packmybags

We are arriving in Tuscany in mid September from the U.S. and will be jet lagged. We will have 3-4 nights to decompress and just enjoy the area before meeting our friends. At that point we will start touring Tuscany by car ( 3-4 days), then CT, and then 3 nights in Florence. So, for the first few nights of our trip we'd like to go someplace low key where we can unwind, enjoy a small town not too far from Florence without doing much or any driving. We'll have time to tour the hill towns in the next leg.

Any ideas?

Jean

What is the group's plan for the 3-4 days in Tuscany? Where will you be staying and what towns do you plan to explore?

And are you sure 3 nights (2 days) in Florence will be enough time for you to see/do all that interests you?


Without knowing what you'll do later, my first thought would be Montecatini Terme which is close to Florence (less than an hour by train) and IMO has many things to occupy you for 2-3 days without a car, esp. if your primary goal is to relax.

http://www.turismo.intoscana.it/allt...to-see-and-do/

tonfromleiden

Or go to Lucca, a medium-sized city with excellent rail connections, where you can relax if you want to, or use as a base for exploring things around - such as Pisa - if your energy levels are back to normal.

packmybags

Jean, for the group part of Tuscany we are planning to see Volpaio, San Gimignano, monteriggioni, and Lucca, and of course nearby towns to those. Thanks for your helpful suggestions.

HappyTrvlr

Head east then to Cortona or south to Siena, Pienza.,, etc

Jean

Volpaio near Grosseto or Volpaia near Radda? I'm hoping you mean Volpaia near Radda....

Is this your base in Tuscany or are you staying in more than one location in your 3-4 days?

Montecatini Terme would be different from the others you're visiting. It's not what I would call 'small' although the historic town at the top of the funicular (Montecatini Alto) is tiny.