curlie

I am a new Fedorite.
We are a couple in our early sixties but we think we are fit for our age. In May next year we are meeting up with a walking tour for 3 weeks. Meeting up in Naples and visiting the Amalfi Coast, Praiano, Capri and then on to Sicily. We are then flying back to Rome or Naples.

We need some help with where to stay in Tuscany afterwards.

We are looking for the following -
-beautiful scenery - mountains or seaside.
-a small village with easy walking distances to restaurants and shops.
-WE are looking at a week or two with moderate price range in a hotel or apartment.
This will be the relaxing part of our holiday as we would prefer not to rent a car. Being close to a train station would be of help.
-living for a while in an Italian village and living the Italian life appeals to us.

Hope you can help us .
.

lancefan

you might want to look at this - www.fienilelecapitozze.com/ my parents are staying there at the moment. They have transport, but I believe there is a bus to firenze (florence) from the village (the people who run the apartments will be able to tell you). Apprarently it is in a nice spot, nice views, just out of the small village. I can get a better report when the folks return from Europe at the beginning of August.

pontoon

I stayed in Greve in Chianti which is only a short bus trip from Florence. It's all the things you wrote about and has some fine eating. In fact I think I had my most memorable restaurant experience just outside of town. We did quite a bit of walking from the town also and found it rewarding. Here is where I stayed http://www.albergodelchianti.it/ which was nice - and with a pool. Let me know if you decide to head that way I can direct you the restaurant.

Nico_in_BCN

Hi Curlie,

for issues like yours I would always recommend an apartment. My brother just went to Florence on a business trip and booked an apartment via www.oh-holidays.com. The location was perfect and he even could enjoy the nice scenery on a day off... However, prices vary and I don't know if May is already high-season...?!

Have a nice trip

bobthenavigator

Good for you !
The Politan apts. in Montepulciano fit your bill, but the train station is not convenient. Train service in Tuscany is very spotty. You would also love Orvieto as a base location and perhaps Lucca if you want a town of about 50000 people. Of course, Siena is always a good base to travel Tuscany with good bus connections.

jrchapma

If you haven't yet posted this question on slowtrav.com, I suggest you do so. Those people have great information for living the slow life in Italy. There are a lot of suggestions there for apartment living. We rented an apartment in Montepulciano this past fall (great town, but I don't think it fits the bill for what you want) and it was wonderful to live like that for five nights. Have a wonderful trip!

curlie

Thank you everyone for all your advice.

For "pontoon"

I have checked out the Greve site and it looks very nice. Yes, we would like to know the restaurant you have recommended - we just love Italian food.


For "bobthenavigator"

Could you give us the email address for the Politan apts in Montepulciano. You say the train service is not too good - how about the bus travel, is this better? We do not plan to do a lot of travelling whilst at our base but a day or two adventures may be great. Thank you in anticipation.

Nico and jrchapma - Having a long list of appartments or hotels to look at is quite overwhelming to us - would you be able to personally recommend some. Thank you.

Curlie from Downunder

curlie

For "lancefan"

Sorry we missed you out of first replies.

Have just been into the fienilelecapitozze web site and it does look absolutely lovely. We would like to take up your offer of a report from your parents when they return - thank you. Something about transport to and from the villa would be useful as we will not have a car. We will not be there until June next year .

bobthenavigator

Try this !
http://www.politian.com/

Also, discover www.slowtrav.com for tons of rental reviews and more.

mauld

I will be in Florence next month and wanted to do a day trip to Greve in Chianti. I also heard that the neaby village of Montefioralle would be a good place to visit. I will be travelling by bus to Greve and heard that Montefioralle is a 20 min walk. Is that correct? Doable ? Is the route easily marked (the village appears to be up a hill). I am in my early 50's and am reasonably fit and like to walk, but then again, I will be there in mid August!

chewy1

We just got back from Tuscany, and Volterra was fantastic. It is no cars, but large enough to walk around and see the town, great restaurants, not packed like some of the other towns in Tuscany, but just large enough to have plenty to see. The have music fests in the square during the summer, great food, pretty churches, and it sits on one of the highest hills in Tuscany, an A plus on our Europe trip

pontoon

Mauld,
Montefioralle is up a hill past some vinyards and I would say more than 20 minutes walk from Greve. It is very small - not even a town really, but the architecture is amazing with the smallest cobbled streets -but the restaurant in the town (not the one on the appraoch road) is outstanding. In Greve there is a taxi and perhaps he could drive you up and walk back down? We rented a scooter in town and rode up the hill. If you look under my previous post above, the hotel gives details of the area and town.

mauld

Thanks for all your help. I just returned from my 'quick' trip to the area and did walk up the hill to Montefiorelle (quite an uphil hike!!). As you mentioned, it was quite small and I hadn't realized but the town is circular around the church. I was there around 10am, and the restaurant wasn't opened yet, so I ended up walking back down to Greve in Chianti and buying some cheese/fruit/bread in the open air market and made my own lunch before catching the bus back to Firenze. PS I had read that the bus was e5.90 each way, (Firenze to Greve), but that is the round trip fare, and the view from the bus through the countryside is fantastic!

cobbie

ttt