wrenwood

After "tweaking" our schedule a little we have 3 nights unbooked for our fall trip to Italy.

This is somewhat of a repeat of a trip 4 years ago.

I have booked

7 NIGHTS IN ROME ~ The last time we never got to Galleria Borghese, Catacombs, Jewish Ghetto area, or Ostia Antica, so those are on the itinerary along with a second visit to The Vatican & Scavi, and to Palatine Hill, Roman Forum and Coliseum.

3 NIGHTS IN RAVELLO ~ We loved our B&B there (Punta Civita) so we are going back to the same place. We will visit Pompeii from there for a second time, this time we will get a guide. The other day hopefully a walk on Path of the Gods which we never got to do.

We then have 3 nights unbooked on the way from Ravello to our agriturismo in Montichiello. Even those it will be the "wrong" time of the year (early October) I really want to see the Piana di Castelluccio di Norcia. So we're looking for a nice Agriturismo/Hotel/B&B/Town near there. Spoleto or somewhere else? I THINK we would prefer to stay in a small town or in the country, but you might change my mind!

What else to do in this area?

We would like to visit Assisi, we could do either from this "yet-unknown- base" or from Montichiello where we will stay for 4 nights.

4 NIGHTS IN MONTICHIELLO ~ Again we will stay at the same place (Terre di Nano) where we stayed before. We never made it to Cortona, so along with Assisi, those would be new places to visit. We might go back to Siena. While there 4 years ago we visited Montepulciano, Montalcino, Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore, The Abbey of Sant'Antimo, Castello Banfi Vineyards, Pienza, Orvieto and the Church at Sant' Anna in Camprena. We also drove to Deruta and went shopping for ceramics. Any place that we missed in this area come to mind?

So, I would love some suggestions for those 3 nights, 2 1/2 days!

wrenwood

Help Help Help

Can't figure out which town would be the most fun to stay in or near, too many choices

bobthenavigator

My son loved Genius Loci near Bevegna and Montefalco.

zoecat

The tavern in Castelluccio offers rooms for rent- check their website. I've never stayed there but I have eaten there and it was wonderful. Spoleto is a nice town and would be a good base for exploring the area. Norcia also.

I use the Touring Club Italy guidebook for Umbria when exploring the area. The driving tours and suggested visits are excellent. I don't think they've updated the book for many years, but the touring info is still relevant. I highly recommend you get a copy. There are many wonderful villages and drives in the area.

When in southern Tuscany, consider a visit to Sorano and Pitigliano. Also, the towns on Mt. Amiata. Thrre are many small villages near your base that are worth visiting and the drives on the white roads are beautiful. I also enjoy the easy hiking on the white roads. In addition, you might enjoy visiting the Abbey of San Galgano.
http://www.sangalgano.org/ENG/

Michael

I would stay in Spoleto; Norcia did not have much when we stopped there, admittedly a long time ago--but the drive was beautiful.

valnerinaonline

If you want to stay a Norcia, or near Norcia, you can check some verified hotel facilities here:
http://www.dormireanorcia.it/

or some events and some thing to do in Valnerina here:
http://www.valnerinaonline.it/

Bye!

wrenwood

Bob, Genius Loci looks lovely, I sent them an email. I've also sent an email to an agriturismo outside Spoleto.

And I bookmarked http://www.valnerinaonline.it/ to check out events closer to the time we will be there.

Michael, I came to the same conclusion, I don't think we'll stay in Norcia, I think somewhere between Spoleto and Bevagna makes sense. But I can't wait to drive through that area!

zoecat, before I had read your post I had looked in one of my mailboxes I set up named "Next time Italy" .................and there was the Abbey of San Galgano

I did not know anything about Sorano and Pitigliano, they look like a possible stop for our last day when we leave Terre di Nano to head back towards FCO, Thanks!

The villages I find mentioned near Mt Amiata are Santa Fiora, Abbadia San Salvatore, Pitigliano, and Radicofani. Any favorites?

zoecat

I would add Piancastagnaio to your list for Mt Amiata. Pitigliano, Sorano and Santa Fiora are my favorites. But, if stopping on your way back to Rome, I think Santa Fiora is a bit out of the way. Sorano can be a quick visit (unless you are like me and can't stop taking photographs of the town), so plan on the majority of your time for Pitigliano. There are some good lunch choices in Pitigliano.

By the way, in the fall, unlike the Val d'Orcia, Maremma stays green and is a lovely area.

wrenwood

Thanks Zoecat, excited about that area (had to Google Maremma) looks like a wonderful region to explore from Terre di Nano!

Piancastagnaio ~ are there chestnut trees there?

zoecat

Yes, there are chestnuts. They have a festival but I'm not sure when. The old town is set on a hillside and although not much going on, it's a nice visit. There's an outstanding restaurant across the street and up the road from the town old gate. I think it has the name of Anna in the name. Check tripadvisor, I'm sure it's listed.

wrenwood

Thanks zoecat

Yep, just plain "Anna" ~ looks like a winner

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...o_Tuscany.html

By the way I also love to take photos so any of those towns you found especially photogenic, keep me posted.

Anyone been to Carsulae? Worth a stop?

Michael

Norcia does have a nice central piazza, rebuilt after a recent (1980s?) earthquake.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...57622914730403

wrenwood

Are those your pictures Michael?

Michael

yes.

wrenwood

Lovely, I really like the bridge in Gubbio with the laundry hanging from the house windows.

I've been second guessing myself and wondering if we should skip Norcia at the time of the year we will be there (early October) and think more about the area around Gubbio.

Too many temptaions!

Michael

That's when we did our trip through Tuscany and Umbria, with a side trip to Urbino. It was truffle season and we took full advantage of it. I recall ravioli stuffed with truffles in Gubbio, and my wife and a fantastic plain spaghetti dish with shaved truffles on top (the dish was black) in Orvieto.

zoecat

I suggest not skipping the Norcia area. I have done many trips to Umbria and the Norcia area is one I never skip. Gubbio is also a great visit, but don't miss the Piano Grande near Norcia!

wrenwood

Yea, Gubbio and points north and east should probably be a whole trip in itself.

Originally I had planned on driving through Norcia/Piano Grande on the way from Ravello, but I think that may be too much. I think we're going to stay near Bevagna, and that's a 4.5-5 hr drive with no stops from Ravello.

So I need to figure out a "loop" day trip from Bevagna incorporating Norcia.

wrenwood

Bob, we are booked at Genius Loci for 3 nights! More $$$ than I had planned on spending, but it just looks so wonderful, thank you! Mary was so nice to work with on emails, answered so many questions, just lovely.

So, 4.5 hrs from Ravello to Bevagna, I'm thinking maybe we stop at Cascata delle Marmore on the way? Anyone know of a good lunch spot there or in the area? I would love someplace small or out in the country so we don't have to worry about parking and a town.

When we arrive at Genius Loci my guess is after we have checked in we will head to Bevagna, Spello, or Montefalco for exploring and for dinner. Any suggestions for dinner?

One of the full days we will head to Castelluccio and Piano Grande. And meander back through villages?

The other full day? More villages? Scenic drives?Assisi?

We could save Assisi for when we leave Genius Loci and head for Terre di Nano, but maybe that's not enough time?