You need to be careful of the ZTL zones in Florence (and other towns).

Cortona, Arezzo, Montepulciano/Pienza, Chianti area. What are your interests?

Where will you be renting the car? There may be recommendations for things to see/do along the way to Bucine.

I am always curious why travelers to Tuscany decide on a location first and then ask what to see as day trips from that location. It seems to me that the opposite approach would make more sense.

How did you happen to pick Bucine as your location? I assume you had good reasons. From there, I would add Cortona and Montepulciano as potential day trips.

Bucine is such a beautiful location, and it has such wonderful accommodations, I am not in the least bit surprised that people book there for the very best of what's left of a pure Tuscan experience. Makes me think bobthenavigator isn't really all that familiar with Tuscany. More likely what he knows is "Under-the-Tuscan-Sun" movie Tuscany (and hence his recommendations to head for the most touristy towns) I think there must be ruts in the road from all the tourists who pile into the same tried and true "picturesque" towns filled with souvenirs and other tourists and never explore what's beyond that.

bobc070402,

From Bucine, you are really spoilt for choice as to all the rewarding places to visit -- world class wineries, sanctuaries of St Francis, or the more materialistic pursuits of outlet shopping and some of Italy's very best ceramics shopping, plus beautifully authentic small Tuscan towns like Lucignano or Loro Ciuffeno, or follow the Piero della Francesco "trail" for artwork that takes you into Umbria as well as Tuscany. You can go truffle hunting in the hills in the time frame or learn more about Leonardo da Vinci or Hannibal, or the Etruscans if that's what interests you. Or you can just take scenic drives in all directions and come up with town after town of charm and fascinating history if you like surprises and adventure.

I say, good for you for picking such a scenic location with so much of interest to do!

If you specify what interests you most, some people here do know that area.

Here is a good website listing the lovely towns right around beautiful Bucine to "whet your appetite"!

http://www.abctuscany.com/arezzo/bucine/index.cfm

Ignore the people who say you made a mistake not picking a more 'famous" area.

Civitella val di Chiana is not included on the link that I provided, and it is definitely a town worth knowing about and visiting if you are staying in Bucine.

http://www.val-di-chiana.com/civitella.htm

And San Casicano dei Bagni too. Simply gorgeous.

http://www.val-di-chiana.com/san_casciano_dei_bagni.htm

Sorry -- hit the send button too soon. I wanted to highlight San Casciano dei Bagni as an indication of a beautiful place you could see en route to Bucine, following on a suggestion made above, not as a daytrip from Bucine (too far).

But I might as well add here Anghiari as an interesting day trip from Bucine. Anghiari is only an hour away.

http://www.anghiari-info.com/

It really is comical.
Pull her chain and watch the contrarian attitude pour out.

It would be so much more pleasant if one could just eliminate her (Goldenautumn?-nee Zeppole"s) first paragraph. Great info in the always present follow-ups and links but always surrounded by the vitriol. Its no wonder newbies and others are complaining about the tone of this largely helpful website.
No chain pulling necessary--just trying to help is enough.

It is "contrarian" to correct the impression that there is something weird about booking in Bucine?

And it is "vitriol" to counter the uncalled for sarcasm and ill-wiil bobthenavigator introduced into this thread?

There is no call for anybody trying to paint the original poster as having a bad plan, even if he is your internet "friend" and the original poster is not. Thousands of people first book in Tuscany where they have found a marvelous Tuscan lodging, and why not? The one overriding truth about Tuscany is that it is overloaded with places to go no matter where you pick to stay. The snarky rude response of "bobthenavigator" is just plain ignorant if he thinks there is anything weird about booking in Bucine and going from there.

Right now, there is another thread going on Fodor's where somebody is as excited as a toddler about a last minute trip to Lisbon, less than a week away. That poster bought air tickets even though he was apparently totally clueless about Lisbon and what to do and see there, and is now here begging for any and all information about where to go.

So far, nobody posting in that thread has found it necessary to roll their eyes, shake their head, and wonder aloud in pity about the kind of dunce who books a location and hotel first, and then starts asking questions about where to go. No scolding over there that the "opposite approach makes sense."

As yet, Fodor's very own swaggering, self-styled expert on Portugal "Robert" (followed by some numbers, I forget which) has yet to show up in that thread and tell "mr. go" that he's a hopeless travel dunderhead and ought to stay home or start over some other time, but so far, everybody (including the supposedly awful me) has just tried to help out.

Maybe the rest of you think that when your friend bobthenavigator introduces ill-will into a Tuscany thread, it's OK. I think it should be called out and refuted loudly so that the original poster isn't made to feel badly about their personal choices -- which is what bobthenavigator wants to do.

Bucine is beautiful, as is the area around it. Maybe if bobthenavigator went there sometime he'd mellow out and learn something he hasn't "discovered" yet, and quit being in such a bad mood on Fodor's, or thinking it's "contrarian" whenever anybody finds something in Tuscany or does something in Tuscany beyond of his two inches of experience.

But you miss the point. The OP must of had good reason to book a Bucine location---I concede that. Surely, potential day trips was a factor in that decision.

For the record, I doubt if anyone on this Forum has stayed in more diverse Tuscany location than me over the past 25 years:

Florence---3 times
Fiesole B&B
Chianti agriturismo near Gaiole
Siena
San Quirico
Bagno Vignoni
Montalcino
Montepulciano
San Gimignano agriturismo
San Gimignano hotel
Orbetello
Lucca
Castelnuove Garfagnana

I trust that gives me a fair perspective. And, add to that the 100s of hours of research I have done for perhaps 200 of my clients who also traveled in Tuscany.

BTW, I trust you do know that Mr_Go is one of the best traveled and most knowlegable posters on this Forum. His trip reports are legendary. The quicky Lisbon trip was kept a secret from him until this week so he is cramming now. Do not worry about him--he is a very quick study. And,I have put together some good Portugal materials for him when he visits here in 2 days as he is my son.

What's even more comical is, that after excoriating me several times for suggesting visits to spa towns in Tuscany and Umbria, now she's recommending them herself, as if she "owned" all ideas related to travel in Italy.

Never misses a single opportunity to embed haughty, completely incorrect, put-downs of other posters in her travel info. Never. What a sorry person.

She also was scornful of my recommendation of Bologna as a destination. And less than two weeks later was extolling it as a wonderful place to visit.

And, I have put together some good Portugal materials for him when he visits here in 2 days as he is my son.>>

game, set and match.

bobc - please ignore our internecine squabbling. you've had some great information here, both about the advantages of your chosen location, which sounds lovely, and the snags of trying to drive into places like Florence and Siena.

so far as Florence is concerned, you can get the train there quite easily from Bucine - either direct which takes an hour or so or with one change at Arezzo which takes slightly longer. for Siena, you would need to change again at Florence so it is probably easier to go by car, but watch the ZTL.

Hey gang! What's going on in this thread?

{reads a bit}

Oh. Oh dear.

{heads back to the relative safety of the Lounge}

Thanks to everyone who took the time to reply and for the great info. I was not familiar with ZTL zones, now I do! We chose Bucine based on the recommendation of a good friend who has stayed at there twice in 4 years. We will be driving from Civitavecchia and are planning on stopping at Orvieto in Umbria. There are two couples and we all have been to Italy before and have always wanted to stay in Tuscany and enjoy a slower pace as opposed to the large cities and traditional tourist areas. Wineries, olive groves, cooking classes are on our list along with museums and cathedrals. Our traveling companions are interested in spending time in Sienna. I was looking for something a bit off the beaten path that others have found. Again grazie your comments are very much appreciated and helpful.