Fabbrica di Peccioli

In the gently rolling hills of Tuscany, Fabbrica di Peccioli is tiny town in a great location. Developed as a castle town outpost for Pisa, it was passed over to Florence after Pisa's defeat in the Middle Ages. The Romanesque village church of Santa Maria Assunta dates back to the 1200s, and still serves the community of faithful today. The adjacent bell tower tolls out the hours and rings merrily to announce Mass and village celebrations.

Fabbrica is small but has the necessities for daily life: a small grocery store, a fruit and vegetable shop, a coffee bar, a restaurant, a butcher shop, and a pharmacy. The town's pizza is the hub of civic life, and little lanes radiate off of it.

Outside town are quintessential landscapes of olive groves, vineyards and fruit orchards. There are trails and country roads that are perfect for tranquil walks or bike rides. Not far is the spa town of Casciana Terme, where you can relax in the hot mineral-rich waters of natural hot springs.

Fabbrica is in a good position for seeing the main sights of Tuscany. Within about an hour you can visit Pisa, Lucca, Voleterra, Livorno, San Gimignano, Florence and Siena.