If you’ve wandered through the Uffizi, said hello to David at the Accademia, and gazed at other masterpieces in Tuscany’s museums, it’s time to head outdoors!
Road trip through the countryside, take a day trip to a nearby city, or go for a walk and discover some of Tuscany’s arte.
I’m a mamma of three based in Tuscany, and we spend plenty of time seeking out art in the great outdoors. We’re happy to share our list of where to find outdoor art in Tuscany.
Some of the places/pieces in the list below are well-known, and others are hidden. All are worth visiting! For each, I’ve also included the location, if it’s free or paid, if it’s stroller-friendly, what to see and do nearby, and the official website (if applicable).
Andiamo – let’s go!
Table of Contents
Map of Outdoor Art in Tuscany
Chianti Sculpture Park
The Chianti Sculpture Park is an outdoor sculpture park that you visit by following a trail through a wooded area. It contains contemporary artwork and sculptures by artists from around the globe.
My children love exploring the circuit, and so do I. Bring a snack or picnic and sit down at one of the benches or in the theatre area.
There are also concerts and events, especially during the summer months – so take a look at the website to see if you can catch one.
Before or after your visit, be sure to drive through or walk around Pievasciata next door (see more below).
Location: Pievasciata
Free/Paid: Paid
Stroller-Friendly: Yes, you can take your stroller along the trail (I have), but there are a couple of exhibits you can’t reach by stroller. For those, you can either walk or skip them.
Nearby: Siena, Chianti villages, Monteriggioni
Info: Chianti Sculpture Park official website
Take a look at my guides to
Monteriggioni
Chianti During the Grape Harvest
And if you’re travelling with little ones, check out
Siena with Kids
Panzano in Chianti with Kids
Radda in Chianti with Kids
Greve in Chianti with Kids
Castellina in Chianti with Kids
Good To Know: There’s another outdoor sculpture park in Southern Tuscany – the Giardino di Daniel Spoerri.
Pievasciata
If you visit the Chianti Sculpture Park, be sure to combine it with a quick visit to Pievasciata, the tiny hamlet next door. Pievasciata has quirky art scattered throughout the streets – like a red phone booth, a painter, enormous red and yellow bell peppers, the couple with their heads in the trees, a gun with a knotted barrel, and more.
Location: Pievasciata
Free/Paid: Free
Stroller-Friendly: Yes, you can take your stroller in the hamlet of Pievasciata. You can also walk to sculptures that are just outside the hamlet, using the small country roads. But, if you’re in a hurry, just drive around in your car looking for them.
Nearby: Siena, Chianti villages, Monteriggioni, Chianti Sculpture Park
Info: public place, open year-round
Giardino dei Tarocchi
If you’re in Maremma in Southern Tuscany, try to work this place into your itinerary. Niki Saint Phalle’s colorful and quirky Giardino dei Tarocchi (Tarot Garden) will likely remind you of Gaudi’s Parc Güell in Barcelona. The sculptures and buildings are made up of mosaics created with pieces of glass, ceramics, and mirrors.
It’s important to book your tickets in advance, as entry is limited and it often sells out.
Location: Capalbio
Free/Paid: Paid
Stroller-Friendly: You can bring a stroller in and see some of the park, but it’s best to leave your stroller if you want to explore all the buildings and sculptures (there are steps and crowded areas). It’s a tiny park, so little ones can walk, or you can carry your baby (or use a baby carrier).
Nearby: Capalbio, Maremma beaches
Info: Giardino dei Tarocchi official website
Check out
Quick Guide to Visiting The Tarot Garden
Capalbio with Kids
Peccioli’s Giants
The Giants of Peccioli are… four giants in Peccioli! These humongous sculptures are one of the highlights of art-filled Peccioli. They rise up from the earth in multiple sites around the town dump – as a symbol of the importance of paying attention to the environment. The heights of the Giants vary, from about 5 to 9 meters. Our favorite is in the Fonte Mazzolo Amphitheatre, and you can reach it on foot from the village. There’s also one on top of a building that you can see from the road (Via Silvestro Lega) and two in the landfill itself (you have to make an appointment to see them).
Location: Peccioli
Free/Paid: Free
Stroller-Friendly: Yes, you can bring your stroller around the village of Peccioli, and even down to the Giant in the amphitheatre. Keep in mind that the area around the Giant is dirt, so if it’s rained, it may be muddy. You can also bring your stroller in the parking lot of the Giant on the building (but you can see it easily from your car). The landfill Giants are best seen with a baby carrier.
Nearby: Teatro del Silenzio (more outdoor art in Lajatico), Dinosaur Park of Peccioli (for hard-core dino enthusiast kids), colorful Ghizzano, San Gimignano, Volterra, San Miniato
Info: Two of the Giants can be seen year-round, while you must reserve entrance to the other two here.
Good To Know: The village of Peccioli has some other amazing outdoor art, so be sure to allow time to walk around before or after visiting the Giants. Our favorites are the rainbow bridge , the man peeking out from the roof of the building, and the cyclist’s mural (both seen from the rainbow bridge).
Castello di Ama
Castello di Ama combines wine and art – what more could you want? This Chianti winery showcases its award-winning wines alongside epic countryside views and contemporary art. My son loves the mirror installation and we always pick up a bottle of wine to bring home (get it in the shop in the hamlet below the winery).
Location: Chianti, near Gaiole
Free/Paid: Free
Stroller-Friendly: No. There are too many steps and cobblestones. If you have a baby that needs to nap, you could carry your stroller into the winery while you taste wines. But, when you go to explore the hamlet and the art, leave your stroller behind.
Nearby: Chianti villages, Brolio Castle
Info: Castello di Ama official website. Some of the art can be seen in the hamlet even if the winery and shops are closed, but it’s best visited when things are open (in case gates are closed).
You may want to check out
Visiting Castello di Brolio with Kids
Keith Haring’s Tuttomondo Mural
Visitors flock to Pisa to see its Leaning Tower, but there’s more to explore in the maritime city. There are a few murals on the streets of Pisa, and the most famous by far is the colorful Tuttomondo (All of the World), on a wall of a church (Sant’Antonio Abate). This was the last mural that Haring created before his death.
We also like seeing the Fallen Angel sculpture by the Leaning Tower of Pisa and looking for smaller paintings and art on city walls.
Location: Pisa
Free/Paid: Free
Stroller-Friendly: Yes, Pisa is stroller-friendly.
Nearby: Lucca, beaches
Info: public place, open year-round
Check out
Top Things to Do in Pisa
Tips for Visiting the Leaning Tower of Pisa
Leaning Tower of Pisa Facts
Pisa with Kids
Leaning Tower of Pisa with Kids
O in Volterra
You can see the ‘Big O’ on your way up the winding road to Volterra. The most famous of local artist Mauro Staccioli’s sculptures, it’s the perfect photo spot. Snap one of it alone and framing the spectacular Tuscan countryside. Or, set the timer and get yourself and your group in the frame!
Location: Voltera
Free/Paid: Free
Stroller-Friendly: Yes, but it’s just a short dirt path from the parking area to the ‘O.’
Nearby: San Gimignano, Peccioli, beaches
Info: public place, open year-round
Big Benches
The Big Bench Community Project was started by an American living in the northern Italian region of Piedmont. Oversize benches are constructed and placed in positions with beautiful views and they’re always accessible to the public.
While it’s now an international project, most of the benches are in Italy, and we have quite a few here in Tuscany. You can see the map of benches and choose one that’s close to you.
Location: throughout Tuscany
Free/Paid: Free
Stroller-Friendly: Sometimes, but you often need to walk on a path to reach them.
Info: public places, open year-round
The Flying Vases
You’re driving down the road and you see up ahead… flying vases? These vasi volanti are one of a few outdoor art pieces on the property of Fattoria La Loggia, on the edge of the Chianti Classico region.
While you can’t tour the property if you’re not staying there or joining a wine tasting, you can definitely appreciate the flying vases from your car or the side of the road.
Location: Montefiridolfi
Free/Paid: Free, if seen from the road
Stroller-Friendly: No. You can see them from your car, or the side of the road. Be careful of passing cars (it’s a tiny country road but cars speed past).
Nearby: Chianti villages, Florence, San Gimignano
Info: Fattoria La Loggio official website. You can see them from the road year-round
Pietrasanta
Pietrasanta is a chic artist’s village known throughout Italy, and there’s always art on display in the main piazza and on the streets – it’s like an outdoor museum. You can also find art galleries scattered throughout the village.
Michelangelo spent quite a bit of time in the marble quarries around Pietrasanta and nearby Carrara, and you can see an amazing mural by the international artist Eduardo Kobra in the marble quarries near Colonnata (reached by a hearty hike).
Location: Pietrasanta
Free/Paid: Free
Stroller-Friendly: You can bring your stroller inside Pietrasanta.
Nearby: Forte dei Marmi (with its famous market), Lucca
Info: public place, open year-round
Be sure to check out
Visiting Forte dei Marmi
Forte dei Marmi with Kids
Forte dei Marmi’s Market
Forte dei Marmi Beaches
Visiting Lucca
Lucca with Kids
David Mural in Carrara Quarries
Michelangelo spent quite a bit of time in the marble quarries around Pietrasanta and nearby Carrara, and you can see an amazing mural of Michelangelo’s David by the international artist Eduardo Kobra in the marble quarries near Colonnata (reached by a hearty hike).
Location: near Colonnata, reached on foot
Free/Paid: Free
Stroller-Friendly: No
Nearby: Forte dei Marmi, Lucca, Pietrasanta
Info: public place
Ghizzano
Ghizzano found its place on the map via Instagram and social media because of the gorgeous colors on the buildings of its main lane. Arrive for it, and stay a few minutes to explore the tiny lanes of Ghizzano, where you’ll find a few more pieces of outdoor art.
Location: Ghizzano
Free/Paid: Free
Stroller-Friendly: Yes, you can take your stroller in the hamlet of Ghizzano. It’s also so tiny that early walkers will be fine (or you can carry them when they need it). There are some stairs off of the main street.
Nearby: Teatro del Silenzio (more outdoor art in Lajatico), Dinosaur Park of Peccioli (for hard-core dino enthusiast kids), colorful Ghizzano, San Gimignano, Volterra, San Miniato
Info: public place, open year-round
Black Roosters in Chianti
To celebrate the 300-year anniversary of the creation of the Chianti Classico wine region, the 9 municipalities of the area were gifted gigantic black rooster statues. Why the black rooster? It’s the symbol of the Chianti Classico wine region (based on the legend of the black rooster).
Look for the statues in:
- Greve in Chianti
- Panzano in Chianti
- Radda in Chianti
- Gaiole in Chianti
- Castellina in Chianti
- San Casciano in Val di Pesa
- Castelnuovo Berardenga
- Tavarnelle Val di Pesa
- Barberino Val di Pesa
- Poggibonsi
Location: Chianti villages listed above
Free/Paid: Free
Stroller-Friendly: You can bring strollers in the Chianti villages, but some of the roosters are on roads so you can also see them from your car.
Nearby: Siena, Florence, smaller Chianti hamlets and villages like Volpaia, Montefioralle, and San Donato in Poggio
Info: public places, open year-round
You may want to check out my guides to
Radda in Chianti
Gaiole in Chianti
Castellina in Chianti
Montefioralle
San Donato in Poggio
And if you’re travelling with little ones, check out
Panzano in Chianti with Kids
Radda in Chianti with Kids
Greve in Chianti with Kids
Castellina in Chianti with Kids
Outdoor Art in Florence
You’re spoiled with art in Florence, indoors and outdoors. Some of our favorite places to see art outside in Firenze are:
- The Loggia dei Lanzi (Piazza della Signoria)
- The Dragon sculpture (Orti del Parnaso)
- Sculptures in the Rose Garden
- The big face sculpture in Boboli Gardens
Best Outdoor Art in Tuscany to See with Kids
Of the above places to see outdoor art in Tuscany, the favorites of my kids (currently ages 3, 6, and 9) are:
- Tarot Garden (amazing colors and reflections)
- Chianti Sculpture Park (great place to see art and run around)
- Pietrasanta (because it combines well with a visit to the beach)
- Black roosters in Chianti (like a scavenger hunt, even if they know where they all are at this point)
- Big benches (who doesn’t love sitting on a big bench?)
- Peccioli’s Giants (combines well with a visit to the village of Peccioli and to the Dinosaur Park for my dino-obsessed 6-year-old)
- Pinocchio Park in Collodi (not on the list, but included for its art path in the park)
Any of these are a perfect addition to a day trip from Florence with your kids.
I hope you enjoy your visits to one or more of these sites while you’re in Tuscany!
And, if you happen to make it to the next region north (Emilia Romagna), don’t miss the mural-filled village of Dozza – one of our favorite art-filled places in Italy!
