Castagneto Carducci is an enchanting village nestled in the Tuscan hills. Stroll around the beautifully preserved medieval centre, visit award-winning wineries and bask in the Tuscan sunshine. The town cascades down a hillside and commands spectacular views over the surrounding countryside and shimmering Tyrrhenian Sea.
Things to do in Castagneto Carducci
Castagneto Carducci features a characterful medieval centre crisscrossed with cobbled lanes and alleys. They lead to picturesque squares and sun-drenched terraces with breathtaking views over vineyards, olive groves and the Tyrrhenian Sea.
The village is named after Giosuè Carducci, a famous Italian poet and Nobel Prize in Literature laureate. His childhood home is reimagined as a museum where you can learn more about his life, legacy and works.
Dine at family-run trattorias and enjoy delicious Tuscan cuisine. Order local specialties like “acquacotta” harvest vegetable soup and “fettunta” toasted bread rubbed with garlic and drizzled with extra virgin olive oil. Wild game meats like pigeon, hare, boar and roe deer features heavily on menus in Castagneto Carducci. Pair your meal with a glass of full-bodied red from a local vineyard.
Spend an afternoon in the nearby hamlet of Bolgheri. Wander around the pocket-sized village, explore the centuries-old brick castle and stroll along Viale dei Cipressi, a beautiful road lined with thousands of mature cypress trees.
Day trip to Marina di Castagneto, a lively beach town just west of Castagneto Carducci. Beachfront “lidos” dot the sand and you can rent sun loungers, umbrellas and water sports equipment. Swim in the crystalline water and order refreshing spritzes straight to your sunlounger.
Getting around Castagneto Carducci
Castagneto Carducci is compact and easy to get around on foot. The village is in the Province of Livorno in Tuscany, a one-hour drive from Livorno and two hours from Florence. Trains run between Florence and Stazione di Castagneto Carducci-Donoratico in 2.5 hours. From here, it’s a 10-minute taxi ride to Castagneto Carducci.