When touring how do you handle the dead zone of 1-4 in Tuscany?
Aug 17th, 2007, 09:19 AM
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When touring how do you handle the dead zone of 1-4 in Tuscany?
I've always had a difficult time figuring out how to best use my time during the afternoons in Tuscany. Granted many times we enjoy a long lunch. Usually we finish lunch and most things are closed for another hour or two. How do you use that time?
Aug 17th, 2007, 09:23 AM
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In the larger places state-run (national) museums are usually open then. Plan your day's sightseeing in advance based on when things are open; otherwise sit in a bar or gelateria or read in a park. If you're staying in the town overnight you may have access to a hotel pool, even if it's ridiculously hot then.
Aug 17th, 2007, 09:46 AM
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We usually take the time to have a nice leisurely lunch and then stroll around town, taking pictures and leting it all sink in. In bigger towns we just head back to our room for a little afternoon siesta!
Tracy
Tracy
Aug 17th, 2007, 11:49 AM
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It is a good time to take longer, countryside type walks, or drives in between towns. But of course it is always a problem, if a wonderful problem to have.
As said, in larger towns things like major churches or museums, castles and forts are sometimes open. But I've been in towns that were shut up tight. One that comes to mind is Colle val d'Elsa. It is a really charming town, and we walked and rode over every inch of it, and all around the outside too. But I still have no idea what the shops, stores and bakeries are like. I didn't see any of them!
But I walked off the dinner from the night before. DH has it easier: he is a photographer and can always find things to take pictures of.
As said, in larger towns things like major churches or museums, castles and forts are sometimes open. But I've been in towns that were shut up tight. One that comes to mind is Colle val d'Elsa. It is a really charming town, and we walked and rode over every inch of it, and all around the outside too. But I still have no idea what the shops, stores and bakeries are like. I didn't see any of them!
But I walked off the dinner from the night before. DH has it easier: he is a photographer and can always find things to take pictures of.
Aug 17th, 2007, 01:11 PM
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We're planning to be touring the small towns of Chianti and Southern Tuscany and then staying in a villa outside of Barbarino. I'm hoping to combine towns so that after visiting one town and having a leisurely lunch we can drive to the next during the hiatus.
I'm considering Siena with Monteriggione or ? and maybe San Gimignano and Volterra.Any suggestions of other good combinations?
I'm considering Siena with Monteriggione or ? and maybe San Gimignano and Volterra.Any suggestions of other good combinations?
Aug 17th, 2007, 06:51 PM
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When in Rome... take a siesta too. We usually sightsee busily in the mornings, have a latish big lunch, then go back to the hotel to rest for a while. I'm a great advocate of adopting the local lifestyle as much as possible, including eating the local food. It's all part of the experience.
Aug 17th, 2007, 07:09 PM
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Our whole sense of timing changed when we were in Tuscany. We were lucky enough to have an apartment in Montepulciano, so it felt a bit more like home than a hotel.
We'd wake up at our leisure then stroll down to the cafe for coffee and newspapers. Then we'd browse around town, possibly go 'home' for a while to read and relax, go out again for a long lunch, home again for siesta (which was sometimes actually a nap!). Then around 4 the main part of the day would start. We'd usually drive to another town, do a bit of sightseeing or shopping, have a late-ish dinner and drive home. It was lovely and the most relaxing of the three weeks of our trip to Italy.
We'd wake up at our leisure then stroll down to the cafe for coffee and newspapers. Then we'd browse around town, possibly go 'home' for a while to read and relax, go out again for a long lunch, home again for siesta (which was sometimes actually a nap!). Then around 4 the main part of the day would start. We'd usually drive to another town, do a bit of sightseeing or shopping, have a late-ish dinner and drive home. It was lovely and the most relaxing of the three weeks of our trip to Italy.
