Certaldo day trip from Florence or Siena
A day trip to Certaldo from Florence or Siena: Piazza Boccaccio in the lower town, then the funicular up to the brick streets of Certaldo Alto along Via Boccaccio, Boccaccio's house, his tomb in the church of Santi Jacopo e Filippo, and after lunch the coats of arms of Palazzo Pretorio. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Certaldo in 1 day
Day 1
Piazza Boccaccio
Main square of the lower town near the station, with a statue of Boccaccio and the funicular up to Certaldo Alto.
Historic centre of Certaldo Alto (Via Boccaccio)
The medieval upper town on its hill, one long street of red-brick houses and towers, quiet and car-free above the modern lower town.
Casa di Boccaccio
Tower house where Giovanni Boccaccio lived and died in 1375, now a museum on his life and the Decameron, with a view from the tower.
Church of Santi Jacopo e Filippo (Boccaccio's tomb)
Romanesque brick church on Via Boccaccio holding Boccaccio's tomb, with a sacred art museum in the cloister next door.
Palazzo Pretorio (Palazzo Vicariale)
Seat of the Florentine vicars, its facade covered in stone and terracotta coats of arms, with frescoed rooms, old prison cells and a garden.
Watch: Certaldo
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
Getting there
Regional trains on the Florence-Empoli-Siena line take about 50 minutes from Florence and about 45 from Siena; by car it is about 50 minutes from Florence. The station is in the lower town by Piazza Boccaccio, where a funicular climbs to Certaldo Alto in a couple of minutes; walking up the steep lane takes about 10 to 15 minutes.
Staying in Florence or Siena? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to Certaldo
Spring and autumn are the best seasons for the Valdelsa hills, with mild days and the grape and olive harvests around town in autumn. Summer is hot, though evenings in the upper town are pleasant; in mid-July the Mercantia street-theatre festival fills Certaldo Alto with performers and crowds. Winter is quiet and some sights keep shorter hours.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Certaldo on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Certaldo on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Certaldo on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Italy from Airalo
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Tips for Certaldo
- Take the funicular from Piazza Boccaccio up to Certaldo Alto and walk back down the lane at the end of the day.
- A combined ticket usually covers Casa di Boccaccio, Palazzo Pretorio and the sacred art museum, which saves queuing at each one.
- Try the red onion of Certaldo, shown on the town's coat of arms, in soups, jams and with cheese in the trattorias of the upper town.
- San Gimignano is about 20 minutes away by car, so the two towns pair well in one day.
- Certaldo Alto empties after the day-trippers leave: stay for an aperitivo and the sunset over the Valdelsa from the walls.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Casa di Boccaccio: Matteo Tani, Public domain
- Church of Santi Jacopo e Filippo (Boccaccio's tomb): bongo vongo, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Historic centre of Certaldo Alto (Via Boccaccio): Chensiyuan, CC BY-SA 4.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
