zootsi

We are visiting Tuscany and or Umbria or Le Marche this September, and would love some recommendations on places to stay. This is what we are looking for:
Since we live in a rural area, we don't need to be out on an remote farm/villa, but would prefer a 1 bedroom apartment for a week in or just outside a charming town. Since it will be late Sept, a pool is not an issue, however we are avid bicyclists and would want to be somewhere convienient to biking the back roads of the countryside.
Any recommendations for 2* hotels or b&b's in central Florence and Bologna are also welcome!

Lily

We stayed in Montepulciano for a week last May and enjoyed it very much. You can see the apartment at www.politian.com. Your best to go to www.slowtrav.com and read their vacation rental listings. This is how we found the Politian apartments. I often dream about going back.

constant

This great little place is under the walls of Montefioralle which has a lot of charm: http://www.greve-in-chianti.com/forese.htm - for shopping you're near Greve (which also has charm although distinctly less), and you're placed on a number fo great short and long Tuscan back road bicycling routes.

jd_dallas

We agree completely with Lily about the Politian apartments and want to add that Montepulciano is both a delightful town to stay in and a good base for exploring. I don't know about bike rentals, however.

vallenuova

If you're thinking about northern Le Marche have a look at this place, near Cagli http://www.le-marche.com/rental/html/pieve.htm