We will be spending four days in Tuscany in May 2000. Our priorities, as of now, are Florence, Siena, Lucca, Pisa(briefly), and San Gimignano. Are there any other hilltowns that are "must-sees"? There are so many that it's hard to choose by just looking at travel guides. <BR> <BR>Thanks!!

My favorite, after Siena was Orvieto (although an Umbrian hilltown rather than Tuscan). If it interests you, do a search cause I've written aboutit at least twice.

Scott, You can miss Pisa but do not miss <BR>Volterra--my favorite hill town now that <BR>San Gim. has gone Hollywood. Do you plan <BR>to stay in one place to see all of this? <BR>Your choice of locations will be key. <BR>Let me know if you need input.

Scott, I'm concerned that you only have four days. I think you could drop San Gimignano and Pisa and stick with the other three. At least two days in Florence, please! Enjoy.

For the time and aggravation you will spend figuring out what to do with your car on your day trip to San Gimignano, you could probably make it to Assisi and back and enjoy your day more. <BR>. <BR>On the other hand, if you have seen "Tea with Mussolini" (which you need to do, whether you go to San Gimignano or not - - and especially if you want to relive your visit there without all the commercialism), perhaps you will not be able to stay away. <BR>. <BR>The suggestion to spend more time in Florence is wise. Keep in mind that with a car, once again, you will lose some time finding a place to park in the outskirts of town, then figure out about riding a bus into the center and reversing the whole process when you are ready to leave. If you have a hotel IN Florence, you can take your car into the city, so that might be reason enough to consider staying IN the city for one or two nights. It's just about as true for Siena, by the way. <BR>. <BR>And, as others have said, Pisa is good only for stopping to break up the drive into or out of Tuscany (for example, from Cinque Terre or the south of France)- - you may feel like, well if I'm this close I ought go to see "it" (the other stuff at the Campo dei Miracoli is overpriced to enter but they will at least hold your interest longer than the time it takes to wind through Pisa to find it all). Two hours and then move on will be plenty for Pisa. Ironically, at least there is good parking only 200 meters away from the entrance to the Campo in Pisa. They know what they have there - - a "get-in/get-out" kind of place! <BR>. <BR>Best wishes, <BR>. <BR>Rex

I agree with Bob. I discovered Volterra this year and loved it - had the feel of San Gimignano but much more accessable. The tower is interesting (Pisa) but if I had to give something up, that would be it. Lucca is a jewel, as is Siena and of course Florence. Four days is tough - maybe 2 in Florence, and one each in Lucca and Siena. <BR> <BR>Have a great time...

It is very easy to park in the public parking lot right outside the walls of San Gimignano and then walk right in.We like to spend the night at S.G. It is lovely and uncrowded in the evening and the early morning. La Cisterna is a great hotel with beautiful views. Then we would drive to other hill towns during the day. Volterra is not too far away and is interesting, but not nearly as charming.Lucca is farther away, and somehow we didn't enjoy it as much-a long drive, and most of the churches were closed the day we went there.It is very convenient to stay at SG for a couple of days as a base- much quicker to get in and out of than Sienna.We enjoyed following some of the drives suggested in Fodor's Tuscany guidebook. It is more interesting to do that than stay in a town all the time- especially in the springtime.I also would spend two nights in Florence.

I highly recommend that you drop San Gimignano - very big tourist trap and shops charged more as a result. We were disappointed that we wasted a day here. THis is a hill town gone commercial! <BR> <BR>