The Hills

Old Tuscan charm and Florence's modern-day elite

Word to the wise: Pietra serena, the distinctive grey sandstone used in many of Florence's old buildings, was mined just north of the city on Monte Ceceri.
The undulating hills that hem in Florence on all sides are home to fertile farmland, old-world villages, and newer residential enclaves where Florence's modern-day A-list own expansive villas. The majority of the pricey real estate can be found to the north of the city, in settlements like Settignano and around the ancient Etruscan town of Fiesole. There's plenty of architecture to be seen in these parts and no shortage of quaint tourist-free trattorias to be found.

Across the Arno to the south, the hills are covered in a patchwork of bucolic farms, many of which have been held by the same families for centuries. Despite its proximity to city, the area possesses a strong rural feel that has long drawn visiting artists (including Henry James and Elizabeth Browning).
There's not much public transport servicing these outlying settlements, so you'll need to hire a car or scooter.