Diane

Just returned from 10 days in Italy, including 5 days biking in Tuscany -- had an amazing time. I know people have absolutely raved about Siena (the Fodor's book even calls Il Campo one of the most beautiful piazzas in Italy)... but I wasn't that impressed! Just wondering what other people thought was so amazing -- maybe I overlooked something! I'd even be williing to give it a second chance! (BTW, I visited Il Campo -- large, but not THAT amazing... and I DID find the Duomo pretty impressive...) <BR><BR>Lest you think I'm a curmudgeon... I absolutely loved Pienza, Castellina, Montalcino, Greve in Chiani...<BR><BR>Thanks!

Louis

I'm glad to hear that I'm not alone. Piazza del Campo is nice, but grossly overhyped. However, the interior of the Palazzo Municipale and the Duomo are really outstanding.

Grasshopper

That's why Italy is so great.... there's something for everyone and not everyone loves everything.<BR><BR>Diane, I would LOVE to see a trip report on your cycling. What routes did you take? Was it self-guided? Did you rent bikes? Any unexpected problems or breakdowns?

Capo

Hi Diane. Glad to hear you had an amazing time in Tuscany; we did too. <BR><BR>As for Siena and Il Campo, not everyone is equally impressed by the same thing, be it a city or a sight. I mean, some people don't like Venice and I find that astonishing but, vive la difference! Just because your Fodors book calls Il Campo one of the most beautiful piazzas in Italy doesn't mean that you, or others, have to find it impressive.<BR><BR>Personally, we loved both Il Campo and Siena (we stayed for five nights in Siena only about a half-block from Il Campo.) What I find so wonderful about Il Campo is the scalloped shape, the brickwork, the unique slope (although there may be many others, the only other sloping piazza I've seen in Italy is Arezzo's Piazza Grande), and the harmony of the buildings that surround it. It's also geographically significant, being at the point where Siena's three hills (or ridges) meet.

Diane

Grasshopper -- after much searching online, we found an Italian bike tour company... check them out at cicloposse.com. Run by a married couple, Giulana and Marco, really lovely people, they organized a fabulous self-guided tour for my boyfriend and myself. (check out the self guided tours on the website -- we did the Tuscany tour). <BR><BR>We took the 6-day tour and revised it into a 5-day by cutting out the first day bopping around Pienza -- for time constraints, we wanted to start biking right away. Worked out very well -- we felt very lucky that we didn't experience any flats or other problems! (tho if that happens, they say they can pick you up within the hour or so)<BR><BR>I'll post more of a trip report later (when I catch up with work) -- but the biking was the best part of my trip! What a great way to see the countryside, as well as experience tiny little towns we might have otherwise overlooked. I'll be happy to answer any questions... feel free to e-mail me directly at [email protected].

Bob

Diane --<BR><BR>That's what fun about traveling.<BR><BR>My wife and I loved Il Campo and found it one of the neatest places we've been to, probably 2nd to Piazza Navona in Rome. We loved it. And we climbed to the top of the tower which was incredible!!<BR><BR>But the great thing is people like us are experiencing the same things and deserve the right to critique what we've seen. Not like some naysayers who comment on places they've never been!<BR><BR>Happy trails.<BR><BR>Bob