Easter in Tuscany
 

Hello,

We will be staying in Siena during the Easter holiday. We currently have 5 days scheduled (beginning on Good Friday and leaving the following Tuesday).

Has anyone experienced Tuscany during the Easter holiday and offer some advice on what one might expect (other than tourists everywhere!!!).

Any recommendations on where to attend church on either Good Friday or Easter Sunday?

I believe that we are going to now rent a car to allow us freedom to go as we please. With most places shut down for Easter, should we expect to see the same for Monday following?

I have a preliminary itinerary for the 5 days laid out as such...

day 1 (Friday) - arrive from Florence and site see all of Siena by foot, obviously.

Day 2 (Saturday) - was thinking to drive to San Gimignano for the day and possibly make a few pit stops along the way to see other cities such as Voltare. (staying mostly to the West of Siena)

Day 3 (Sunday) - Easter sunday. with so much closed for the holiday, will probably have to stay within the city of Siena and just site see for the most part. attend church and maybe wonder out with car. are there any towns that are "must sees" for easter?

Day 4 (Monday) - 1) chianti region or 2) Montepulciano/Pienza/Montalcino ... would one area be better than the other as far as being "open" the day after Easter ?

Day 5 (Tuesday) - which ever one we didnt choose in Day 4 above


thank you all for all of your assistance!!! you guys are the best !!!

I've not been there during Easter, so I can't comment on those questions. However, I do have a few suggestions...

On Day 2, include Monteriggioni.

On Easter Sunday, consider the Abbey at M. Oliveto Maggiore. Assisi (about 2 hours by car) might be a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle.

On Days 3 and 4, I'd spend both days in the Val d'Orcia area - there's a lot to see and do there. It's about an hour's drive from Siena.

You are going to need to really nail down what is open and what is not in that time frame. You have plenty of time to do it, but I wouldn't leave it to chance that you will restaurants and sites open.

Yes, the Monday after Easter is an Italian holiday, which adds to your dilemma.

Were it me, I would want to be in the duomo of Siena on Easter Sunday, and it may be very crowded.

Also, the above post suggests you drive all over the map of Tuscany. The fact is that Siena is extraordinarily rich in interesting things to see, and it can be time consuming to drive on winding, 1-lane Tuscan roads. Between now and when you leave, you should look carefully at some maps and be realistic about driving distances, and decide what you most want to see and do. There are 10,000 fascinating things to look at in that area. Outisde of Siena, where I would spend two or three full days, I would pick one or two per day at most.

With Monday being an Italian holiday would it still be a good idea to drive through (and stop) at some cities in the Chianti Region in Tuscany. It appears that our other days are going to go as such...

Friday - Siena

Saturday - Montepulciano/Pienza/Montalcino

Sunday (Easter) - Siena (and drive around the countryside)

Monday - Chianti Region

Tuesday - San Gimignano/Volterra

I would skip Chianti and spend an entire day in the Bagno Vignoni, St. Antimo, Montalcino area.

bob,

even though we are planning on seeing much of Montalcino on saturday during our "three town excursion" you would still skip the chianti region and head south of Siena for the monday part of the trip?

It's the Tuscan countryside you'd want to see and not only the three towns on your "excursion". There are other neat towns and villages too - Monticchiello, San Quirico, Bagno Vignoni, etc and (as Bob suggests) the Abbey at S. Antimo.

I have said before, you should not try the 3 town day. Spend an entire day on the Montalcino loop as I suggested and you will tell me it was your best day when you get back. Do not miss St.Antimo that day, and include the Abbey at Oliveto Maggiore the day you include Pienza---see the routing via Asciano and the Crete region. The star is the countryside and the villages.

bob,

i believe i am hearing you suggest to redo our thinking as far as taking only one day for the montalcino/pienza/montepulciano area and break it up into two. (not doing the chianti region one day).

so would we break it up like ...
saturday - Montalcino loop and St.Antimo

Monday - pienza/montepulciano area and Abbey at Oliveto Maggiore including the routing via Asciano and the Crete region.

Yes, but you pick the days. The only killer would be if the Oliveto Maggiore abbey was closed that day---I know it is from noon to 4 everyday, so stop there enroute to Pienza in the AM.
The drive itself is worth the trip. Start in Bagno Vignoni for :30 enroute to St. Antimo on your Montalcino day.--be there by 11:00---and then spend the PM in Montalcino.

Here are pics that may get you excited--some of the Tuscany shots were in April--see the green spring wheat.
http://www.slowphotos.com/photo/show...y.php?cat=3827