We have booked a place in Montalcino for 6 nights(in April), hoping that this is a good central place to tour around and see more of Tuscany. Any suggestions on which places not to miss would be appreciated.(incl wineries, places to eat etc.) Also, would we be better off dividing the 6 nights into two places? We will have a car.
Thanks.

I suspect that I was not the first to discover this, but I have cited it often, as has elaine...

Search "kilkelly" here... lots of good threads on places to go, wineries to tour in Tuscany here on this forum, and they always mention kilkelly.com

Best wishes,

Rex

You'll certainly enjoy Montalcino, but depending on where you have to park your car, getting into and out of town each day for your day trips might be difficult. Others will suggest lots of places to see. Personally, I would probably stay in 2 places, Montalcino for 3 nights and perhaps somewhere farther north, near Siena, for 3 nights. Also, you'll have a bit of a winding drive into and out of Montalcino proper before you can reach another road to visit other places. Good luck.

Snshine,
I'm glad your going to be able to see a very beautiful part of Tuscany. Siena, Pienza, Montepulciano, Bagno Vignoni, Sant Antimo, Monte Oliveto
Maggiore, Buonconvento, Murlo.
Here are a few more places to try. Wednesday is market day in Siena(about
300 vendors).
Friday is market day in Montalcino (about 50 vendors). I don't drive to
Firenze; I drive to Buonconvento (10 Min) and take the train. The train
station in Firenze is about five blocks from the Duomo. Avoid some of the
crowd by not going on the weekend or Monday, get reservations in advance for
the Uffizi and Accademia.
I liked Volterra as a nice (a little touristy) hilltown, about a half-hour
west of San Gimignano which is also nice and an easy hour and a quarter
drive north. Orvieto is about an hour and a half south and is wonderful
(take the
underground tour) while there drive another half-hour to Civita di
Bagnoregio (see Rick Steves guidebook for a description). San Quircio d'
Orcia, Pienza, and Montepulciano are all along the same road only a few
miles apart and I always think that I can stop and see each one in a single
day but I never have. I get caught up in the beauty of each town and spend
too much time to see the others.


At the rocca (the fortress) you can sample all the Brunello wines (arguably the top wine in Italy) as well as tour the castle. Try the wild boar and white beans at the Osteria de Cassia (cheap meal). From the circle by the rocca take the road to Sant' Antimo(about 7 Km), after three km is the village of la Croce take a left and dive thru the town (about 150 meters) La Crociona has wine tasting (this is my favorite), the restaurant in town is very good (moderate price). Continue down the road to Sant'Antimo about one km farther you come to the turn off for Barbi (the farm not the doll). Barbi has a pretty good wine (they have tastings) and a good restaurant (little more than moderate). Sant'Antimo is famous for Gregorian chants by the monks (and the fact that the church is over a thousand years old).
Also in the area is Banfi castle (from the circle by the rocca take the road to the right-up the hill-from the road to Sant"Antimo) they have wine tastings and also a restaurant (need reservations and lots of euro).
Farther north on SS2 (about 5 minutes) is Buonconvento. The old section about two minutes west of SS2 is nice but small, several good restuarants here.
Just before you leave Buonconvento there is a turn-of to the east for Monte Oliveto Maggiore (about 10km ) famous for frescos by Signorelli and Sodama. There is an OK restaurant there and it is worth the trip.
West of Buonconvento (about 25 km) is Murlo a restored medieval town.
Speaking of restored medieval towns check out Monticchiello (about half way between Montepulciano and Pienza.
The above is from memory your milage may differ. e-mail if I can help.

Thank you Henry for your detailed report. I have printed it off and am now studying the map. We are renting our car in Florence and will be returning it there also, so I was wondering if it would be better to stay in Montalcino for 3 nights and then move up to Chianti for 3 more. I am really having a hard time visualizing how close places are and now long it will take to travel from place to place.

snshine,
The eight places I started my post with can be reached in 45 min from Montalcino. For a very rough guide I figure one kilometer equals one minute driving (back roads of Tuscany). There is plenty to see and do close to Montalcino and I do not like to pack and move but if there is some place you have been dreaming about, follow the dream.
http://www.consorziobrunellodimontal.../associati.htm
This is a list (with phone numbers) of Brunello producers, you can call and make an appointment for a tasting and tour. It is not possible to try them all (I have dreams too)but you will see lovely countryside and talk to wonderful people.