Lodgng in Tuscany
 

help, please...we need advice....my husband and I are going to spend a week in Rome followed by a week in Tuscany in May. Has anyone stayed at Il Giglio B&B in Pienza? (recommended by a friend) or at the Sant Antonio monastry apartments in Montepulciano? Both are reasonable but quite different from one another. I understand the two towns are also different from one another. Or should we look at Montalcino? we will have a car in order to explore. Should we rent it as we leave Rome or take train and get car upon arrival? Any advice is very welcome.

I know Il Giglio very well, it is literally next door to my flat in the town center...It is very simple and reasonable, but there are a couple other ones in town that are nicer, in my opinion. Look at Il Giardino Segreto (which has bigger rooms and a garden courtyard that is lovely) and the Antica Locanda which has a some rooms with stunning views. I usually recommend those for friends. I know the Apartments outside Montepulciano, but i have never been inside so I am not sure. I really find that Pienza is a sweeter town that is level (inside of very steep and bigger like Montepulciano) and has better little restaurants. Although in Pienza, you can walk to whatever you ened, You will definitely need a car to get to Pienza and to explore the countryside. If you nervous about driving in and out Rome, you can take a train to the town of Chiusi where there is a Hertz and Avis office. Chiusi is an easy 30 mins drive away from Pienza. Enjoy.
www.la-bandita.com

Click on your screen name to find your previous posts with replies.

We stayed 3 nights in a view room at El Capitano in Montalcino. The hotel is clean and simple, but the view is absolutely amazing. it was so nice staying in the town, where we had instant access to restaurants, wine bars, shopping, and gelato. We are dying to go back. we loved it.
The whole area is gorgeous. we visited Pienza on a day trip and loved it, too.

have a great trip!
dina

jvoigtm- the properties you are recommending inside Pienza sound nice but I think we are looking for something a little more upscale.

I know you commented on another thread about B and B San Francesco in Montepulciano. Are you also familiar with La Saracina and between the two, which one would you prefer?

We will have a good size car (two couples) and are planning lots of day trips (5 night stay or more) but also might want to have a day or two hanging around doing nothing- either relaxing in town- browsing/napping or swimming/ napping at La Saracina.

Do you recall if San Francesco has any balconies or outdoor seating?
Thanks so much for your help and expertise. Any restaurant recs for Pienza would also be greatly appreciated!

Hi calville
I am happy to help! La Saracina is a wonderful spot, I would definitely recommend it. It's different from the San Francesco. La Saracina is an old country house that sits in the farmland and forest just off the 10KM or so road that links Montepulciano and Pienza. the San Francesco is in the middle of the town of Montepulciano...so it depends what you're looking for. It's nice to be in middle of an old town but it's also nice to be in the countryside. It's probably easier to get in and out of La Saracina because it's right on the road. The rooms at the San francesco don't have balconies, but they do have great views, and on the ground floor there is a large airy wine bar with a terrace on the edge of a piazza which looks out over the valley. that is open to the public, so it's not really private, but it is a nice outdoor space. I hope that answers your question....

In Pienza, I would definitely recommend eating at Latte Di Luna which in my opinion is the best of the area traditional trattorias and the Osteria Sette di Vino for a great lunch in a little square. For a more "foodie" experience Il Rossellino is problem the best food in town. Also don't miss La Porta in the little nearby village of Monticchiello.

If I can help with anything else let me know!

jvoigtm-thanks so much for your restaurant recommendations in Pienza.

That's interesting about La Saracina being "right on the road" -sounds like it could be a drawback if there's traffic noise.

jvoigtm- thanks so much for answering all my questions-
Just in case it's still hot in Sept, do the two places you recommend for friends in Pienza have a/c? I haven't found any tripadvisor reviews for them.

Are you also familiar with L'Olmo and Relais San Bruno just outside Montepulciano?

Calville--the guest houses in Pienza, as charming and comfortable as they are do not have AC. usually by September the evenings are cool enough not to really need it but you never know. Like I think I said in another post, until recently air conditioning was almost unheard here, despite the summer heat, and we insisted on including it at La Bandita... L'Olmo is a lovely small hotel, not far from mine, in between Pienza and Montepulciano. i know it very well and it's great. I have heard of San Bruno, but I haven't stayed there or visited.