I have been to Italy three times on long—more than three-week—vacations. Last summer, my partner and I went to Tuscany for her cousin’s wedding and decided to take a holiday there. Through friends of her family, we stayed in a medieval town outside of Florence for the first week and on the Tuscan coast for the remaining two weeks.
There is not an inch of Italy without beauty or aesthetic interest, but in my experience, Tuscany exceeds them all. Tuscany sits in the central northwest corner of Italy. It is the home not only of Florence, which houses some of the greatest art in the world, but also that 15,000-ton marvel of architecture, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and it was where Carlo Collodi, who wrote the Adventures of Pinocchio in 1883, got his start.
There is a reason why up to 50 million people visit Tuscany annually. The wine, the culture, the history, and the stunning landscapes attract the curious and the sensual. But the Tuscan coast offers the most satisfaction for those who want to relax, recharge, and enjoy the good life.
If you are thinking of going to Tuscany, you should seek out villas in Tuscany for rent. These tend to be better than the hotels in Tuscany, and plenty of them exist! Various styles and locations are available, from old renovated houses that have been in families for generations to more recent buildings. Here is a sample of the best villas on the Tuscany coast.
Villas in Tuscany Coast
1. Villa Paduletto
No luxury hotel can top this nice stone building in the Lido Di Camaiore area. It can comfortably sleep 14 people in six cozy rooms and six bathrooms. It is one of the most luxurious and spacious villas on the Tuscany coast we will discuss (and friends, that is saying something).
Villa Paduletto is only 4 miles from the town of Viareggio and 1 mile from a fully equipped private beach. You can go for a swim in the morning, which is almost mandatory in the summer as temperatures reach 90 degrees by 10 a.m., and then go into town to buy fresh produce and wine for a nice late afternoon lunch.
You should consider renting this villa if you plan to go on holiday with a group of people. The property is divided into small apartments that are not adjoining. Each apartment has a double bedroom and a living area with a table, sofa, and kitchenette. The villa’s ground floor contains a common dining room and a large kitchen. The kitchen includes a coffee machine, microwave, toaster, refrigerator, tableware, and cutlery for 14 people.
There is also a clean, well-maintained, and large seasonal outdoor swimming pool to cool down, chat with your friends, and enjoy a glass of Tuscan wine.
Florence is 61 miles away, and Pisa is much closer, at 24 miles. Both can be reached by train, and the train station is only 3 miles from the villa. Free shuttle service is available.
See Related: Italy Itinerary: 10 Days in Italy Trip Plan
2. Villa Guardistallo
This villa is only 6 miles from the hamlet of Guardistallo. As I said, very few places in Italy are not of cultural, historical, or aesthetic interest. This little commune is one of the region’s hidden gems. It is situated along a low ridge in the Pisan hills.
The beach is not too far away, which allows you to enjoy a daily swim and explore the beautiful old buildings of the town. There are restaurants, coffee bars, and shops where you can buy fresh food. Guardistallo was originally an Etruscan town, so much of that history is on display for those interested.
The property can accommodate up to 21 guests in eight bedrooms and ten bathrooms. It is divided into two independent apartments, which can be connected by an inside staircase.
By train, you can reach Viareggio, San Gimignano, Pisa, Florence, and Marina di Campo airports. The station is 9 miles away.
3. Casa Alla Strettoia
None of the leading hotels in the region have anything on this beautiful 645-square-foot stone building. One of the best things about it is the air-conditioned rooms. An increasing number of villas in Tuscany are outfitted with this appliance, but not all, so this is a definite plus for the house. There is also a washing machine to launder your clothes and swimwear.
The property contains two bedrooms and one bathroom and can comfortably sleep up to four people. It is a perfect holiday home for a small family or group of friends. You will also have your outdoor pool.
Casa Alla Strettoia is located 3 miles from Servezza, a little village set amid the Garfagnana mountains. Here, you can enjoy fascinating, even dizzying, geological contrasts and explore marble caves. This hilly area will appeal to hikers, climbers, and walkers. The elegant Gallia Palace Hotel will soon open nearby.
A free private rocky beach is only 4 miles from the villa. A shopping center is nearby, where you can buy fresh groceries and other essentials. The property also has a private garden where you can relax and cool down after a day at the beach or exploring the region. It also contains a fully furnished patio if you prefer to eat outdoors.
Pisa is 31 miles away, and Florence is 68 miles away. The train station (1 mile) will get you to both.
See Related: Best Time to Visit Tuscany
4. Villa Giglioli
Located in Forte Dei Marmi, no elegant hotel can outdo this attractive stone villa. The guest rooms feature air conditioning and, perhaps most importantly, WiFi Internet. The latter cannot be taken for granted in Italy. Even the more populated parts of the country are not as wired as similar regions in the United States. If your holiday break does not include a break from being online, Villa Giglioli may be a good option for you.
The property can accommodate up to six guests in three bedrooms and four bathrooms—this is another plus for the villa!
This one is closest to the coast of the Tuscan villas covered here. If you are all in for Tuscan beaches, boating, scuba diving, and beautiful sunsets, they are a mile within your reach. The property is also near local shops where you can buy fresh food and wine. A large shopping center is only 6 miles from the villa.
The train station is 6 miles away, making it easy to get to points throughout the region.
Read Also: Apartments in Tuscany for Rent: Your Gateway to a Rustic Italian Escape
5. Villa Giannella
This is a 900-square-foot stone building that can accommodate up to eight people in three bedrooms and two bathrooms.
The property is located in the southwest corner of Tuscany, in the Maremma region. There is a great deal of variety in this territory. It comprises long beaches, wood-covered black rock hills, marshes, flat lands, and naturally occurring thermal baths. Old Etruscan and Roman settlements dot the region’s landscape, so if you are a history buff or an avid explorer of ruins, you want to visit this place. During your stay, you should, of course, try the local wine and acquacotta soup, which is a food native to the region.
Back to the property. The villa is composed of four separate apartments, two on the ground floor and two on the upper floor. There is a well-equipped common kitchen with enough tableware and cutlery for up to eight people. There is also a fully furnished garden, which is an ideal setting for dining outside, an outdoor pool, and free private parking.
Though it is a rather isolated part of Tuscany—at 99 miles, Rome is closer than Florence, at 114 miles—you can reach larger cities by train.
See Related: Best Towns In Tuscany To Stay In 2023
6. Villa Isola
This is a lovely 1500-square-foot stone building in Massa, Italy. The villa can accommodate nine guests in four bedrooms and two bathrooms. It also offers air-conditioned rooms and WiFi Internet. The Tuscan coast is less than 1 mile away.
In between the mornings or afternoons at the beach, you should take time to explore Massa itself. I have been there and can tell you it is worth the visit. It is a medieval city nestled in the Apuan Alps. Massa is a bewitching city for lovers of art and architecture.
The imposing Pallazzo Ducale dominates the city center and is a great building to look at. You can also explore the Diocesan Museum, which has been around since the 16th century and houses some really great works of religiously inspired art. There is also the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Frances, the Church of San Sebastiano, and the Church of the Misericordia. You should also visit Malaspina Castle, a fortress from which you can see stunning views of the city, the Apuan Alps, and the Riviera.
Read Also: Best Villas Rentals in Chianti, Tuscany
7. Villa Casa Del Colle
This 1300-square-foot stone building can comfortably sleep up to six people in two bedrooms and three bathrooms. It is one of the few Tuscan villas for rent equipped with WiFi Internet. The property has a kitchen outfitted with a coffee machine, microwave, toaster, and refrigerator. There is tableware and cutlery for up to six people. It also has a fully furnished garden to enjoy nice Tuscan weather with family and friends.
The city of Viareggio is only 6 miles away. There is a large shopping center 12 miles away where you can buy fresh produce and other essentials. Pisa is 20 miles, Lucca 16 miles, and Forte Dei Marmi 14 miles. All these can be easily reached by train, and the station is only 4 miles away. The property is only 7 miles from the sea.
See Related: Best Vespa Tours in Florence & Tuscany For 2023
8. Villa Al Lido
This 4000-square-foot property comes with a hot tub, air conditioning, and Wi-Fi Internet. It can accommodate up to seven people in four bedrooms and five bathrooms. However, the size, number of bathrooms, and hot tub are not the property’s best features. The best thing about Villa Al Lido is that it is in Lido Di Camaiore.
Lido Di Camaiore, located on the Tuscan Riviera, is one of the most fashionable spots in Italy. Famous artists, composers, poets, and playwrights have come to this relaxing and laid-back part of the country. People are attracted to its beautiful squares and gardens and the sandy beaches. Lido Di Camaiore is also known for its vibrant nightlife. The waterfront promenade is lined with a generous range of bars and restaurants. The beach is adjacent to the palm-tree-filled promenade. You can take day trips from this area to Piestrasanta, also known as Little Athens, Pisa (40 minutes), and Florence (90 minutes).
9. Villa Verdi
The property is only 2 miles from the Piestrasanta above and 6 miles from Forte Dei Marmi. It can accommodate up to eight people in four bedrooms and three bathrooms. Villa Verdi is pretty much right on the Tuscan coast. If you are into Tuscan villas located close to the sea, this one is certainly an option. There are local shops nearby where you can buy fresh produce and wine.
The villa is well-maintained and well-equipped. The kitchen contains a coffee machine, toaster, refrigerator, and enough tableware and cutlery to serve eight people. There is also a fully furnished balcony to dine with your family and friends in the nice Tuscan weather.
See Related: Best Castles in Tuscany, Italy
10. Villa Ungaretti
The property is a 2,300-square-foot stone building with air conditioning. It can accommodate six people in three bedrooms and two bathrooms. This is another villa on Tuscany’s coast that is quite close to the sea. The property is less than a mile from the famous Marina di Pietrasanta.
The town of Marina di Piestrasanta is a resort area that contains some of Tuscany’s best beaches. It is connected to the older town of Pietrasanta, which was founded in the 1200s. The latter is known as the city of artists owing to its abundance of artist studios. Marina di Pietrasanta has beaches that stretch for miles along the coast. There is plenty of space between chairs and umbrellas, even at the peak of the summer holiday season, so you will never feel like you are on an overcrowded beach (a very unpleasant sensation).
The spaciousness of the beach allows for the presence of restaurants, bars, and snack stands. It is the kind of place where you can spend the whole afternoon. The town is strung along the Tuscan coast, filled with shops, restaurants, pizzerias, cafes, and gelaterias. There are parks and gardens to explore and even a bike path through the historic center of the old town. The summer also brings a full schedule of outdoor events, including concerts, dances, festivals, and cultural programs.
11. Villa Apua
This is another stone building near Marina Di Pietrasanta, only 3 miles from Forte Dei Marmi. It has four bedrooms and two bathrooms and can accommodate up to seven people. It also has air conditioning.
If enjoying the Tuscan coast means lying out in the sun all day, then you will have plenty of space to do so. However, among the many activities you can enjoy in the area are boating and scuba diving. Being close to the coast will also allow you to enjoy the beautiful summer sunsets.
There are shops nearby where you can purchase fresh food. You can also prepare your meals in the fully equipped kitchen, which includes a coffee machine, microwave, toaster, refrigerator, tableware, and cutlery enough for seven people. The property also has a fully furnished balcony for those especially beautiful Tuscan evenings when it is better to dine outdoors.
The train station is 2 miles away. From it, you can reach points throughout Tuscany and greater Italy.
See Related: Best Places to Visit in Italy
12. Villa Acquarella
This 1300-square-foot building has WiFi Internet and can comfortably accommodate up to six people in four bedrooms and two bathrooms. The property is only 5 miles from the beautiful and wonderfully entertaining town of Viareggio.
You should not leave Tuscany without visiting this town, strolling through its narrow streets, taking a trip to the sea in the Darsena quarter, and eating fish in one of its seafood trattorias. Like most places in Italy, Viareggio’s architecture and feel are medieval. The city was founded in 1172 and grew and expanded around a tower linked to the Burlamacca Canal. The city’s fame began when Napoleon Bonaparte’s sister, Paolina Borghese, decided to take a holiday there.
If you love the arts, you will find plenty to capture your imagination in Viareggio. There are the Villa Paolina Civic Museum, the Maritime Museum, and the Cittadella Del Carnevale, a large urban park where papier-mache masters and other craftsmen build gigantic floats for the city’s Carnival.
Speaking of Carnival, the city throws one of the most famous and spectacular events yearly. For four Sundays in a row, floats consisting of caricatures of individuals from the realms of politics and entertainment parade along the city’s promenade. After the parade, the action moves to the districts, where people carry out their more localized customs. The streets are filled with masks, music, and dancing.
The property is also quite near Pisa (19 miles). You can easily reach this city from the train station, which is only 2 miles away.
13. Casa Lelia
This 1200-square-foot stone building has WiFi Internet and can sleep up to five guests in three bedrooms and two bathrooms. It is also located near Viareggio (2 miles), a short distance from Forte Dei Marmi (8 miles). The property also has the advantage of being less than a mile from the Tuscan coast if that is where you plan to spend most of your time.
The kitchen has a dishwasher, fridge, freezer, oven, and coffee machine. Cutlery and dishware are provided for 6 people, and the dining room also seats 6 people. Local shops are nearby for fresh food and wine. A larger shopping center is located 12 miles from the property.
There is also a large terrace to dine outdoors on exceptionally beautiful Tuscan evenings.
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