Pienza, Montepulciano or Montalcino?
Mar 13th, 2008, 02:12 PM
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Pienza, Montepulciano or Montalcino?
Having trouble deciding on which of these towns to stay in! We'd like to spend some time staying in the center of a village for 2 or 3 nights for under $200. Thinking of Il Giglio or Palazzina Cesira in Montalcino, Relais Il Chiostro in Pienza. Please help me pick a cute town with shops and restaurants. We'll have a car too. Thank you!! Before we are staying in Bevanga, and after heading to Florence.
Mar 13th, 2008, 02:26 PM
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How do you feel about walking up & down steep hills to get to shops & restaurants? If that's a problem, go with Pienza.
Otherwise they are all great places within 20 mins driving of each other. Montepulciano is the largest town, then Montalcino, Pienza is smallest.
Otherwise they are all great places within 20 mins driving of each other. Montepulciano is the largest town, then Montalcino, Pienza is smallest.
Mar 13th, 2008, 02:52 PM
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All of those towns will have enough restaurants to satisfy you for 2-3 nights. I perfer the less touristy San Quirico.
This place is quite popular:
http://www.palazzodelcapitano.com/index_eng.htm
Stu Dudley
This place is quite popular:
http://www.palazzodelcapitano.com/index_eng.htm
Stu Dudley
Mar 13th, 2008, 03:02 PM
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If you have a car, consider a place in an agraturismo villa outside of one of the towns. You can still spend a good amount of time in any (or all) of the towns, but also explore some of the other gems in the area (Monticchiello, Bagno Vignoni, etc.)
We stayed at Le Traverse, and the owners recommended several great restaurants in several of the nearby towns, including our favorite, Latte de Luna in Pienza.
We stayed at Le Traverse, and the owners recommended several great restaurants in several of the nearby towns, including our favorite, Latte de Luna in Pienza.
Mar 14th, 2008, 12:28 PM
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We stayed at Il Chiostro in Pienza and enjoyed both the hotel and the town. The town has a wonderful homey feel especially when all the tourists and day trippers have left and you've got it pretty much to yourself. Il Chiostro has a nice pool which could be a bonus depending on what time of year you're traveling.
Mar 14th, 2008, 01:27 PM
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Hi honeyluna --
We stayed at Il Giglio for our honeymoon a few years ago and loved it! We enjoyed the intimacy of Montalcino, and the view from our large hotel balcony was incredible. The only negative at the time was that it was July and there was no a/c. Not sure if they've updated that...
From Montalcino, we visited Pienza, Montepulciano, and Siena. There is a lot to see and do within an hour's drive...
Good luck deciding!
We stayed at Il Giglio for our honeymoon a few years ago and loved it! We enjoyed the intimacy of Montalcino, and the view from our large hotel balcony was incredible. The only negative at the time was that it was July and there was no a/c. Not sure if they've updated that...
From Montalcino, we visited Pienza, Montepulciano, and Siena. There is a lot to see and do within an hour's drive...
Good luck deciding!
Mar 14th, 2008, 02:41 PM
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Will you be doing daytrips from this stop? If so, I think Pienza is the easiest for getting in and out of. Ditto San Quirico d'Orcia. As I've said repeatedly on this forum, we like either staying either in or on the edge of a town. Then after a day of hard sight-seeing, you can walk to a restaurant for dinner, drink wine, and walk back. No worry about driving impaired, no trying to find an obscure agriturismo in total darkness.
Mar 14th, 2008, 02:53 PM
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we will be doing a day trip to siena, but mostly driving around the val d'orcia area. i think staying right outside a town sounds perfect-any suggestions of places that are like that? thanks!
Mar 14th, 2008, 06:31 PM
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honeyluna,
When is your honeymoon trip again? I stayed at Il Giglio in mid Sept and there was a cold snap. The wind was freezing and I had to buy an extra wool sweater to layer on while in Tuscany. Il Giglio was definitely not too hot then! Being on a hilltop, there is a nice breeze and those thick old walls keep the ancient buildings pretty cool.
When is your honeymoon trip again? I stayed at Il Giglio in mid Sept and there was a cold snap. The wind was freezing and I had to buy an extra wool sweater to layer on while in Tuscany. Il Giglio was definitely not too hot then! Being on a hilltop, there is a nice breeze and those thick old walls keep the ancient buildings pretty cool.
Mar 14th, 2008, 07:08 PM
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I highly recommend the agriturismo Fonte Bertusi, just 2 km outside of Pienza, in the heart of Val D'Orcia. It is my favorite place to stay in Italy. Wonderful hosts and very special. It is easy to get to and perfect for day trips or just relaxing on the grounds and around the pool.
fontebertusi.it
fontebertusi.it
