Philip

Thanks for comments & suggestions!

10 Texans spending week at villa in Bucine (south of Florence, just west of A1) next May/June 2008. 8 have previously traveled in Tuscany. We will have three cars. We love Tuscany, Tuscans & their wine. Want daily activities/trips with appropriate pool time. I am mostly in charge of putting together daily itineraries and would value your comments on the the below:

A day in paradise ~ Siena with late dinner at Cane e Gatto.

Another day in paradise ~ Florence with tickets to Accademia & Uffizi. Will take train into Florence. Any great restaurant recommendations? Should we try Fiesole same day?

Another ... ~ Volterra & San Gimmie. Have any great restaurant recommendations for lunch?

Another ... ~ Montalcino, Pienza & Montepulciano with lunch/tour at Castello Banfi.

Another ... ~ Il Borro/Ferragamo ... ~ tour area with lunch or dinner at Osteria del Boggo.

Another ... ~ Chianti driving tour including Radda, Greve. Any suggestions for most beautiful drive routes? Any restaurant suggestions? What other towns are not to be missed?

Trying to balance down and active time. Also, trying to hit different areas during each of the day itineraries.

Lastly, anyting to the east of Bucine? We have been to Arezzo and the flea market will not be there during our visit.

Thanks again!

Dayle

Hi Phillip,

I think your day with the Banfi tour and 3 hilltowns is far too much! On this day, I would recommend an EARLY start -

Gregorian Chants at Sant'Antimo
Banfi tour and lunch
Montalcino
MAYBE Pienza if there is still time

Buon viaggio!

tdyls

First thing: make ALL of these trips optional. If people want to laze away the day in the villa, let them. With 10 people it will be hard to force all of them to go to X place.

Second: You've proposed 6 days of activities to occur in 5 days. Why 5? Day 1 will be spent checking into the villa, getting supplies (food, soap, toilet paper, etc.), getting situated, etc. Maybe there will be some time for a brief sightsee in the nearest village. Day 7 will be spent checking out of the villa and getting to your next destination.

You are proposing a LOT of schlepping on this trip. Two or three cities per day for a week? After 3 days people will only be checking off destinations in a mental checklist and not really interested in seeing anything, the least of which being the insides of their rental cars! The whole point of renting a villa is to relax and let the world pass you by. Especially if you want down time/pool time, I would limit the trips to one city per day, maybe two if they are close by and not big (eg Montepulciano + Pienza is ok, but not Florence + Fiesole)

annhig

Hi, philip,

although I've never tried to do what you are doing, my immediate response is to agree with the other fodorites that you're being over-ambitious.

so far as the day in Florence is concerned, however, it is doable. you wil need to reserve very early tickets for the uffizi, which wil take you the best part of the mornnig - we did it in 3+ hours.

Allow yourselves a good two hours for lunch, then book tickets for the accademia for about 3pm/3.30- allowing 30 monutes to walk from the uffizi.

you should be finished at the accademia by 4.30; you can then go up to Fiesole and may be able still to get into the archeological museum - I think it opens til 6, but you'll have to check.

Finally have a drink on the terrace of the bar overlooking the valley; if you have a meal first [the resturant on the other side of the road was quite good] you may be able to watch te hsunset over Florence.

Have a great trip,

regards, ann

jabez

All you propose is doable, but I agree that you need to considerb that simply stopping at a vineyard takes time,so make much of your schedule loose.
I agree with dayle that your Castello Banfi day will really be packed. This is especially true with wine lovers.
Do a search here concerning restaurants and scenic drives.

Ninkette

restaurant rec - Grappolo Blu in Montalcino

bobthenavigator

I just do not understand--I must be slow.
Why locate in Bucine to do day trips to Volterra and Castello Banfi? It makes no sense to me. Have you judged driving times? You have 3 hours of driving and 3 hours of lunch on a day that you want to visit 3 hill towns. I agree with Dayle. Start at 0800 that day--out the drive way---and get to Bagno Vignoni first, then to St. Antimo by 10:30 and then to Castello Banfi by lunch time. Check out the white road that connects those locations. Then, you may have time for Montalcino before you head home. I know these roads---you will spend more time driving than you know.

PeggyE

Castello Barbi had a great, quiet lunch...and in the Chianti area, near Greve & Castellina in Chianti. I don't think you can beat Veranazzo, for the tour & lunch, it was fantastic. Hope you get Gino for your tour guide. Enjoy!

Philip

Thanks! Thanks!

Appreciate comments on Montalcino day. Will eliminate at least Montepulciano. I have always wanted to hear the Gregorian Chants but I have a tough time selling to others. What exactly could we expect.

Thanks and I agree about making optional. We will have three cars so will encourage "pool day" or brief trip somewhere for those tired of touring. Actually, we have two units (a 3/3 and and 2/2) at Tenuta Lupinari Sat. to Sat. Also, the Il Borro day is almost the same as a long dinner.

See ~ I was about to drop Fiesole and then "annhig" does a very good sales job. I think we will have to see how the group feels after a busy day in Florence. The tired people could take the train home after Florence.

Has anybody done the Castello Banfi lunch/tour? I am not sure we should even be driving after 2-3 hours at Castello Banfi. Couple years ago we had lunch at Enoteca Osteria Osticcio in Montalcino. My wife and I joke it was the most expensive lunch we have every had ~ however, we did have a nice case of Brunello sitting at home when we returned.

Thanks "bobthenavigator". We hope to eat again at some of those restaurants you suggested two years ago. Bucine is actually very good for our schedule. First of all Tenuta Lupinari could not be nicer (not to mention excellent value). Close to A1 because the caravan is driving (racing?) down to Positano after our week in Tuscany. My wife and I have done the drive to Volterra and thought it was, hands down, the most beautiful drive we have taken in Tuscany. The other 4 couples have not been there. Sounds like we should consider dropping San Gimmie. Thanks for "white road" information.

Philip

Dayle

Philip,

Re Sant'Antimo: go to www.antimo.it for visiting and mass times.

This was one of the highlights of my last trip. I went to the first Saturday am service. There were only about 10 people there, half visitors and half local worshipers.

The full mass was about 1 hour of serenity in the gorgeous, un-decorated and very ancient abbey. Very special!

I would NOT recommend going for "visiting hours" - that's when the tour buses roll in.....

Highly recommend!

Dayle

PS - if you don't want to sit through an entire hour of chanting - go for one of the other, shorter prayers. You can judge from the schedule and starting times.

annhig

hi, philip,

glad i sold you Fiesole. there's a great monastery there too plus the cathedral but probably a bridge too far.

may I suggest alternating busy days like the florence one, with more restful ones. on the latter you could vinyard in the morning, long lunch, perhaps a hill town or swim in the afternoon, [or reverse am/pm].

this is a holiday, not a tuscan assault course.

regards, ann

bobthenavigator

Yes, we have done the Castello Banfi long lunch with 6 courses all with wine. If you are doing Sant Antimo then have lunch at Taverna Fattoria Barbi on the road from there to Montalcino. It is a better experience than Banfi.

AmanteDelLimoncello

bookmarking for sme good tips, thanks

PeggyE

I agree with bobthenavigator...Barbi was more authentic & the wild boar delicious!

Marycang

The town of Monticchiello to go to the Taverna di Moranda. You will not be sorry. The drive to Monticchiello is beautiful and food at the Taverna is to die for. Enter Taverna de Moranda in the topic search and see what others have to say. Best meal we had in 2 trips to Italy

Philip

Thanks to your helpful suggestions, have modified my suggested itineraries. I will be suggesting either a Simple or a Comprehensive tour. This brought up some additional questions:

1. I cannot find in previous post, the day(s) Cane e Gato is closed. Does anybody know?

2. Volterra Itinerary ~ any suggested restaurants on the way to or in Volterra? If so, do you know day closed and if they are open for lunch?

3. Chianti Itinerary ~ would like to do on Monday because of "laggard" traveler arriving in Florence. Does anybody have suggested restaurant open Monday? Have seen two names that are of interest ~ La Mia Cucina but it apparently is closed Monday and Tenuta Badia a Coltibuono. ALSO, any winery open Monday or for that matter any day that would be fun for us to visit?

Having said above, is this better:

Siena Itinerary ~ leave late for lunch, spend afternoon shopping/sightseeing and finally Cane e Gato. Think want to avoid Wed. because market day. Simple & Comprehensive same.

Florence Itinerary ~ train into town early for Uffizi, lunch then Accademia. Any day except Monday. Simple tourist go home and Comprehensive head to Fiesole for touring and dinner.

Montalcino Itinerary ~ drive early to Bagno Vignoni (cannot find much ~ what is there?), lunch Frattoria dei Barbi and tour Montalcino. Anybody know if Barbi is closed Wednesday (or what day for that matter)? I saw that Banfi is closed Wed. and am concerned that Barbi is also. Simple go home, Comprehensive attend St. Antimo on way to Barbi.

Volterra Itinerary ~ drive in time for lunch on way and then tour Volterra. Simple go home and Comprehensive add San Gimignano. Any day.

Il Borro Itinerary ~ drive after local lunch to Il Borro to tour and have dinner. Simple go home and Comprehensive head to Montepulciano & Pienza prior to Il Borro. Will have to check on day their restaurant is closed but otherwise any day. Comprehensive lunch Taverna di Moranda in Montecchiello (anybody know what day closed?)

Chianti Itinerary ~ tour area stopping in Radda, Greve and Castellina. Anything else that should not be missed?

Sorry so long ~ any other suggestions. Hopefully other travelers will be able to utilize some of this information.

bobthenavigator

http://www.fattoriadeibarbi.net/eng/tav.html

smoot60

bookmarking

Lexma90

A wonderful place for lunch (or dinner) in San Gimignano is Dorando; I believe it's a member of Slow Food. Fabulous food, more high-end, though as I recall, not necessarily high-priced.

In proposing these itineraries to your group, make sure you note estimated travel times, using something like mappy.com or viamichelin.com. For example, mappy says from Bucine to Montalcino will take 1 hour, 19 min. We've found travel times for mappy.com are pretty accurate, though our travel times on side roads are usually longer than estimated.