Leaving for Tuscany in 3 weeks!
 

Back again to report that we leave on our trip in less than three weeks.

We are three families ( our two sons, 4 grandchildren ages 7, 6, 3 and 6 months) and we are all gathering together at a Villa rental in Tuscany for a week. It is a celebration for my wife's Birthday and each of us are using this opportunity to travel before and after in Italy. Our plan includes four days in Riva Del Garda and two days in Ortisei in the Dolomites and three days in Casperia after our week in Tuscany.

I would appreciate all suggestions for the following:

1. Restaurant suggestions in Montalcino, Pienza, Siena, Montepulciano and any other towns in the vicinity of Montalcino where our Villa is located

2. Activities for children other than the typical tourist attractions in the area.

3. Suggestions on how and where to celebrate our "Birthday girl "!

Thank you.

How about getting a cook to come to the villa for the birthday night, and that way you don't have to worry about the small kids in a restaurant, and you can start as early as you like?

Sorry I can't give you a personal recommendation, but you can start with google, or perhaps contact a local cooking school with a good reputation for a recommendation.

Consider going to Da Mario in Buonconvento (near Montalcino) for lunch at some point. Nice break from the hilltowns with fewer tourists but a lot of charm.

The children are so young, it is hard to think of what they might enjoy in Tuscany other than didactic farms with animals (ask your landlord for help finding some or do google searches). I would make a point of going to the nearest small town town with a piazza in the early evening, purchasing a soccer ball, bringing a deck of cards and small toys and hanging out with the locals. Bring small flashlights for the kids so they enjoy going into churches and looking at the art. Small binoculars are nice to pack too, which are fun for the kids looking at the Tuscan views as well as church ceilings.

You are not too far from the Abbey of San Galgano and its sword-in-the-stone legend. It's a beautiful ruin, and it could make a nice morning excursion. Not too far away there is the river Farma to swim in (and hot springs too, in Petrolio), but I don't know if they are suitable for kids.

http://www.mapitout-tuscany.com/2013...n-Tuscany.html

Kids are probably too young for most of these scientific-oriented excursions, but you might find somehing browsing through this site:

http://brunelleschi.imss.fi.it/itineraries/

I'm assuming you'll have a car in Riva del Garda, so I'd like to suggest you not neglect some of the beautiful, untouristed areas northeast of there in the Trentino. Leaving Riva del Garda, consider taking a scenic route to Ortisei via Andalo, and stopping for lunch above Lago di Molveno at this agriturismo, which has a small restaurant that is open for lunch with a beautiful view, and homey local food

http://agriturismomolveno.com

Here's more info about swimming in the Farma river:

http://www.turismo.intoscana.it/site...ature-Reserve/

http://www.poderesantapia.com/walk/e...ledelfarma.htm

Once again sandralist your suggestions are wonderful!

Hey, it's Italy. It's easy.

This may help:

GOOD EATS IN TOSCANA

I have never been called “ BOB THE FOODIE” , but here are some of the best places to eat in Tuscany based on feedback from many of my clients. Reservations are suggested for most!

$=inexpensive $$=moderate prices $$$= expensive

FLORENCE:
Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco $$ Across the river & very good.
La Giostra $$$ Excellent, but you must book in advance

SIENA:
Osteria Le Logge $$ Great place for lunch and near Il Campo
Cane e Gato $$$ A fixed price & menu for a true feast—allow 4 hours

LUCCA:
Buca di San Antonio $$ Best in town and near San Michele
Il Giglio $$ In the piazza of the same name---favorite with locals

SAN GIMIGNANO:
Il Pino $$ Very good typical Tuscan fare
Le Vecchie Mura $ Good value for a tourist town

MONTALCINO:
Taverna Grappolo Blu $ Popular with locals as well.
Ristorante Poggio Antico $$ Excellent cuisine 5km south of town at winery location
Enoteca Osteria Osticcio $ Best wine tasting & small meals in town

MONTEPULCIANO:
La Grotta $$ Near San Biagio church & very good
Café Poliziano $ Great place for lunch on shopping street
Osteria Acquacheta Best bistecca in Tuscany

PIENZA: Latte du Luna $$ Best choice in this charming village

BAGNO VIGNONI: Osteria del Leone $ Good lunch choice in this spa hamlet

MONTICCHIELLO: La Porta $ Charming place with outside terrace

SAN QUIRICO: Trattoria al Vecchio Forno $ Good food & fair value

Grazie Mille Bob!!!

Question: I will be driving from Malpensa Airport to the Hotel Kristal Palace in Riva Del Garda and have received two routes to take: one that takes you up the eastern part of the lake and the other the western. Which route do you suggest?

My family enjoyed Zest restaurant in Siena. If it's a nice night, you sit on the steps of the street, which is sort of unusual and fun. http://www.zestsiena.com/en/home/

We also like La Taverna di San Giuseppe. Great food and a lively atmosphere. http://www.tavernasangiuseppe.it/index-eng.htm

Antica Osteria da Divo is another favorite. You eat in caves carved by the Etruscans.
http://www.osteriadadivo.it/eng/foto...ria-grotta.htm

Since this is a busy time, you should consider making reservations in advance. Have a wonderful trip!

Sandra and Bob's advice is great.

A vote for getting a cook in make complete sense, the owner/agent maybe able to suggest options.

This might interest http://www.monteolivetomaggiore.it/ just to the east of Buonconvento and at one time one of the 4 holiest places in christendom. Now it houses a restaurant and a working/visitable monestry. On the road there from Buonconvento there were a couple of good restaurants (use good old google) not been there in a couple of years so not sure if they are still good. I remember the Picollo one was exceptional with a large family do on and they let me and Mrs Bilbo (covered in dirt and bicycle dust) have a table in the corner for a great lunch

Any specific suggestions or experiences with hiring a personal chef for a night? The company I am renting from quoted us a price of 562 - 700 euros to shop, prepare, cook and clean for 6 adults and 3 children.

We had two good dinners in Siena at Ristorante San Domenico (the place next door, Il Pomodorino, was recommended by our hotel, but the line was too long) and at Ristorante Grotta Santa Catarina http://www.ristorantebagoga.it/

Morbidi was great for lunch http://www.morbidi.com/morbidi and it's close to Kopa Kabana for some outstanding gelato.

Lee Ann

That looks to me like a good price for all you are getting for the fun and relaxation of eating a home cooked meal, especially if any of the kids (or adults) are not wild about unfamiliar food because you presumably get plenty of input on the menu. Not clear to me if wine is included in the price, but if not, I would still view it as a fair deal. My feeling about going with the rental company's recommendation is that they already have an investment in making you happy, and you a clear path to communicating your wishes. It would be a double plus if their cooks had previously done large dinners at the villa, since they will know what to bring, how to set up, stove capacity, etc. without you having to give them access to the villa in advance. If your rental company regularly arranges for large dinners at the villa, makes sense to me to just go with their crew. If they are doing this for the first time, I might continue to shop around. There are surely plenty of people in Tuscany in the catering business.

I'd do the quick test.
1) is local wine included (en vrac in Tuscany will be splendid)?
2) what the cost of taxis to move 9 people to and from a restaurant on the basis that no one wants to not drink (vary according to family views on booze etc)
3) generally vegetarian's eat cheaper than meat eaters, is this an issue for the deal?

E600 doesn't sound so bad, if the villa has great views this could be a wonderful meal. It is probably worth asking for a proposed menu after mentioning anything you guys want (cake etc)

CONSIDER THIS PARTY:
we've stayed in quite a few villas in the Chianti area over the last 20 years, and have found that in most of the villas the caretakers will happily shop/prepare/cook/serve/cleanup for you... or be able to recommend a local person that does it... they typically charge 12-14 euro/hour, and for 9 people might tell you they need 2 people to prepare, so you'd be looking at approx 24 euro an hour... they typically do not provide the "celebrity chef" presentation, but they're usually very good cooks, present you with more authentic cooking, and tend to be less then half the price of the personal celebrity chefs that cater to the villa crowds... you need to consider a couple hours to shop/ and usually in the neighborhood of 4 hours to prepare, cook, clean, etc... so maybe 6-7 hours at 24 euro plus the food & wine... and certainly less expensive then aglow-out meal in a restaurant... we've done these types of parties outside on the Terrace at villas and used the savings to hire a local duet (guitar player/singer) to entertain... makes for a truly memorable event... how many restaurant meals do you truly remember 12 months later... have a great time!!!

Taking your advice and will plan on hiring a chef come to our villa. I have been in touch with Chef Graziella Malgeri @chef in tuscany. Reasonably priced with excellent menu and wine selections including vegetarian options for my wife. So excited!

Have a great time in Italy. Summer is wonderful for vegetarian eating. Up in Riva and the Dolomiti, look for "tortelli di patate" which are best described as potato pancakes, but more interesting. They are usually served with shredded cabbage, beans, some chunks of local cheese and sliced meat -- but your wife can skip the meat. Also, fresh fruit from that region is wonderful.

http://blog.giallozafferano.it/fable...16995281_n.jpg

Any suggestions to purchase an inexpensive phone for local use only in Italy? We arrive at Malpensa airport and then head to Lake Garda.

We leave tomorrow and the excitement is mounting by the hour!

Any lunch suggestions ( restaurants) in Riva Del Garda, Malcesine, Limone, Arco, Monte Baldo ( top of mountain), Tremosine?

Buongiorno to all my Fodors friends!

All is going well and I will write up a trip report when I return home!

So I have arranged for a Chef to come to our Villa to cook us a birthday dinner, however, I am not clear whether the price includes tipping?

If you are familiar with the policy I would appreciate some guidance here.

Graziemille!