Weather
You’ll see the last of the sunny and dry early autumn weather by November. Average temperatures in central Tuscany around Florence will have cooler temperatures, between 41-59°F (5-15°C). The mountainous eastern and northwestern regions will be colder, hovering around freezing and temperatures toward the coast will be a little warmer.
November is Tuscany’s rainiest season, especially along the Tyrrhenian Sea, though a cooperative sunny day might inspire beachgoers to don their suits and lie out on the beach (the sea is still warm enough for a dip). So pack your bathing suit (alongside your waterproof jacket and warmer layers) just in case.
Crowds & Costs
There are fewer crowds to compete with as even the shoulder season travelers have returned home. Hotel rates will be over fifty percent cheaper than during the busy season, flight deals can be found, and lines for many famous attractions, museums, and galleries will be much shorter. Though keep in mind, popular cities like Florence, Siena, and Pisa will have their share of year-round tourists.
Where to Go
As November sees a fair amount of rain, now is a great time to turn indoors and give galleries and museums the proper attention they deserve. Most travelers will start or end their holiday in Florence, the capital of Tuscany, to check out the famous Uffizi Gallery, Galleria dell'Accademia (home to Michelangelo’s David), the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio Bridge, and the secret Vasari Corridor, as well as famous shopping streets. Bonus, You'll have your pick of when to visit them, too, as museums in Italy are open 363 days per year.
A classic next stop is heading south to the Museo dell Vino in Chianti to discover winemaking traditions of the Chianti province before arriving in Siena. Its historic city center is one of Italy’s most popular attractions and is famous for its medieval architecture and museums, like the Museo dell'Opera Metropolitana. Further south and closer to the Tyrrhenian Sea is Grosseto and the Maremma area where you’ll be rewarded with complete exhibits covering prehistory, the Etruscan era and the Roman conquest to the Middle Ages and up to the modern age at the Museum of Maremma Archaeology and Art.
And a trip to Tuscany cannot go without a visit to Pisa. Check out Palazzo Blu for its important temporary exhibitions of world-renowned artists and the National Museum of Saint Matthew for a collection of masterpieces, some of which belong to famed Tuscan artists like Donatello and Andrea della Robbia.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
What to Do
Foodies will appreciate a stay in San Miniato for La Sagra del Tartufo Bianco (San Miniato White Truffle Fair). The area is famous for this delicacy and offers both black and white varieties, though come November it’s all about the white truffle, the territory alone produces 25% of Italy’s white truffles. Enjoy truffle-derived products like wine, grappa, pecorino, and olive oil as well as a number of dishes featuring the Cibo da Re (King’s Food)—a must-try is the tagliolini al tartufo bianco. And while here, see if you can arrange to partake in a truffle hunt.
If the weather is less than favorable, while away the gloom in Lucca or Florence and participate in a cooking class to learn to make handmade Italian pasta. Discover why, exactly, handmade pasta tastes better as you learn to make different varieties, as well as pizza and other regional specialties. And if the weather is pleasant, drive along the Tyrrhenian coast, periodically stopping for a dip—the sea especially inviting to those from northern climes—as you venture from one historic center to the next.
Alternatively, if you find yourself in Tuscany the beginning of the month, you’ll want to put on your walking shoes and head to the National Park Foreste Casentinesi in the Apennines for some of the country’s best fall foliage viewing.
Events in November
Ognissanti (All Saints’s Day). On November 1 you can expect shops to be closed and public transportation to follow their holiday schedule. Families get together to go to mass and enjoy lunch followed by schiaccia dei santi and pane dei santi—delicious bread made with raisins, figs, and walnuts.
White Truffle Fair. Tuscany’s most famous truffle event takes place in San Miniato and features recipes, gifts, and truffle hunting highlighting the costly rare fungi.
Musica dei Popoli (Music of the Peoples). This two-month event in Florence, ending mid-November, highlights music from around the globe and includes performances and dances, from folk to contemporary.
Festa della Toscana (Tuscany Day). A regional holiday that celebrates the anniversary of the abolition of the death penalty and torture since 1786. Schools and public offices will be closed on November 30.
Traveling to Tuscany in November? Check out these great itineraries.
Explore Tuscany - 5 Days. November is the perfect month to explore the art and cuisine of Tuscany, with fewer tourists and the harvest in full swing. Discover Rennaissance art in Florence, browse bustling markets for fresh produce and cured meats and stroll through narrow medieval streets to see the 1,000-year-old Ponte Vecchio bridge. Visit Siena, tour a typical Chianti winery, and end your visit with the famous leaning tower of Pisa and Lucca's historic city walls.
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