How To Spend One Perfect Weekend in Tuscany, Italy

Twenty years of marriage is definitely worth celebrating, and I can’t think of a more romantic place to celebrate than a weekend in Tuscany, Italy.

A road trip through miles of rolling green hills, a charming bed and breakfast tucked in the middle of a vineyard, soaking in natural hot springs, and walking the cobblestone streets of a medieval village.

It was an unforgettable trip and I’m excited to share the details with you!

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How to Spend One Perfect Weekend in Tuscany

Table of Contents

• Stay at Salcheto Wine House
• Explore Civita di Bagnoregio
• Soak in the Fosso Bianco Hot Springs

Stay at Salcheto Wine House

Tuscany is a large region in central Italy and includes so many beautiful towns and dreamy countrysides. It was hard to narrow down the locations to visit since we only had one weekend in Tuscany.

I am so happy with what we chose and wouldn’t change a thing. Starting with our stay at the Salcheto WineHouse Bed and Breakfast.

About 2km down a gravel road, we found this haven nestled in the middle of a working vineyard. As we pulled up we were immediately charmed by the rustic traditional Tuscan farm exterior.

The interior had more of a modern minimalist feel with thoughtful personal touches.

The rooms were so clean and comfortable, and the large soaker tub was perfect for relaxing after a long day of travel.

We checked in late that night and woke up with an appetite. The breakfast was an intimate continental-style buffet with freshly made pastries, quiche, homemade breads and jellies, seasonal fruits and fresh-squeezed juice.

We enjoyed our breakfast in the outdoor garden while taking in the spectacular views.

After breakfast, we took a soak in the outdoor hot tub before heading out to explore.

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Explore Civita di Bagnoregio

There are so many darling towns to explore nearby. In fact, Salcheto is situated at the foot of Montepulciano, Tuscany’s “Haven on a Hilltop”. You can see it perched high on the cliff while sitting in the hot tub.

It boasts spectacular views and is one of the most photogenic towns in all of Tuscany. This is even the town where scenes from Under the Tuscan Sun were filmed.

It is a great place to lose yourself while wandering the narrow streets, ducking into an antique bookstore or grabbing a slice of pizza.

I also just loved driving through the open countryside. Volpai and Val d’Orcea are two enchanting areas to explore nearby that offer some of the most picturesque scenery in all of Tuscany.

The truth is, we stumbled across so many small towns and fell in love with every single one of them.

Sometimes the best way to explore is having no agenda at all. One night we were late getting dinner and decided to stop at the next town we came to.

There were no reviews on Yelp and the town itself was nothing but a small blip on the map.

However, we discovered the most delicious pizza at a small mom & pop cafe and were enchanted by the cobblestone streets lit by lamp posts.

But the one city you MUST visit in Tuscany is Civita di Bagnoregio. We were intrigued from the moment we first saw a picture of this ancient town perched precariously atop a plateau of eroding volcanic rock and clay.

It is referred to as the “Island on the Clouds”, as well as “the Dying City”. Despite withstanding multiple sieges and attacks in earlier years, Mother Nature is now responsible for its demise as the city is slowly crumbling into the Tiber River Valley below.

To access this city, you need to park in the designated lot outside the city and walk up the steep footbridge.

Once you reach the top, you will be greeted by the massive Gothic arch, the St. Maria Doorway, that serves as the city’s gate.

No cars are allowed, which has helped preserve its medieval state for the past 2500 years.

The origins of the city date back to the Bronze Age, however much of the buildings were constructed during the Middle Ages.

As you walk the ancient streets it truly feels as if you’ve stepped back in time, or onto the set of a movie.

Only about 20 residents live in the city year-round. Others make the commute from neighboring towns to keep the handful of cafes, restaurants, and bed and breakfasts running.

We were planning to eat dinner, but to our disappointment discovered that the entire town virtually shuts down after 4 pm. A select few restaurants re-open later for dinner on the weekends.

If you are planning to visit, be sure to check seasonal hours of operation for the restaurants.

Luckily, Civita di Bagnoregio is just fascinating to walk around and explore the hidden beauty without an agenda.

However, there are a few places worth stopping by while exploring the city like the famed Alma Civita Bed & Breakfast.

Here you can enjoy delectable entrees in an elegant and cozy ancient Etruscan cave. Rooms are also available if you want to spend the night in the town.

A few other restaurants that came highly recommended are Antica Rota and L’Arco del Gusto.

Inside the main town square, you’ll find the Chiesa di San Donato church, whose origins date back to the 7th century. Step inside to view relics from the 9th century and a precious wooden crucifix from the school of Donatello.

Throughout the city, you’ll see portions of buildings that have already fallen victim to erosion and landslides, like the remains of an old Renaissance palace. I would recommend stopping by the Geological and Landslides Museum to learn more about the geological problems facing this unique town.

At the end of the city, you’ll come to a garden overlooking the valley below. It is referred to as Maria’s garden and oftentimes you’ll see her working in the garden. I have heard she is happy to give a tour of her garden for a few euros. Unfortunately, she wasn’t out when we were there.

If you keep to the right of the garden, you’ll follow down some steps that lead to a series of Etruscan caves. Here you’ll find the Chapel of Madonna Del Carcere. This cave was originally an Etruscan tomb and was later used by shepherds as a home and barn before being transformed into a chapel.

Just past the Chapel of Madonna Del Carcere, you’ll come to a tunnel that was once a Roman aqueduct that was expanded to allow for the passage of carts.

Another unique spot is Gepetto’s workshop. For 1 euro you can explore the underground cave that served as the filming location for the TV production of Pinocchio.

Civita di Bagnoregio truly is a unique and treasured city to visit in Tuscany. It is located about 1 hour 20 minutes from the Salcheto bed and breakfast. This city may not be around in years to come, so it’s worth visiting while you still can!

Soak in the Fosso Bianco Hot Springs

Tuscany has several natural hot springs and I was determined to take full advantage of that while we were there.

I was excited to discover that the Fosso Bianco springs in Bagni San Filippo were located only about a half-hour away from where we were staying.

The springs are easy to access, so easy in fact that I wasn’t sure we were at the right spot.

The trail leading to the springs is located right at the edge of town. Street parking is available along the side of the road.

The trail is short and fairly easy, although a little steep at parts, as it leads down through the trees to the secluded sulfur hot springs.

There is a series of pools that run along the edge of the trees. If you head to the left you’ll come to the “white-whale”.

This remarkable white limestone formation is the largest calcium formation in Bagni San Filippo.

The bottom of the pools are also filled with rich mud deposits that are great for a rejuvenating mud mask!

If you go to the right you’ll discover some pools that the locals have created. These are freshwater pools that do not have the same sulfur smell as the pools further down.

The pools were not as hot as I had anticipated. I am not sure if that was due to the time of year we were visiting. But it was still a relaxing way to spend the afternoon!

Fosso Bianco is the closest hot springs to where we were staying. If you’re looking to visit more hot springs in Tuscany a few more popular ones are Saturnia, Bagno Vignoni, and Petriolo.

It really was the perfect romantic weekend in Tuscany filled with the right balance of exploration and relaxation!

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Here is a map of our recommended places to visit in Tuscany.

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