rndas

Hi, we'll be staying in Greve in early September. We're renting a car in Florence and driving to Greve, staying there for three nights then driving back to Florence. Does anyone have any suggestions for day trips from Chianti? We would like to spend a day checking out Chianti but would like to spend 1 day at least on another excursion.

Thanks in advance!

toscoman

Have you looked at the Greve web site www.greve-in-chianti.com - there are endless excursions detailed there under the Chianti Castles section and Things to See section. You might also want to consider a trip to the Crete Senesi south of Siena, Siena itself, or the Maremma http://www.bella-toscana.com/maremma.htm

jabez

Run a search.
Visit the various Chianti towns.
Go to San Gim and Volterra.
Get a map and try and not plan long distant trips. There's much not too far away.

rndas

Thanks to you both. We get into Florence at about 3 pm via train on the 5th and are driving straight to Greve. B/c of the time of day, I think we'll go straight and check into our hotel. I just realized that the Chianti Classico Wine Festival starts on the 7th. So, rather than spending our first day in Chianti, I think we'll wake up early on the 6th and set off towards San Gim and Volterra or go to Sienna. We're trying not to do too too much, so based on how the distances look on the map and suggestions on this forum, it seems better to do one or the other.

On the 7th, we'll explore Chianti but get back to Greve in time for the festival. We're also staying at the Villa Bordoni so we want to enjoy the hotel as well.

I think traffic might be an issue given that the festival starts that day, so it might be a good idea to not try to go too far away to avoid getting stuck on the way back.

If anyone is familiar with the festival or has any other suggestions, please let me know!