weekend_celebrations

We are road tripping Tuscany next summer with family and a kid requested Pisa visit. (We already been years ago with older kid so this will be a short visit). I am looking for a suggestion of the town to stay in that is within an hour reach of Pisa but also near other interesting upper Tuscany towns, especially San Gimignano. We will be spending time in Pienza/Val D'Orcia area on this trip too and decided to change towns/hotels so we dont have to back track from upper Tuscany to Pienza. Thank you

West47

We have stayed in Letori for two weeks, and it is an exceptional experience and value. Very close (within an hour drive) to may sites, Siena, Florence, San Gimignano, Pisa, Lucca. Highly recommended.

http://www.letorri.com

iregeo2

Have a look at the little village of Montefollonico. My husband and I stayed there many years ago with our then young son, and we all loved it. I think the hotel was La Chiusa. I'd go back in a minute.

Jean

I think West47's suggestion is a perfect location. You don't say how many nights/days you'd be there, but the sightseeing within an hour's drive of Montespertoli would be a long list. Probably more than you have time for... Pisa, SanG, Volterra, Certaldo, Monteriggioni, Pistoia, along the Chiantigiana (SR222) to towns like Castellina, Panzano, tiny Volpaia, and Radda.

weekend_celebrations

Thank you all for your suggestions, It will be a 2-day stay on our way from Pienze and on to the sea town of Roccamare. We will only have time for PIsa, SG and Sienna.

Jean

"We will only have time for PIsa, SG and Sienna."

Well, that's a shame... I'd be tempted to stay in Siena and visit Pisa by train. Pienza to Montespertoli would take at least 2 hours and Montespertoli to Roccamare will take at least 3 hours. Driving into Pisa (presumably to see the Leaning Tower) can be tricky. You should research the route to avoid the city's ZTL and know where you're going to park before you arrive. If the goal is to climb the Tower, you need timed reservations, and there is a minimal age requirement.

weekend_celebrations

thank you, still looking....as we will be driving from Pienza, Montespertoli is a bit further UP and Montefollonico too close to Pienza. We need something not far from Siena for our second base in Tuscany (Upper and convinient for Pisa)- so we do not back track to our original location of Pienza

weekend_celebrations

Yes, Jean, I have to pick and choose in this array of magnificent choices and frankly- if not for my girl's desire to see the Leaning Tower (like her brother 10 yr ago) I would be satisfied exploring lower Tuscany near Val D'Orcia. Maybe Siena is not a bad choice after all- thank you!

Jean

Look at Palazzo Ravizza in Siena. It's inside the ZTL, but you can drive to the front entrance to check in and drop luggage. (They will report your car license to the police to cancel the ZTL citation.) Then, you drive to and park in the hotel's lot on the building's back side (which is outside the ZTL). It's just a few turns to exit the town from the parking lot and then return to the lot later. Very easy, although Siena does have rush hour traffic in the morning and late afternoon.

weekend_celebrations

yes, i was worried about traffic hence ideally searching for town just outside Siena towards Pisa....

Jean

Anything "just outside Siena" will likely be impacted by the traffic in the morning and late afternoon. We encountered stop and go traffic in spots between Siena and Poggibonsi on one trip in late October. (This is the road between Siena and San Gimignano.) Can't imagine what summer is like.

Have you considered heading to Pisa first (before Tuscany), getting the long drive done in one day, and then working your way south? What does the rest of your itinerary look like?

weekend_celebrations

Hi Jean. we start in Rome no Pisa would be too long of a drive. I like that we start the Tuscany portion in Pienza. What about outside of San Gimignano for a second stop? It is just over an hour to Pisa from there and under 2 hours to Roccomare (and I could stop in Siena for half a day on the way to Roccamare).

Jean

I think you're underestimating the driving times just a little, esp. for a summer trip. We travel in late October which is still high season but nothing like summer. Not only do I add about 10% to google's driving estimates, I also include 10-15 minutes to find parking outside of a ZTL and to walk into and out of the town. For Pisa and Siena, you might need more time. They will both be very crowded.

If your dates near Siena include June 29 to July 2 or Aug.13-16, I'd forget the half day in Siena entirely. The Palio activities would make it impossible for a quick visit, particularly on July 2 and Aug. 16, and would impact your sightseeing the other days of those periods.

weekend_celebrations

Good points, Jean. We travel late August, outside of the dates you posted. In San Gimignano I will make it a point to look for a hotel outside of the ZTL with shuttle service to town. We already visited Sienna so i could also keep it as an option. Thank you for your thoughts.

cathies