Destination 2 of 5 - Tuscany and beyond in a motorhome

Some of you will have a destination in mind but others will follow the wind in the hope of creating interesting and memorable experiences. A motorhome gives you the freedom to roam with all the home luxuries and without constraints. There’s so much to see and do throughout the UK and across mainland Europe, which often means it’s difficult to decide where to spend your time away. We’ve compiled a list of our 5 favourite places, as recommended by staff and past customers. We’ll be posting one destination a week, along with our suggested route in the form of an interactive map.

2 - Tuscany & beyond - 5/6 days – 283 miles (455km)

Italy has long been a favoured destination for our customers and this looks unlikely to change anytime soon. The historical importance, picturesque charm, passionate people and favourable climate all contribute to its popularity. There are many incredible regions in Italy but Tuscany is our favourite due to its accessibility and mix of beautiful medieval cities and rolling hills, and it’s where your motorhome was born! Tuscany is widely regarded as the birthplace of the Renaissance movement, and home to many local historical figures who have had a long lasting influence in the fields of science and art. Thankfully many examples remain to this day, and visiting Tuscany can at times feel like you are walking through the history books. You’ll find charms within the cities and their surrounding countryside, most notably Pisa, with its leaning tower and Cathedral, the historic centres of Siena, Florence, the Medici Villa & Gardens and the Val d’Orcia. You’ll naturally be spoilt for choice with incredible locally sourced food and wine everywhere you look. Aside from the larger Tuscan cities, we would recommend you visit San Gimignano, nicknamed the ‘Medieval Manhattan’ due to its 14 stone towers. At the height of San Gimignano’s wealth and power more than 70 towers were built to defend the town against enemy attacks. After a plague devastated the city in 1348, San Gimignano’s power faded and what followed was a time of relative peace, preserving many of the city’s towers. Our recommended route takes you from Pisa, through San Gimignano and into Siena, where you should make sure you visit the Piazza del Campo, one of Europe’s greatest medieval squares. The frenetic twice-per-year horse-race called Palio di Siena is held here and involves circling the piazza three times on which a thick layer of dirt has been laid. Once you’re done soaking up Siena’s delights, head south to the region of Val D’Orcia, with its rolling hills, vineyards and medieval hilltops, the most notable being that of Pienza. From there you should head North towards Florence, the capital of Tuscany and its most populous city. Make sure you visit the Gothic style Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, one of Italy’s largest churches which boasts one of the largest brick domes ever constructed. If you have time head north into the region of Liguria to a city called La Spezia where you can catch a train to visit the Cinque Terre: a string of centuries-old seaside villages on the rugged Italian Riviera coastline. In each of the 5 towns, colourful photogenic houses and vineyards cling to rocky terraces, harbors are filled with fishing boats and trattorias turn out seafood specialties along with the Liguria region’s famous sauce, pesto.