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Though a 20-minute ride from the centre (bus 17B), you can’t get lodging in a 16th-century villa any cheaper. Mostly dorms, though 2- and 3-person family rooms are available. The wooded grounds host a campground.

Arrive early in the day at this popular, well-located hostel that accepts no advance bookings. The hostel also offers laundry facilities, a restaurant and internet access.

Set in a coastal park, this villa-hostel offers bike rentals, a beach and plenty of park to enjoy. 11:30pm curfew. Open 16 Mar– Sep; family rooms not available Jul–Aug.

The nuns of St Catharine run this simple but comfortable inn. Many rooms have great views across a narrow valley to the striped Duomo. There are plans to put phones in all rooms and A/C in a few in 2002, so prices may alter. There’s a TV lounge and pay phones in the common rooms.

A 15th-century palazzo in the hills above Florence, a 15-minute drive from the centre. There are rural views from the 31 simple bedrooms. The gates shut at 10:30pm, though the sisters will reopen them to let you back in later if need be.

Located in an old convent, this hostel has 80 beds in rooms for two, four, six or eight people. The management arranges visits to local Etruscan sites. Midnight curfew.

Activies here are geared toward wine production and tasting. It has some family rooms, where the price includes breakfast (otherwise it’s an extra €2). SITA buses stop nearby. Closed Nov–14 March.

Outside the town walls (take buses 59, 60, 3 or navetta 2). A mix of dorms and family rooms, some with private bathroom.

The Benedictine Rule forbids turning away travellers, and so drop-in guests as well as those signed up to the week-long workshops (Easter– mid-Sep) are welcomed. Many rooms have private bath.

A gorgeously frescoed monastery in the hills, offering single and double rooms with private baths (Easter–Oct), and selling honey, herbs and wines.