2 distinct areas of Tuscany
 

We have 7 days to spend in Tuscany. I love the look of La Saracina outside Pienza & the Villa Casalecchi in the Chianti area. One is a farmhouse, one is a Villa. Are these 2 good spots to pick? Mainly for doing day trips and getting a different atmosphere, country versus hilly. Or am I all wrong?! I can't tell the distance between & am just trying to gather all the info I can to make a memorable decision. Thanks!

please help.......

Peggy, you are right. Around Pienza, you can visit the Abbey of San Antimo, San Quirico d'Orcia, Bagno Vignoni, Montalcino, Montepulciano, and more.

You can tour the Chianti area, and maybe make a trip to the Casentino forests, or even to Arezzo, from Chianti. I think it is a nice idea and that I would do it if I had a week as you do.

I would spend 4 days at La Saracina, and 3 days in Chianti. Both areas have about equal access to Siena.

On the way from one to another, visit San G and Volterra.

The region south of the Val d'Orcia (Pienza area) is quite nice also - Pitigliano, Sorano, and Sovana.

Orvieto is less than an hour away from La Saracina.

Stu Dudley

Ditto the recommendation for La Saracina. Per StuDudley's suggestion, we stayed there 4 nights May 2005 and we're returning May 2006. The location can't be beat, the day trip opportunities are ideal, & the service is wonderful.

Thank you so much!! Our last stop would be Venice for 3 days so from the Chianti area we can see enough of Florence (reasonably) on a day trip? Do you know what the approx. drive time would be from the Chianti region to Venice? Too much for a day? I am ordering maps etc. but before I book the hotels I mentioned I'd like to get an idea. You have been so much help. I knew nothing about Italy a week ago! I love studying new places. Grazie.

Here's a thought. We've stayed both in Tuscany and Umbria several times. Our suggestion would be to stay in an area (Niccone Valley) that straddles both Tuscany and Umbria. Don't sell Umbria short, since it has not received the "hype" that Tuscany has in the past decade. Umbria is gorgeous, has fewer tourists, and is much greener than Tuscany. Highlights of Umbria include Assisi, Gubbio, Perugia, and Deruta (for ceramics). Again, however, both regions are great, but consider a villa rental that makes it convenient to try bits of each.