<BR>Looking for recommendations/options. <BR><BR>Concept was to pick a homebase for four nights to visit hilltowns in Tuscany before leaving for Cinque Terre. Have visited Florence before and was thinking of Siena. Coming into the area around mid-day via train from Venice. Must use public transportation and wanted to plan daytrips that were not too complicated or time-consuming. <BR><BR>What other towns besides Siena and San Gimignano? And how do I get there? Thought Lucca might be an option. <BR><BR>Does getting to Cinque Terre via train/bus involve roughly equal time and effort from both Florence and Siena?<BR><BR>Thanks for the help<BR><BR>Rick<BR> <BR>

My guess would be that Florence is easier via public transportation since it is more of a center. Chiusi is a train hub, but don't know that you would want to base there for four days. Train schedules/times can be found on www.raileurope.com

Hi Rick,<BR>Unfortunately, I don't have an answer for you, but actually have a question for you. <BR>I am planning a similar itinerary as yours and am wondering if you've had any success in finding any accomodations in Cinque Terre (we'll be there mid-May)? I'm having some trouble, but it may be because I'm planning for 6 people. Anyhow, just wondering if you've had any luck in finding anything in Cinque Terre or if anyone else reading this may have some suggestions. I've only been able to secure rooms in Santa Margherita Ligure, which I think may be at least an hour away from CT. Thanks, M.

It really depends on which cities you´re planning to visit. Siena is the major bus hub for its province where most? of the sought after goodies are:<BR>Castellina, Radda and Gaiole in the Chiati district, San G., Montalcino, Montepulciano, Pienza, etc. Lucca is not a good daytrip option, since you´ll need over 5 hours jsut to travel back and forth. For an idea of what you may hit out from Siena, see<BR>http://db.sienanet.it/web/train/Welcome.asp?tratta=2<BR><BR>The site below gives you an idea on the cities you may visit by SITA bus, out from Florence.<BR>http://www.sita-on-line.it/SITA-Toscana/ORARI%20PER%20ZONA/Orari%20SOMMARIO.htm<BR><BR>To these, both for Siena and Florence, you´d have to add the cities that are easily reachable by train (which isn´t the case of most hill towns). From Florence one may visit Pisa, Lucca, Montecatini, Pratoi, etc) quite easily.<BR><BR>From Florence to the CT (Riomaggiore) by train, you´ll need from 2:30 to 3 hours with a change (Pisa or La Spezzia). Out from Siena this would read from 3:20 to 3:50 hours, with 2 changes.<BR><BR>In your shoes, I´d opt for Siena.

<BR>Everyone<BR><BR>Thanks for the feedback and info.<BR><BR>Decided on Siena. Nixed Lucca as a daytrip - didn't realize it was such a long out and back. Still open to suggestions on another daytrip option.<BR><BR>Also having trouble with CT responses on hotels. <BR><BR>Rick

As stated above, being based in Siena will enable you to visit all of its province (mostly by bus, though the train may be more convenient here and there). A full day trip out from Siena that you may consider is Assisi. There´s a daily bus that leaves at 10:25am, arriving in the old town of Assisi at 12:35pm. You may travel back at 5:45pm (at Sta. Maria degli Angeli, down Assisi´s hill), arriving in Siena at 8pm. If you want to maximize your time in Assisi, from Friday through Monday, there´s a bus leaving Siena at 6:35am, arriving at Sta. Maria degli Angeli at 8:35am.