Favorite Tuscan Hill Town
Mar 23rd, 2007 | 01:06 PM
#3
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
I suspect you'll get a ton of replies on this, each with different favorites.
I'll jump in with a few faves of my wife and me:
1. Montepulciano--hands-down our favorite. Smaller size, nice shops and restaurants, quite relaxing. In southern Tuscany, good for day trips to Montalcino and Cortona (both worthwhile stops).
2. Siena--Piazza del Campo is crowded with tourists, but still work a visit. (Note, this is larger town, but the historic centre is doable in a day or two)
3. San Gimignano--ditto on the tourists, but still worth a visit
4. Pienza--take an hour or two to check out the Renaissance-gem square
5. Cortona--others may disagree, but I think this is good just for a day trip.
While this list has some touristy places on it, there's a reason--they're really worth it. No matter how many tour buses pull up to San Gimignano, it's still pretty cool to see. One of the keys to enjoying towns likes this is to stay overnight. In the evening, after most of the hordes have left, these places are much more serene and enjoyable.
Three days will certainly whet your appetite for more of Tuscany... Enjoy.
I'll jump in with a few faves of my wife and me:
1. Montepulciano--hands-down our favorite. Smaller size, nice shops and restaurants, quite relaxing. In southern Tuscany, good for day trips to Montalcino and Cortona (both worthwhile stops).
2. Siena--Piazza del Campo is crowded with tourists, but still work a visit. (Note, this is larger town, but the historic centre is doable in a day or two)
3. San Gimignano--ditto on the tourists, but still worth a visit
4. Pienza--take an hour or two to check out the Renaissance-gem square
5. Cortona--others may disagree, but I think this is good just for a day trip.
While this list has some touristy places on it, there's a reason--they're really worth it. No matter how many tour buses pull up to San Gimignano, it's still pretty cool to see. One of the keys to enjoying towns likes this is to stay overnight. In the evening, after most of the hordes have left, these places are much more serene and enjoyable.
Three days will certainly whet your appetite for more of Tuscany... Enjoy.
Mar 24th, 2007 | 07:04 AM
#5
Original Poster
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
It is amazing how many people love Tuscany. We are staying in Montepulciano on our way back to Rome but I am looking for a stopover choice somewhere more northern for our first night. We want to see San G. and Siena during those two days. Any suggestions?
Mar 24th, 2007 | 08:11 AM
#6
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,160
Likes: 0
It's nice to stay in San Gimignano. Then you're there when the tourist crowds depart. We stayed one night at the Belsoggiorno and had a room off the first floor terrace overlooking the Tuscan countryside. We stayed on the terrace until late afternoon.
