Tuscany… a beautiful region of Italy known for it’s food, wine and incredible landscapes. I’ve been to Tuscany’s 3 times and during my first two visits I saw all of the tourist hotspots like Florence and Pisa. It was shortly after my second trip, that social media tipped me off to a semi-hidden Tuscany gem that sent me down a rabbit hole looking for more off the beaten path finds. This is how my friend Mun and I ended up curating our itinerary for my 3rd visit in April of 2025 in search to share Tuscany’s Best-Kept Secrets: A 24-Hour Guide to Hidden Gems!
Arriving in Rome:
We scheduled our rental car pick-up with Europcar for 11:30am on Sunday with a return time of 11:30am Monday so we had exactly 24hrs to maximize our time in Tuscany. The rental cost approximately $231.83 CAD. Europcar upgraded us to a diesel VW golf which in Italy is cheaper on fuel than gas (yes I asked before taking the upgrade.) We opted for full insurance, were given the keys and headed out. The highway was less than 5 minutes from the airport and it was smooth sailing from there. The GPS gave us 3 routes to choose from, all about the same amount of time, options with tolls and without. We chose the coastal route with scenic views and two toll stops that cost €2.50 each. (we lucked out because one of the toll machines was broken so we only paid €1 instead of €2.50.)
Our rental car at the Q8 gas station in Italy on the way back to Rome airport
Civita di Bagnoregio:
Our first stop was Civita di Bagnoregio aka The Dying City located in central Italy. This picturesque hilltop village is incredibly unique and worth visiting imo. We found a parking lot that was €5 for 3 hours and used the nearby public washroom that was €1 . From the parking lot it’s was a 20 minute walk to the city.
Interested in staying in or near Civita di Bagnoregio? Check out these dreamy options here:Places to stay in Civita di Bagnoregio
Pro Tips for Civita di Bagnoregio:
- Painted boxes on the streets of Italy tell cars where not to park, which is the opposite of Toronto where painted boxes tell us where to park.
- Wear comfortable walking shoes
- The washrooms did not offer change and neither did the surrounding vendors so carry coin of different values.
- There’s a yellow minibus you can catch from the nearby gas station that takes you close to the lookout. (we read about this option after.)
The view of Civita di Bagnoregio is beautiful from the overlook and we debated on leaving after seeing the city from there. The weather looked ominous but we figured we came this far we might as well go all the way. Civita di Bagnoregio is accessed by a pedestrian bridge and the only way in or out of the city is via this bridge. The fee to cross is € 5 per person, enforced by a ticket guard at the bridges entrance. The ticket office is close by and the guard will direct you to it.
Us walking in the rain across the pedestrian bridge
It started to rain as we crossed the bridge but we trekked on anyway and our efforts were thankfully rewarded enjoying the city virtually to ourselves. The sun came out shortly after and we were able to dry off as we explored. The city has some hotels, restaurants and stores open for tourists but only 14 permanent residents live in the city. Here are some additional fun facts about the city:
- In the main square, you’ll find a church Romanesque San Donato, was founded in the 7th century.
- “The dying city” sits on a plateau that is slowly sinking into the Calanchi Valley. Erosion, sporadic earthquakes and landslides, constantly threaten the town’s infrastructure and buildings.
Staying in Rome and don’t have a car? You can visit the Dying City through Get Your Guide here: Civita di Bagnoregio
From the time we drove into the city limits until leaving again we spent 2hrs in Civita di Bagnoregio.
Picture of a staircase inside Civita di Bagnoregio aka the dying city in Italy
Orvieto, Italy:
Our original itinerary was ambitious with 3 stops mapped out before our 7:o0 pm hotel check in deadline, however reality set in quickly and we had to pivot. The rain had re-started as we drove and the walk at the dying city took longer than we expected so we adjusted our itinerary by removing a stop. Orvieto was only a half hour detour from our scheduled route so it made sense to keep it. Plus I really wanted to see the Pozzo di San Patrizio (Well of San Patrizio) which, in my opinion was worth the detour so it all worked out!
The Well of St. Patrick was built in the 16th century, commissioned by Pope Clement VII to secure a water supply for Orvieto during a potential siege after the Sack of Rome. Its a truly impressive piece of architecture and whether you’re a history lover or looking for a cool Instagram photo it’s a very unique must see! Here are some fun facts about the well:
- The well has a double helix design with two spiral staircases that never meet, allowing for the simultaneous passage of people carrying water up and down.
- It was designed to ensure a constant flow of water to the town, especially during a siege.
- The well descends to a depth of 54 meters (177 feet).
Public parking was directly in front of the well’s ticket office and the site only cost €6 to enter. We called our hotel and were able to get check in extended to 7:30pm which made my friend a bit more comfortable on our time line. (Our stay was a family owned bed and breakfast but bookable through major sites like Booking.com here.)
Pro Tips for the Pozzo di San Patrizio:
- Wear good shoes and hold the hand rails – the floors can be slippery
- Moss can colour your clothing green
- Hours change by season-
- January, February, November, December: 10.00am – 5.00pm
- March, April, September, October: 9.00am – 7.00pm
- May, June, July, August: 9.00am – 8.00pm
- Tickets
- Adults: € 6
- Students, senior, groups: € 4,50
- Children 0-6 years old: Free
- Animals not allowed
Driving in rural Tuscany:
The drive through Tuscany was absolutely beautiful and I recommend that everyone try it someday if possible. The countryside was peaceful with very few cars so an easy drive for all skill levels. My pro tip advice with a GPS is if you miss a turn, turn around – don’t let the GPS recalibrate because in Italy even the tiniest road is recognized as a road. On route to our hotel we made a wrong turn and ended up in the middle of a farmer’s field. It was hilarious because it worked out but it wouldn’t have been so funny if our car got stuck as the sun set. Although I don’t usually opt for roadside assist this may be one place I’d recommend it just in case.
Agriturismo Podere Giulio:
The picture perfect postcard of what one would think of when visiting a country home in Tuscany. Driving in I loved the Italian Cypress trees that lined the driveway and even though it was muddy from the rain it was beautiful. We found this stay while searching for something close to Bagni De San Filippo, a nearby natural hot springs and Tuscany hidden gem. I’ll circle back to the hot springs in the next section which was only 6 kms from our stay. Ready to book now?! Book Agriturismo Podere Giulio here!
The check in area had a seating section and deli where they crafted charcuterie boards for guests that started at € 25 for a small. Hungry from our days adventure we chose a simple cheese offering that ended up being two pieces of toast with melted cheese on top lol. The bright side was that it was only € 2 each and we didn’t want to eat or spend a lot before bed. We bought a local wine to pair with our food that we enjoyed. The owner didn’t speak english but his son (we think it was his son.) was there and translated for us.
We took pictures and videos of the grounds and were truly sad that we weren’t staying longer. My friend freshened up and then we were on our way to find the hot springs because the sun had already set and we were on borrowed time.
Pool at Agriturismo Podere Giulio
Outdoor area looking at the restaurant/check in area at Agriturismo Podere Giulio
Bagni De San Filippo:
A true Tuscany hidden gem, Bagni De San Filippo was a challenge for us to find. We saw steam in the distance as we neared the baths but the GPS had other plans. We wasted easily 40 mins walking around thanks to iphone maps. It got dark quick and we were about to give up when we saw some old signs that redirected us towards the hot springs. Determined to get a picture at the very least we got in the car and followed them. After all Bagni De San Filippo was our reason for coming to this area.
At last we found the entrance confirmed by a man who was just leaving. He suggested a flashlight because the paths are uneven. We parked on the road that has free street parking. It was a slow downhill walk for about 5 minutes until we came to two rectangular pools. I was underwhelmed to say the least. Fortunately at that moment some local teens came out of the woods and told us that these pools were man made and that the hot springs waterfalls were further along the trail.
I pushed forward determined to complete our quest. There was a small path that branched off so I went to explore while Mun stayed on the main path. During Covid I did a lot of night hiking with my bubble so I felt comfortable on the trails and there was enough foot traffic around us that I wasn’t worried. It led to the river where I saw the hot springs on the other side of the bank in the distance. Even in the dark they were beautiful. Although I could see that there were a few teens in the hot springs pools I realized that crossing the river in the dark would have definitely been a whole other mission and Mun was tired so it was time to turn back. To be fair, at this point, we were essentially trailblazing in a an unknown forest in Italy, in the dark.
After dark shot
Cascate Del Mulino:
We were determined to get the most out of our adventure to find Tuscany’s Best-Kept Secrets: A 24-Hour Guide to Hidden Gems and got up at dawn to arrive at Cascate Del Mulino before it got too crowded. Cascate Del Mulino is the original location that inspired our whole Tuscany adventure. This gem is becoming more mainstream with companies like Get Your Guide now offering day trips from Rome for those wishing to visit without a car.
Book Cascate Del Mulino your day trip here!
We were surprised arriving at 7:30am that there were already several people there. We stayed about an hr then headed on our way back towards the airport.
The beauty of an Aerial view of the hot springs of Cascate Del Mulino captured from a drone
Pro Tips for Cascate Del Mulino:
- Water shoes for use in the pools (There are rocks, pebbles and maybe even broken glass)
- Open 24 hrs
- Arrive early for less crowds
Interested in learning more about our visit to this gem?! Check out my blog here Cascate Del Mulino – the stunning free natural hot springs just 2 hours from Rome
Me enjoying the hot springs 37 C pools sitting in one of the cascading waterfall sections at Cascate Del Mulino near Rome in Italy.
Gas Stations:
Yes gas stations lol. Random right? Mun’s boss mentioned that we should do ourselves a favour and check them out, so we did. Our first stop was a small gas station with a more intimate vibe and DELICIOUS food. The hype on Tiktok is the larger gas stations but our second stop at the Q8 stop reminded me very much of a large truck stop or service centre in North America but with incredible food selections! Q8 was close to the airport and we had to fuel our car rental before returning it. The diesel cost approximately $75 CAD to fill. The route back had 3 tolls. 2 cost €2,50 and the third was €1,50 if memory serves. Overall we travelled approximately 500 kms.
Smaller Gas Station in Italy on the way back to Rome airport from Tuscany
Smaller Gas Station in Italy on the way back to Rome airport from Tuscany
Q8 large gas station in Italy on the way back to Rome airport from Tuscany
Q8 large gas station in Italy on the way back to Rome airport from Tuscany
Final thoughts on Tuscany’s Best-Kept Secrets: A 24-Hour Guide to Hidden Gems:
Our 24hrs in Tuscany truly was a whirlwind adventure but it was one hell of a ride! Venturing off the beaten path was a lot of fun and we found and explored some incredibly beautiful places! I hope you get a chance to also explore Tuscany’s Best-Kept Secrets: A 24-Hour Guide to Hidden Gems. If you do or have already let us know your favourites in the comments! Don’t forget to check out our hotel here!
