MariaPat

My husband and I are renting a villa in Lucca next June with 4 other couples. We will have 6 full days to include one Sunday to explore the region. Need recommendations on best routes to take. Must does are: to see Siena, wine-tasting preferably at small wineries, and perhaps hiking a little in the Cinque Terre area. Add a little antiquing and non-touristy shopping for me! Which towns can't be missed!! Please help!! Thanks! Maria

beanweb24

We loved Montalcino and Pienza. Definitely spend the time to explore the Fortezza in Montalcino - the view from the top was one of the best we had during our whole trip. And in Pienza, buy a wheel of Pecorino cheese! A whole kilo is about 10 Euros, and it was the best cheese I've ever had...I'm sorry to say that my husband and I ate an entire kilo between the two of us in a four day period (BIG stomach ache)!

Enjoy your trip!

bobthenavigator

From Lucca your options are limited by driving time. Siena is 2 hours and south Tuscany even further. From there, my top list is:
Volterra
San Gimignano[ still a long way]
Pisa
Garfagnana
Cinque terre

Henry

MariaPat'
If the available Sunday is the third Sunday of the month there is an antique market in Lucca (mostly furniture).

ira

Hi Maria,

We wentto Lucca during the antique fair (flea market). Itwas something of a disappointment. I would not arrange my schedule around it.