5 days in Tuscany

Old Nov 27th, 2005, 08:36 AM
  #21  
 
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Just came back from a cruise that stopped at
Rome, but we took a private day trip to Tuscany and I can't rave enough about Orvieto..oh my...especially on a Sunday when it was market day..we ate at the Eustrician (lamb), we drove through Montepulciano because the shops and cheese place were closed, but stopped in Pienza and did alot of wine tasting.. If you'd like to see the pictures let me know.. [email protected] One of these days I'll go back.. and go through Florence, but I still haven't stopped raving about Tuscany, the air, the sun, the light, the scenery..no malls and such wonderful memories.. I absolutely agree you can't do many towns at once...but we were on a tight schedule..I will never forget Orvieto.. A friend tells me in Pienza there is a hotel or church with a magnificent garden.. The flowers, the cobblestones...yes, i've fallen in love with Tuscany...
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Old Nov 27th, 2005, 08:54 AM
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It looks like I have a couple of options:
1. Be brave and/or crazy and rent a car in Rome on Sunday since some of the offices are open on that day. Then we could drive to the countryside. See what we can on Sunday in Civita and Orvieto. Stay in San Quirico on Sunday night and spend Monday driving the countryside and visiting Sant Antimo Abbey.
2. Take the train on Sunday to Sienna or San Gimignano, spend the night, rent a car Monday morning and spend the day seeing what we can there. I am basing this on reading that more things are open in those towns on Sunday and Monday. Does anyone know if that is the case? Then we could drive to our hotel in San Quirico and spend the remainder of our time seeing the other towns we were interested in. That would mean back tracking to Orvieto and Civita.
Any thoughts on these options? Thanks.
Carol
P.S. I am really enjoying the planning process, but I think I am getting a bit obsessed. I have never checked my email, first thing in the morning, before my cup of coffee!!
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Old Nov 27th, 2005, 09:57 AM
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Carol

Go for Option 1.

Like I explained, most shops in Siena will be closed on Sunday, and many (usually the ones my wife prefers) will be closed on Monday morning also. San Gimignano is not an all day event and shops in near-by Volterra will probably be closed Sunday & Monday morning also. The San G/Volterra area is pretty, but not nearly as nice (IMO) as the Pienza/San Quirico/Montepulciano region. In fact, I think March is the prettiest time to be in the Val d'Orcia.

If you did option 2, you would arrive in San G sometime mid day - and 3 hrs later, you will have seem most of San G that you want to see. Then next morning (Monday) Volterra and Siena shops will be closed so your options would be limited if you were planning to stay in that area and visit these towns. Siena could take up an entire day, and is perhaps my favorite medium sized town in Europe. Visit it at it's best - when the shops are open.

I think you will "enjoy" option 1 the most - with a drive through the Val D Orcia, visit to the San Biagio church (just outside Montepulciano), Pienza, Sant Antimo, Monticchiello, Perhaps a visit to Montefollonico, and the breathtaking scenery in the Val D'Orcia.

Stu Dudley
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Old Nov 27th, 2005, 10:06 AM
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Stu, I'm going to do just what you said. Done!! It sounds perfect.
Thank you, thank you to everyone for your valuable advice. My Mom thanks you too.
Now I need to reserve a rental car and make my reservations at the main attractions. This will be easy, now that I know where we are going
Carol
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Old Nov 27th, 2005, 01:04 PM
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The shops in Orvieto were all opened on Sunday plus there was a flea market with merchants selling new items.. but the fun part was the kiosks to the left of the church selling olive oil, cheeses, sausage,biscotti and there was wine tasting.. There was also a religious revival in front of the church with people playing instruments and others joining in and dancing and singing...The italian pottery, especially with the sun flowers were decorating most of the shops...Just writing this brings me back to that moment. Our driver took us through Montepulciano and the narrow cobblestoned streets, flowers hanging down from the balconies, etc. etc.
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Old Nov 27th, 2005, 04:00 PM
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Wednesday is Market Day in Siena...an unusually large one!
If you do more research on Siena you will find VERY positive comments with loads to see and do...one of the most fascinating, interesting walled towns in Tuscany. The Duomo is considered the most beautiful in Tuscany or Italy, some think! You could spend several days in Siena and not see everything...and it is so central for day trips to other towns.
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Old Nov 27th, 2005, 04:07 PM
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>>The shops in Orvieto were all opened on Sunday<<

That's funny - most of the shops were closed a few years ago when we were there on a Sunday. The ceramics & wine shops close to the Duomo were open, along with a few other tourist oriented stores - but the ones farther back from the Duomo were all closed. Perhaps because of the festival going on, they were open when you were there.

Stu Dudley
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Old Nov 27th, 2005, 04:11 PM
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Carol,

Don't be afraid to rent a car in Rome, if that suits your plans. We used the AutoEurope office near the Vatican. They were very friendly, spoke excellent English, and gave great directions on how to get out of the city and on to the Autostrada. There were only two turns to make from the rental office, and it really wasn't bad.

I just want to echo your choices and offer enthusiasm for following Stu D's advice. We returned from a trip to this region in September, and can't say enough about its beautiful countryside. We took Stu's recommended drives, and they were perfect.

Best wishes, SusanEva
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