KRK

Thanks to all who posted to my earlier message...We are honeymooning in Rome, Positano, Florence and Tuscany next May. I have seena lot of suggestions for all of the above places excpt for Tuscany. We would like to spend 3 or 4 days in the countryside and are flexible about where...suggestions for places to go and hotels please...thanks!

jj

There is a website somewhere about "agritourism" in Tuscany. I would highly recommend you start there. I have seen and had lunch, but not stayed, at many of these agritourismo places and all have looked very inviting- Kind of like a B&B.

ann

Your honeymoon itinerary sounds a lot like our own. We just spent 2 weeks in Florence, Chianti, Rome & Positano. For our Tuscany (Chiani) portion we stayed at the Hotel San Sano which we loved. It is in a tiny village (I mean tiny) near Gaiole but we loved it. We took daytrips from there (Siena, San Gimignano, vineyards) and would go back in a heartbeat. It is not super luxurious but quite nice. There are lots of other small hotels, inns & castles in the area (and throughout Tuscany for that matter) and I'm sure you can find something you'd like at all ends of the price spectrum. I've heard Locanda dell Amoroso is great if you want to splurge . . .

Wayne

Locanda dell'Amorosa is a special place, perfect for a honeymoon splurge. Make sure you request a room with a countryside view. Dinner is special at their restaurant. Another great dining experience is La Frateria in Cetona. Expensive but one-of-a-kind experience at this retreat.

me

You have to at least check out www.italyby.com... they have tons of agritourismo, castles, bed and breakfasts, ANYWHERE you want to go in Tuscny. Too many and too beautiful to make a decision! I thought San Gimignano was fab!

Mustang

Try Tuscanhouse.com. Zak handles some great villas in Tuscany and he is great to work with.<BR><BR>My daughter got married in Florence and I rented a villa from tuscanhouse for both families.<BR><BR>Also, Parker Company has a catalog with upscale villas and castles.<BR><BR>Ann-we have rented a villa in Gaiole. We will be driving in from Rome getting of Gaiole at dusk. Do you recall if there is a Ipercoop or a Coop in that area so we can get some supplies?<BR><BR>

MH

We stayed a week in Tuscany recently (mid-Oct) in this place called the Relais Villa O'lmo in Impruneta. This is just 10km south of Florence, which we thought was a good place to base ourselves.<BR><BR>The view was good, but not spectacular. Slices of Tuscan countryside, but not really as far as the eye can see because on the one side it faces the town of Impruneta. The other side, yes, glorious Tuscany countryside.<BR><BR>We booked it off TuscanyNet.com if I don't remember wrongly and costed us Eur550 for a week - which was quite a steal! We found it convenient and accessible and we drove alot through this incredible countryside.

Myriam

We recently stayed at Fattoria Il Colombaio (www.fattoriailcolombaio.com), 10 min. walk from Monteriggioni and very centrally located to explore Tuscany. The fattoria was a brandnew 4* luxury farmhouse with only 6 rooms and 2 appartments with all modern amenities, pool, large vineyard. They only serve breakfast (extensive buffet breakfast). Even for the apts, they rent them for a few days also.

Jill

We rented a farmhouse for the week near Gaiole, this was a perfect base for exploring central Tuscany. I would recommend a stay at Castello di SPaltenna in Gaiole, it was a monastery now a wonderfully appointed small hotel with a restaurant that is amazing (3 stars from michelin).<BR><BR>Anyway, from Gaiole you can get to Florence in 40 minutes, Greve, Radda, Castellina are all short jaunts. We day tripped south to Montalcino, Montepulciano, and Pienza - about 1 1/2 hrs., and siena is about 35 minutes. <BR><BR>Check out slowtrav.com for more refences and tons of information on everything! Good luck.

Pam

A word of warning. We just returned and did stay at the Antinori Estate. While it looked quite inviting..they booked a tour group of 20 wine importers in the rooms above us. This group was loud, drunk and really imposed themselves on all of us. While I understand the vineyards also have to do business, it seems they could do well to separate those on vacation from those being wined to excess for business.Also, folks who stayed in the main house (there are several houses) said the acoustics were bad..so bad they felt they were in bed with the folks next door. The estates are also referred to as Fonte di Medici.

Alice Twain

The site JJ refers to is probably www.agriturismo.regione.toscana.it, which lists all agritourisms in Tuscany and gives telephone numners and e-mail addresses (where available) so that you can directly contact the owners in order to book or just get some informations.

RQ

We stayed at La Locanda Le Piazza in Castellina in Chianti for our honeymoon. Great B&amp;B - Great central location. Had some of our best meals in town. Booked everything using e-mail. very convenient

Paula

We just returned from Italy and stayed at a beautiful winery called Casaila della Aiola in a tiny town about 12 Km north of Siena. Beautiful views and nice rooms with large bathrooms. It was about 93E a day included breakfast. You can find them on tuscanynet.com

jack keruac

For Florence, look at www.genie.it/utenti/carlo.nocentini<BR>If you have a car, daily trip in the whole Tuacany. No more than 1 hour from the maior towns.