded by a rich vegetation of more than 14,000 plants, the zoo is home to 130 species of animals along a 3-km trail suitable for all. An oasis worth discovering.
Tomboli nature reserve pine forest, Marina di Cecina
Peccioli, an open-air museum
A day trip for the whole family. Peccioli, at just an hour’s drive away, is a village literally invaded by contemporary art. The main attraction is the MACCA, the Open-Air Museum of Contemporary Art, which offers a fresh and entertaining way to explore the area. Nestled in the gentle hills of Valdera, in the province of Pisa, Peccioli has innovated to reinvent itself, offering colourful walkways, hanging terraces, painted houses and even a rubbish tip that has been transformed into a tourist attraction thanks to giant statues that emerge, or rather, are reborn, from the earth. There are more than 70 works scattered throughout the town and its hamlets, created by artists who designed and integrated them with the surrounding area. But it’s not all modern art here: before returning to the hu Montescudaio village, go to Legoli, where the sublime tabernacle by Benozzo Gozzoli is on view in the rural Chapel of Santa Caterina.
Ghizzano, a colourful village in the municipality of Peccioli
