First Trip to Italy. Need Help on Accommodations in Tuscany
Jul 24th, 2015, 03:38 PM
#21
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 6,534
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Weather in le Cinque Terre can be very bad in late Oct/early November. Actually catastrophically bad, in terms of storm-induced landslides and floods. So best to book only something you can cancel without penalty, and study the weather forecast 48 hours before you get there. Don't be afraid to cancel if forecasts show significant rain. You can always find other lodgings in more protected places. You can switch your car rental pick up away from La Spezia or Pisa if you are no longer going there.
Aug 3rd, 2015, 06:37 AM
#23
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yes, aware that weather can be bad in Oct and Nov. I'm okay with that.
Looked at Agriturismo Marciano. Think it would be the ideal location... Unfortunately they are not available the day we arrive.
Like the looks of La Gavina....but do you think it is too far?
I do think Crete Sensei....just south of Siena may be an ideal base. But still having trouble finding a place available.
Areas of interest (although I know we may not get to all)
CHIANTI
SAN GIMIGNANO
SIENA
MONTEPULCIANO
PIENZA
VAL D’ORCIA
MONTALCINO
CIVITA DI BAGNOREGIO
PITIGLIANO - heard its spectacular at night?
Looked at Agriturismo Marciano. Think it would be the ideal location... Unfortunately they are not available the day we arrive.
Like the looks of La Gavina....but do you think it is too far?
I do think Crete Sensei....just south of Siena may be an ideal base. But still having trouble finding a place available.
Areas of interest (although I know we may not get to all)
CHIANTI
SAN GIMIGNANO
SIENA
MONTEPULCIANO
PIENZA
VAL D’ORCIA
MONTALCINO
CIVITA DI BAGNOREGIO
PITIGLIANO - heard its spectacular at night?
Aug 3rd, 2015, 09:20 PM
#25
We too are planning for about 4 days in Tuscany during a trip with longer stays elsewhere in Italy... thanks! ... the above info is very helpful.
Question:
We know that trains don't go to most of the towns, but is it possible (& reasonable to count on) local buses to get to the towns, then some sort of taxi to get to the place we'd be staying?
Or is a car the only reasonable alternative? (In a way, I prefer driving, but the group is trying for a non-driving trip.)
Question:
We know that trains don't go to most of the towns, but is it possible (& reasonable to count on) local buses to get to the towns, then some sort of taxi to get to the place we'd be staying?
Or is a car the only reasonable alternative? (In a way, I prefer driving, but the group is trying for a non-driving trip.)
Aug 3rd, 2015, 11:07 PM
#26
Aug 4th, 2015, 02:43 AM
#27
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 6,534
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
cpelk,
Where are you looking for accommodations? There are so many around the area of Montalcino you should be able to find a quality stay. What are your exact dates?
Elbegewa,
You will have a very difficult time enjoying scenic Tuscany relying on public transportation + taxi unless you plan to spend your entire 4 days in one town or on one farm. How many are in your group? Also, Tuscany is a very large region. Some places have more public transportation options than others. Which part of Tuscany do you want to visit?
Where are you looking for accommodations? There are so many around the area of Montalcino you should be able to find a quality stay. What are your exact dates?
Elbegewa,
You will have a very difficult time enjoying scenic Tuscany relying on public transportation + taxi unless you plan to spend your entire 4 days in one town or on one farm. How many are in your group? Also, Tuscany is a very large region. Some places have more public transportation options than others. Which part of Tuscany do you want to visit?
Aug 10th, 2015, 06:46 AM
#29
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 6,534
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If your wish list is still San Gimignano, Montalcino, Chianti, Siena, Orvieto, Montepulciano, then your best best is to stay somewhere between Montalcino and Siena, around Bounconvento, in the countryside. There are a ton of agriturismi there. If you want to be near a town, check out agriturismi close to San Giovanni d'Asso or Montisi, or Bibbiano or Murlo or Monteroni d'Arbia.
You can put the name of any one of these towns into a google search, and then when you get it on the map, search for "agriturismo near xxxxx." Or you can go to booking.com and look up these towns, and they will give you a range of agritursmi and hotels and apartment rentals, villas, etc in the vicinity.
I would still suggest visiting San Gimignano en route from le Cinque Terre if it remains on your wish list.
You can put the name of any one of these towns into a google search, and then when you get it on the map, search for "agriturismo near xxxxx." Or you can go to booking.com and look up these towns, and they will give you a range of agritursmi and hotels and apartment rentals, villas, etc in the vicinity.
I would still suggest visiting San Gimignano en route from le Cinque Terre if it remains on your wish list.
Aug 10th, 2015, 07:04 AM
#30
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 6,534
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sorry, I didn't see your second list that includes the area around Pitigliano.
It is impossible to see both the Chianti and the area around Pitigliano in the same 4 day trip unless -- and this would really be pushing it, you see the area around Pitigliano before you drop off your car in Orvieto. But it would might make more sense to go see those places and then drive to FCO airport and drop off your car there and take the airport train to Rome.
On the whole, I think you may be misunderstanding why doing a trip to "Tuscany" has become so famous. The scenic countryside and the views are the real draw, and the fascination of so many little small walled towns, indiependent of each other, that were essentially isolated and warring communities in their day, and therefore built to be entirely self-sufficient. So every town has a beautiful church, an important well, and public piazza, city hall, and myriad shops. While it is true that each of the famous ones has some unusual feature -- the towers of San Gimignano, or the grand architectural pretentions of Pienza, etc -- the towns are essentially the same, and if you race around trying to "hit" all the guidebook recommended towns, you can easily miss completely what is the "secret" Tuscany. The "secret" Tuscany is the weather that Tuscans have managed to obtain from the rather difficult terrain of Tuscany, and how their labors have shaped the landscape, and how their lives are geared to the seasons and the weather and understanding how to live there.
So that's a long way of saying it almost doesn't matter where you go in Tuscany if what you experience is the farm, the town, the church, the wine, the aspirations, etc. If you just go gawking and photosnapping along the tourist trail, you might not get the feeling of it.
It is impossible to see both the Chianti and the area around Pitigliano in the same 4 day trip unless -- and this would really be pushing it, you see the area around Pitigliano before you drop off your car in Orvieto. But it would might make more sense to go see those places and then drive to FCO airport and drop off your car there and take the airport train to Rome.
On the whole, I think you may be misunderstanding why doing a trip to "Tuscany" has become so famous. The scenic countryside and the views are the real draw, and the fascination of so many little small walled towns, indiependent of each other, that were essentially isolated and warring communities in their day, and therefore built to be entirely self-sufficient. So every town has a beautiful church, an important well, and public piazza, city hall, and myriad shops. While it is true that each of the famous ones has some unusual feature -- the towers of San Gimignano, or the grand architectural pretentions of Pienza, etc -- the towns are essentially the same, and if you race around trying to "hit" all the guidebook recommended towns, you can easily miss completely what is the "secret" Tuscany. The "secret" Tuscany is the weather that Tuscans have managed to obtain from the rather difficult terrain of Tuscany, and how their labors have shaped the landscape, and how their lives are geared to the seasons and the weather and understanding how to live there.
So that's a long way of saying it almost doesn't matter where you go in Tuscany if what you experience is the farm, the town, the church, the wine, the aspirations, etc. If you just go gawking and photosnapping along the tourist trail, you might not get the feeling of it.
Aug 10th, 2015, 07:09 AM
#31
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 6,534
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
--- sorry for my typo (acutally, the effin' autocorrect -- what should have appeared is
"The "secret" Tuscany is the WEALTH that Tuscans have managed to obtain from the rather difficult terrain of Tuscany.
Today, that "wealth" includes the wealth obtained from tourists who come to see the land. But if you leave yoruself time to wander away from the tourists, to not be aiming for that Fra Angelico in one town, and that set of baths in another, you can get a sense of how hard and ingeniously Tuscans worked with nature before the arrival of the tourists to live off the land and acquire wealth from it (not all of the riches measured in money).
"The "secret" Tuscany is the WEALTH that Tuscans have managed to obtain from the rather difficult terrain of Tuscany.
Today, that "wealth" includes the wealth obtained from tourists who come to see the land. But if you leave yoruself time to wander away from the tourists, to not be aiming for that Fra Angelico in one town, and that set of baths in another, you can get a sense of how hard and ingeniously Tuscans worked with nature before the arrival of the tourists to live off the land and acquire wealth from it (not all of the riches measured in money).
