The 8 most beautiful squares in Tuscany

As you'll discover during your stay at Hotel Ilaria in Lucca, our region boasts beautiful squares where you can take a break between museums, sip a drink, or indulge in a delightful dinner.

Which squares should you absolutely not miss in Tuscany? We'll reveal them to you.

Let's start right from the historic center of Lucca, our home, where Piazza Anfiteatro has always stood out as an urban gathering place. As the name suggests, it was originally an amphitheater. Today, Piazza Anfiteatro is a tourist haven, dotted with shops and outdoor restaurants offering the opportunity for an aperitif, a taste break, or lunch in one of Tuscany's most charming squares.

The pastel-colored houses form a perfect oval, and if you walk around it from the outside, you can glimpse the remains of the ancient Roman amphitheater.

When talking about the most picturesque squares in Tuscany, we cannot overlook Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa. In terms of artistic significance and architectural uniqueness, this square deserves special mention.

It's a captivating concentration of monuments, in a triumph of marble and sculptural decorations. In such a context, the iconic Leaning Tower, a symbol of Pisa, seems to remind us that imperfection can make a monument truly unique.

Dominating Palazzo Vecchio, solemn and austere, Piazza della Signoria has been the political hub of Florence for seven centuries. We are in the places of medieval and Renaissance power, where the priors first, and the Medici family later, wielded governance. Today, Palazzo Vecchio, populated by magnificent rooms like the Salone dei Cinquecento, is the destination for interesting tours on the city's history.

In Piazza Signoria, one of the most important squares in Tuscany, you can also admire the marble fountain of Biancone and the replica of David (the original is displayed at the Galleria dell'Accademia). Finally, treat yourself to a tour in the Loggia dei Lanzi, a true collection of outdoor sculptures, adorned with statues of mythological inspiration.

Piazza del Campo in Siena is a medieval marvel with its characteristic shell shape. It is renowned worldwide as the venue for the Palio, the historic horse race held twice a year. Piazza del Campo is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful squares in Tuscany, a magnificent example of medieval civic architecture and a UNESCO site.

The Mangia Tower, originally a symbol of municipal authority, now guards the city's history. The view from the top is truly breathtaking - don't miss it!

Piazza Grande in Arezzo takes the spotlight in the Oscar-winning film "Life is Beautiful." It boasts an extraordinary series of monuments, a Romanesque church, and elegant loggias designed by Vasari, an architect and artist born in Arezzo.

In Piazza Grande, in the heart of the city, an Antiques Fair is held every month, and once a year, you can step back in time during the Medieval Festival of the Joust of the Saracen.

While not exceptional in terms of art, Piazza della Cisterna in San Gimignano compensates with a unique visual charm. It is a picturesque mosaic of stone, flanked by tower houses dating back to the 13th century.

Evocative and delightful, it is the ideal place to enjoy artisanal gelato or a glass of wine accompanied by Sienese pecorino. Not to mention the incredible views you can capture from the panoramic points all around the square.

Pienza is the 'ideal city' of Tuscany. Rebuilt in the Renaissance, following the principles of humanist philosophy: a synthesis of beauty, architectural proportions, and a good way of life.

And the charming Piazza Duomo is a clear example, albeit small, of how well-distributed space conveys natural harmony.

Pietrasanta, a small town in Tuscany, is often overlooked by major tourist paths yet boasts an interesting artistic nature. The elegant Piazza Duomo, often the site of contemporary art installations, is a delicate lounge where you can linger. Pietrasanta is also devoted to the art of sculpture, being very close to the Apuan Alps, where artists have drawn on the finest cuts of white marble for centuries. In the main square, standout the Cathedral, masterfully clad in pristine marble, and the Tower of the Hours, reminding us of the inexorable passage of time.

We also recommend a visit to the Cloister of Sant'Agostino, home to the Museum of Sketches, excellent for delving into the essence of sculptural art.