europhile

For our family trip to Italy next summer, we are looking to spend a week in an agriturismo in Tuscany, and also about 4 nights in a coastal town to visit the cinque terre and enjoy some boating excursions to see those iconic views of villages clinging to the shore. During that 11 nights, we'd like to see Florence, Pisa, Siena, Pienza, San Gimignano, and other hill towns. We'd also like to see cinque terre, portovenere, santa margherita, maybe camogli or sestri levante? My question is which 2 locations make the most sense for our accommodations? Does it make sense to see some of the inland tuscany spots from the coastal base (for instance, I know many cruise excursions to florence and pisa start at a coastal town)? Should the Tuscany base be north or south? My initial thought is visiting some northern Tuscany places from the riviera base if they are close, and then doing our agriturismo stay in southern tuscany, but I may be way off on the geography and distances. If this isn't practical and we need to stick to only coastal sites from our coastal base, then where in Tuscany should we stay for the Tuscany sites? I'd love to keep our car travel most days to an hour or less (each way). Can anyone help with a logical plan?

elisgriffiths

You will absolutely love all of the places! For Tuscany, a good place to look at is Lucca, the old city is stunning (one of my favourite places in Italy) and its quite a central location to travel around the region. With the riviera, it's very easy to get from place to place as there is a motorway linking all the coastal towns, and also frequent train services. so wherever you stay along the Riviera di Levante it wont take you too long to travel around. I would definitely reccomend a visit to Camogli, it is without doubt my favourite place on the riviera - its so colourful and has so much character Hope this helps, have an amazing time! You will love Italy!

Elis

bilboburgler

Right lets look at Tuscany a bit

Family (let's assume 4 people of whom two are kids, but you don't say) and I'm going to assume a car
Based in the countryside within an hours travel of Florence, Pisa, Siena, Pienza, San Gimignano, and other hill towns.

Not sure about when you are there but if the summer you need access to a pool.

I'd look at those around Colle di Val Elsa and Monteriggioni though you might find some nicer places south of Siena (along the SR2) it depends if you want to Montepulciano etc a fair bit.

There are some nice agrit. there and also some sites with a pool a bunch of small houses that you can rent. Are you looking to cook or be cooked for?

NB Florence has a no cars zone while Siena has a practical (we don't take cars here zone). Pisa is great on a bike and a real pain in a car, while Lucca is fantastic in a car, you just park outside and walk in.

bobthenavigator

There is no one place that is perfect for your Tuscany base. Pisa is the outlier and I would see it as you transition to the coast. Near Siena would be ideal for the other locations.

europhile

Thanks for the replies so far! We have 5. Me, DH and 3 young kids (5,7 and 9). We definitely need the pool! What would be a logical base to see Florence and Pisa from? Would it be the country place or the coast place?

europhile

Bob- do you have a suggestion near sienna? I'd love to have the option of being cooked for a few nights, or maybe within 5-10 minutes driving of a town with restaurants. Does is exist with a pool and nice views?

zoecat

Here are my suggestions-

Stay the week in southern Tuscany, near Pienza. The area is IMHO the most beautiful part of Tuscany and very central for visiting many towns/villages and sights. A good guidebook should have plenty of suggestions within an hours drive to keep you happy for a week.

This is my favorite place to stay in the area, located just 5-10 minutes from the towns of Pienza and San Quirico d'Orcia. Both towns have plenty of restaurants. Fonte Bertusi is in a fantastic location (incredible views) and is a lovely place to stay (with a beautiful pool area)-

http://www.fontebertusi.it/en/

Visit Pisa on your way to the coast. Skip Florence this time and include it on another trip, when you can spend time based in the city. I feel that Florence as a day trip is not very rewarding (or relaxing).

I think any of your choices on the coast are good, but staying in a CT village would maximize your time exploring the 5 villages, either by foot, train or boat. If you feel the need, then you could also visit the other towns west of the CT via train.

You may want to turn in the car in Pisa on your way to the CT. You can then easily take the train to your CT base village. No need for a car while based there because the train and boat services are very good.

I hope this helps!

bobthenavigator

Look at Terre di Nano and Fonte Bertusi in the country or Palazzo del Capitano in the village of San Quirico.

europhile

Thanks so much for the suggestions. I hadn't even thought of skipping Florence, but I can see the logic. Hmmmm. I'm trying to strike a balance between taking the kids to the must see sites (starting in Rome and ending in Venice), but I also want this to be a vacation. They are little, and nobody will be happy if they are overtired or bored. Maybe it is best to leave that off and then focus on southern tuscany.

bilboburgler

(5,7 and 9)

Changes a lot, in the summer. You want a base with a pool, near a town so mum doesn't have to cook. Loads of nice Fram stays down by Pienza and the valley going north as described above. I'd drop the outliers including Florence (and Pisa) which will just be a mass of tourists. Focus on towns within a max of 45 minutes by car and do them early when it is still cool and you can use the pool all afernoon. End of.

CT for similar reasons you want to be staying in one of the the villages as the steps alone will take it out of you. Alternatively go and stay in Genoa (on the coast lovely little city) and take a few trips out but very limited in range and expectation.

sandralist

Genova is really not a lovely city (I live near there) and a pain with kids. It's very seldom what visitors want as their experience of the Italian Riviera with children.

You say your trip is "next" summer? If you don't mind my saying so, you will probably get extremely overwhelmed if you think about this for a year. I would lay it aside, let the kids get a little bit older, and then see where you are at after Christmas of 2016. Between now and then you will also have a chance to read lots of trip reports from people who took their kids to Italy. Follow the posts of other people asking questions here.

By the way, even in Italy, "mums" are no longer the only family cook in households with small children.

bilboburgler

"By the way, even in Italy, "mums" are no longer the only family cook in households with small children."

yeah, I was taking the p