Around San Gimignano - If you had to choose
Aug 26th, 2006, 06:53 PM
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Around San Gimignano - If you had to choose
We're leaving on Sept. 1st and I thanks to all of you I have most of it figured out. Here's where I'm a bit stumped.
If you had to choose 2 small towns for a day trip from San Gimignano... would you pick
Volterra
Colle Val d'Elsa
Casole d’Elsa
Monteriggioni
one that I've missed
The drive shouldn't take more than 30 minutes since we'll want to be back in San G by 3. We've already planned a day in Chianti and a day in Pienza and Montalcino.
Thanks for anything you can suggest.
If you had to choose 2 small towns for a day trip from San Gimignano... would you pick
Volterra
Colle Val d'Elsa
Casole d’Elsa
Monteriggioni
one that I've missed
The drive shouldn't take more than 30 minutes since we'll want to be back in San G by 3. We've already planned a day in Chianti and a day in Pienza and Montalcino.
Thanks for anything you can suggest.
Aug 26th, 2006, 08:53 PM
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I'm not sure that I'd call Volterra a "small town" - I think it's bigger than San Gimignano, but it would be my no. 1 pick. It's a bit austere, but I like that, I guess, and the Etruscan museum there is great. It's west of San G., unlike the other towns you've listed, so it wouldn't make sense to combine with any of those. Oh, and the drive between Volterra and San G. is gorgeous.
Monteriggioni is a little jewel of a town, and I would second the lunch idea. But it is truly tiny; you can enjoy all that's there in less than an hour.
Colle Val d'Elsa; we've visited it twice, and it didn't do much for me either time. I can't tell you why; the town just didn't click.
Certaldo is another nice little town, worth a short visit, but you'll probably drive through on your way to and from Chianti.
Monteriggioni is a little jewel of a town, and I would second the lunch idea. But it is truly tiny; you can enjoy all that's there in less than an hour.
Colle Val d'Elsa; we've visited it twice, and it didn't do much for me either time. I can't tell you why; the town just didn't click.
Certaldo is another nice little town, worth a short visit, but you'll probably drive through on your way to and from Chianti.
Aug 27th, 2006, 04:25 AM
#6
I stopped at Colle Val d'Elsa as part of a bike tour. While the lunch at a little hole in the wall place was amazing, and the visit to a glass etching shop was pretty interesting, I really would've rather had time to see Monteriggioni properly.
Aug 27th, 2006, 07:34 AM
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Thanks Fodorites for helping me, this is some great info. We only have one day, so I was thinking 2 small towns would be about right before we head back to see San G (after the crowds have subsided a bit).
We'll have 4 days in Florence and 5 days in Venice so I'm thinking we'll get our fill of "bustling and crowds".
I'd love to find "quaint, charming" places - my perception of Montefioralle (near Greve) and Volpaia (near Radda) and Pienza.
I had originally planned on Volterra. The more I read about it, the more I thought that it might not fit the "quaint, charming" barometer.
We'll have 4 days in Florence and 5 days in Venice so I'm thinking we'll get our fill of "bustling and crowds".
I'd love to find "quaint, charming" places - my perception of Montefioralle (near Greve) and Volpaia (near Radda) and Pienza.
I had originally planned on Volterra. The more I read about it, the more I thought that it might not fit the "quaint, charming" barometer.
Aug 27th, 2006, 07:51 AM
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I liked Colle Val D'Elsa but remember to go to the old town on the hill, not the modern one. YOu can park outside the walls at the upper gate and enter through there. There are two excellent restaurants and a really nice bakery where they bake fresh Siena cakes.
Volterra is very interesting also. Between Colle VDE and Volterra you can stop at hand sculpted alabaster factories which are interesting.
Volterra is very interesting also. Between Colle VDE and Volterra you can stop at hand sculpted alabaster factories which are interesting.
Aug 27th, 2006, 12:27 PM
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You leave soon so may have already made your decision, but thought I'd offer an opinion. We stayed in Florence this summer and did a day trip to Monteriggioni, Volterra and San Gim. By far, Volterra was our favorite. Monteriggioni was wonderful but very small and could be visited easily within an hour. Volterra was not as crowded as San Gim. The higher altitude made it cooler and dryer. The alabaster was fabulous. Alab Arte was our favorite. So I would recommend Volterra -- a true gem of a town.
Aug 29th, 2006, 06:06 PM
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Three more days!!! I finally feel like I've got the options all figured out. I'll report back when we come home.
Thanks to everyone who added their 2 cents worth. I enjoyed every bit of it.
Ciao,
Terry
Thanks to everyone who added their 2 cents worth. I enjoyed every bit of it.
Ciao,
Terry
Aug 29th, 2006, 06:14 PM
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iwannago2,
If your still around to see this post, where are you staying in Venice and Florence? And when will you be back to post your trip summary? I'm leaving in about 3 weeks myself, so would love to hear about your trip. We are doing the smae places including Rome and Tuscany...........
BB
If your still around to see this post, where are you staying in Venice and Florence? And when will you be back to post your trip summary? I'm leaving in about 3 weeks myself, so would love to hear about your trip. We are doing the smae places including Rome and Tuscany...........
BB
