The northern Tuscany regions of the Garfagnana, north of Lucca, and the Lunigiana, farther north, have breath-taking scenery, great hiking opportunities, castles and small medieval villages and towns. You can still be within day trip range of the coast, including the popular Cinque Terre, and Tuscany cities like Lucca and Pisa.
One of my favorite places to eat in the area, Agriturismo Spino Fiorito, is in the Lunigiana by the border of the Garfagnana. They have inexpensive homemade meals (10 euro complete lunches, 2008) and four nice-looking rooms (40 euro with breakfast, 2008). It's in a beautiful, peaceful setting and has a swimming pool.
For those who prefer central Tuscany, there are many bargains to be had with self-catering vacation rentals, like Le Torri Vacation Apartments and agriturismo lodging. See Tuscany Lodging for a few suggestions. Self-catering is ideal for families or small groups traveling together.
Tuscany has many local festivals and sagra, especially in summer (look for posters announcing these events). Festivals are a free source of entertainment and there's often inexpensive local food, a good place to try regional specialties.
For more on bargain Tuscany, see Can Tuscany be a Budget Destination? on Europe Travel.
