Hi, five of us (parents and three adult children in 20s) will be renting an apt in Castellina the last week of September. We will get there on a Saturday and I am thinking we will stay in Castellina Sat, maybe drive to Greve or Radda on Sunday. We will probably go to Florence on Tuesday so that leaves Monday, Wed and Fri to see the other towns I would like to see. Those towns include San Gimignano, Volterra, Siena and Montepulciano. Any others I should add that are unique? I thought of Lucca, not sure if we have time. Also, can some of these towns be visited in one day with enough time in each? Thanks for any help.
JoAnn

As for driving time and distances, try the website www.viamichelin.com. You can put in your start point and destination and it will tell you the approximate time and actual distance.

Castellina is in the heart of Chianti and I trust you have a good map that includes the "white roads"--those that are gravel or intermittently paved. These can shorten driving times and take you to many out of the main stream locations, wineries and hamlets. Certainly San Gimignano and Siena will be within reach, Volterra is another 30 mins farther than San Gimignano. Montepulciano will be a reach but probably doable and this would apply to Pienza, San Quirico, Montalcino and smaller villages like Montichiello. It will however be a long drive out and back on the same highway, that is, hard to make a loop out of the route.

As with all driving daytrips, pay attention to your time of arrival in town. Stores are open in the morning but close between 12:30 and 1 and don't reopen until 3:30 or 4. You can arrive and witness an almost vacant town and get completely different impressions depending on your timing. Have fun!

Thanks. I actually do not have a map yet. Which one would you recommend that I purchase? We will have a GPS.

TCI (Touring Club Italia) Toscana map. I don't know if GPS has the white roads.

GPS is helpful but I don't use them for planning. The Michellin maps in Borders for Tuscany can be helpful although they cover much more area than you will be able to enjoy. Still they will give you ideas regarding proximity and scenic roads as well as main highways. Study the maps carefully--there is a lot of info on them which will give you both excitement and a reality base for your travels. Then program your GPS and "Go for it"!

There are very good maps available in the bookstores and Autogrills in Italy--you can make do here and supplement there. Like kybourbon said, the TCI maps are good and available there.

You can plan well with the Michelin # 563 for centro Italy. But, the TCI for Toscana is the best for actual driving off the path in Tuscany.
I see Montepulciano as too far for you as a day trip. Try this

Volterra & San Gim--one day
Siena--a full day
The heart of Chianti--one day
Bagno Vignoni, Abbey St. Antimo, Montalcino--one long day

Get an early start these days since these towns close down for a long lunch from 1300 to 1600

Thanks for the suggestions. What is included in the "heart if Chianti"?

You are getting some great advice but I really do think you need to get a map--then you will understand the logic in the advice.

The "heart of Chianti"--Castellina is more or less in the center of the Chianti district. Greve and Panzano are to the north; Radda and Gaiole to the east and south. Greve has a great wine tasting facility ( Cantina ) and Panzano has the world famous Dario Cecchini (butcher extraordinaire and his MacDario's in the back for a truly memorable lunch). There are other villages and hamlets to explore--Volpaia is a hamlet completely dedicated to the production of wine. Plenty to check out and enjoy.

That's it !
Try to include Badia Coltibuono near Gaiole.

Thanks, these are places I would not have known about. How is the restaurant at Badia Colitbuono?

I have not eaten there--sorry.

Okay, I guess its back to me. Badia Coltibuono is in the hills, tucked into a nice setting with a reputation for making good wine and having a rather elegant restaurant. We've enjoyed a lunch alfresco there once and found it to be very nice. I believe there are tours of the winery and the grounds which include a church and monastery(? ) We poked around but did not do an organized tour but were impressed by the history of the place. The wine produced there is available in the USA and the restaurant is well respected as well.

Where are you staying in Castellina? Be careful in trying to see too much and starting too late. I would not recommend trying to San Gimignano and Sienna in one day if you start at 10AM from Castellina.

There is a great Antipasti trattoria in Castellina. It is not fancy just everything you wanted from an antipasti standpoint. There was also a small Restorante on Rt. 222 before you get into Castellina coming from Tregole that was recommended by the owner of Fattoria Tregole and we were not disappointed. It was comparatively inexpensive.

We were cautioned about driving to Florence during the week as it is very hectic. We drove to Siena and took a bus to Florence. It was easy and much less of a head ache. We could have taken the train from Siena but it would be longer and more expensive.

Let me know where you are staying in Castellina and I will comment further.

We also took a longer ride to Cinque Terra which was bellissimo with very small mountain roads but worth the trip in my view.


You will love the stay in Tuscany.

Gene

babish,

On one trip, we stayed in the tiny village of San Sano in the Chianti region. It is south of Gaolie and 20 min. north of Siena.

One day we did a trip to San Gimignano and Volterra and we did not have enough time in Volterra. This was a long and tiring day.

Another day we drove to Greve and did a leather factory tour and visited Castello di Brolio for tasting.


A

Sorry, something weird is happening here.

Another day we had lunch at La Badia di Coltibuono and it was wonderful! After, we took a tour of their wine cellars and garden, interesting and lovely, didn't take long. Reservations necessary for lunch/dinner.

We also did almost a whole day in Siena.

The Chianti area is beautiful, but the roads are windy so it takes a while to get where you are going. The SG and Volterra in one day was a little too much for my friend and we had to leave Volterra without seeing much. She also gets car sick, so was NOT a happy camper.

You should get a VERY early start for your southern Tuscany day.

If it were me, I would split this week into 2 bases. Less backtracking.

Buon viaggio!

Thanks for feedback. Willem46, We are staying at the Villino Adema, owned by same people that own the Villa Cristina, near the town center. There are five of us, myself,husband and three young adult children. Sounds like maybe I should scale back on places to go and just enjoy what we can see without rushing!
Driving to Siena and taking a bus to Florence sounds like a good idea. Do you remember if buses run pretty regularly? Thanks!

Based on comments about Volterra and SG being too much for one day, which place is more worth while visiting? I think SG is more touristy and I dont mind bypassing that if Volterra is a really cool place to visit. This is a reunion of sorts for our family, my son has been in the Peace Corps in Armenia for 15 months so we are meeting up with him. I want at least some of the week to be relaxing as well! Thanks for your input!

Babish--A lot of your questions will be answered when you calculate the times it will take to drive to your targeted daytrips---use the www.viamichelin.com site--maybe put those "20 somethings" to do the research. Both San Gimignano and Volterra are worth visiting--Volterra is about 35 mins past SG. I'm not sure how long you will take to get from Castellina to SG. A visit to both is a long day but perhaps you should plan to go to Volterra as early as possible and you will have to return via SG and can then make a choice. As you know, shops and sigts will open about 10 am and close for the mid-day at about 1-2 pm. SG is open rather late and actually less crowded 4:30 to 8 pm.

FWIW-I like both places but find Volterra more historic--ancient, medieval and renaissance. It has definitely become more "touristed" with the Twilight emphasis. Your call.
Good luck--Paul

Thanks for the advice. I have another question. We are driving back to Rome on Saturday, Oct 2. Of course we can take the direct route back and it seems like it will take us three hours (driving to airport and leaving car there before going to hotel in Rome). Is there a coastal route that although would take longer, would be really scenic or do you not get to see a lot of the ocean on a coastal route? Thanks

Not really, but consider lunch at Porto Santo Stefano.