Tuscany is one of those places where every corner looks like it is waiting to become a sketch. During this creative journey, I focused on two beautiful towns: Pienza and Montepulciano. Both places gave me everything I love about travel sketching: old stone walls, narrow streets, bright sunlight, deep shadows, and people slowly moving through historic spaces. Here are 5 places you should keep for your sketchbook:
All these sketches done with Prismacolor pencils. See my set here. My post about sketching on location with these pencils you can find here.
Passage in Pienza
My first sketching stop was a tunnel in Pienza, and I immediately loved its mysterious atmosphere. The old stone arch, the narrow passage, and the bright opening at the end created a beautiful sense of depth. I tried to capture the contrast between the deep shadows inside the tunnel and the soft light coming from the street beyond it. I love the architecture of small historic towns and the vibes there.
Pienza Cathedral
My next stop was the Cathedral of Pienza, standing beautifully under the bright Tuscan sun. I wanted to capture not only the architecture of the church, but also the sunny weather and the people gathered around it. The facade had so many details, so I focused more on the general impression than on perfect accuracy. The people in front of the cathedral made the sketch feel alive, like a real travel moment.
Amazing View of Pienza
One of my favorite moments in Pienza was discovering an amazing view between two stone walls. When I saw the valley opening in front of me, I was truly amazed by its beauty and serenity. The green hills, soft blue distance, and peaceful Tuscan landscape made me stop immediately and start sketching. This subject was very fun because it had a strong composition: the walls framed the view and guided the eye into the countryside.
Streets of Pienza
The streets of Pienza were full of charm, movement, and warm midday light. I wanted to capture the feeling of walking through a narrow old street, with tall buildings on both sides and people moving naturally through the scene. The challenge here was to create depth and show how the street continues into the distance. I also tried to show the fallen shadows of the midday sun, which gave the sketch more dimension and atmosphere.
Streets of Montepulciano
My last sketching stop on this travel adventure was Montepulciano during sunset. The street had beautiful light and shadow, and the tower immediately caught my attention because of its interesting shape. I loved how the buildings framed the view and led the eye toward the tower in the distance. This sketch felt different from the Pienza sketches because the light was warmer, softer, and more dramatic.
This Tuscany sketching adventure was full of inspiration, from quiet tunnels to sunny piazzas and peaceful valley views. Pienza gave me beautiful architecture, narrow streets, and unforgettable countryside scenery, while Montepulciano added a warm sunset atmosphere and a dramatic tower view. For me, travel sketching is not about making a perfect drawing, but about saving the memory of a moment with lines, colors, and emotion. Tuscany gave me five beautiful memories, and each sketch became a small piece of that journey.
