Need help/suggestions for TUSCANY & UMBRIA
Sep 10th, 2009, 01:05 PM
#21
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Spello sounds like the magic place for our umbrian base then. Thanks all for your wonderful restaurant & hotel tips! I really appreciate it. Judging from all the reviews, Palazzo Bocci seems to be the best place to stay in Spello. Thanks Dayle & Lexma! I also like the idea of having drinks at the local bar after our long drives to wind down into the night.
Phillyboy: La Bastiglia appears to have the dream terrace for dinner under the stars, I hope their food matched the ambiance.
Jean: Hotel San Luca looks so ideal, I can see why you picked that hotel, but I'm glad you told me how it's a bit too quiet for you because I also prefer a more buzzing town.
Phillyboy: La Bastiglia appears to have the dream terrace for dinner under the stars, I hope their food matched the ambiance.
Jean: Hotel San Luca looks so ideal, I can see why you picked that hotel, but I'm glad you told me how it's a bit too quiet for you because I also prefer a more buzzing town.
Sep 10th, 2009, 01:20 PM
#23
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DAX,
As Lexma90 said, La Bastiglia could be viewed as a bit formal - the waitstaff was finely dressed, and I recall they did make a bit of a production when opening and serving the wine, but it wasn't stuffy or uncomfortable, and the food was very good.
We spent a week at Palazzo Bocci, a terrific hotel. As mentioned above, Spello is very charming and quiet - not a place for bars and nightlife - but Umbria is compact and easy to navigate by car, so you'll have no trouble finding things to do in the region at night as well as all day long.
I wish I was going back - I'm jealous! Have a great trip!
As Lexma90 said, La Bastiglia could be viewed as a bit formal - the waitstaff was finely dressed, and I recall they did make a bit of a production when opening and serving the wine, but it wasn't stuffy or uncomfortable, and the food was very good.
We spent a week at Palazzo Bocci, a terrific hotel. As mentioned above, Spello is very charming and quiet - not a place for bars and nightlife - but Umbria is compact and easy to navigate by car, so you'll have no trouble finding things to do in the region at night as well as all day long.
I wish I was going back - I'm jealous! Have a great trip!
Sep 10th, 2009, 01:22 PM
#24
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jnjfraz:
I like your positive take about a day in Cinque Terre. and thanks for the train & restaurant tips you offered, I'll send you an email. I love your idea of chartering a boat to arrive in Cinque Terre, that would be spectacular to see it from the water. I have to research how/where to rent the boat and whether it would take even more time, any further tip?
I assume that's your wine store in Idaho? I had no idea that Idaho is blessed with such a great wine store. I wished it's closer where I live.
I like your positive take about a day in Cinque Terre. and thanks for the train & restaurant tips you offered, I'll send you an email. I love your idea of chartering a boat to arrive in Cinque Terre, that would be spectacular to see it from the water. I have to research how/where to rent the boat and whether it would take even more time, any further tip?
I assume that's your wine store in Idaho? I had no idea that Idaho is blessed with such a great wine store. I wished it's closer where I live.
Sep 10th, 2009, 01:27 PM
#25
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Thanks again Philly, I suppose we'll create our own happy hour after our daily drives.
Any tip on which P. Bocci rooms are preferable? I'm just trying to do my best for our group.
Any tip on which P. Bocci rooms are preferable? I'm just trying to do my best for our group.
Sep 10th, 2009, 02:12 PM
#26
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Don't know that I can help much on room selection for Palazzo Bocci, it's been 6 years since we were there. As I remember, the view from our room was very nice, out across the valley with green hills in the distance. There were other rooms that faced the inner courtyard, and probably some that looked out over the small front street. No clue as to which room numbers might be nicer.
It's not a very large hotel, a total of 23 rooms and suites according to the website.
It's not a very large hotel, a total of 23 rooms and suites according to the website.
Sep 11th, 2009, 06:23 AM
#27
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Dax, Yes we are a wine store in Idaho. We have a great manager so we are not spending a couple of months each year in Chianti... and we are buying a place in Giaoli which has been really fun and a great learning experience.
You don't have to hire but just take the ferry.
Here is the site for the ferry schedule. http://www.navigazionegolfodeipoeti..../eng/index.php
You don't have to hire but just take the ferry.
Here is the site for the ferry schedule. http://www.navigazionegolfodeipoeti..../eng/index.php
Sep 11th, 2009, 09:04 AM
#28
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jnjfraz: How truly fortunate you are to be able to spend that much time in your place in Chianti! Starting a second home is like renewing life & passion in a new exciting place, but to have it in Italy can only be a dream for us. I imagine you've been to all the great wineries there. Any special wineries that you'd think we should make an appointment with? We like to connect wines to the places they came from. Our local wine shops have been good to us in arranging visits that we asked for. I don't know Tuscan wines as well so it would be good to hear personal recommendations from you. It's not about cherry picking the wine for us but more to experience and learn from being there. Thanks for the ferry schedule link, that'll be a lot easier than trying to rent our own dinghy!
Sep 11th, 2009, 09:59 AM
#29
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DAX - You replied to Jean
<Jean: Hotel San Luca looks so ideal, I can see why you picked that hotel, but I'm glad you told me how it's a bit too quiet for you because I also prefer a more buzzing town.>
Jean was noting that Spello was too teeny-tiny (i.e. quiet and not a "buzzing" town)and so she stayed in Spoleto at the San Luca, so I'm confused why you decided on quiet little non-buzzing Spello.
<Jean: Hotel San Luca looks so ideal, I can see why you picked that hotel, but I'm glad you told me how it's a bit too quiet for you because I also prefer a more buzzing town.>
Jean was noting that Spello was too teeny-tiny (i.e. quiet and not a "buzzing" town)and so she stayed in Spoleto at the San Luca, so I'm confused why you decided on quiet little non-buzzing Spello.
Sep 11th, 2009, 11:34 AM
#30
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Dax RE: wine (not wineries) Greve has a very good venue for tasting Tuscan wines--Le Cantine. It has approximately 140 available with olive oils as well in a subterranean vaulted setting which allows you to choose whatever interests you. Chiantis, Super Tuscans, Brunellos and Riservas of most are all available.
Near Spello is Arnoldo Caprai, a famous maker of the local wine, Sagrantino as well as blends and rossos--highly recommended. They have a very nice tasting room. There are many others but they mostly require a reservation and are situated around Bevagna and Montefalco. I have also tasted local wines in an enoteca in Spello--don't recall the name however.
Near Spello is Arnoldo Caprai, a famous maker of the local wine, Sagrantino as well as blends and rossos--highly recommended. They have a very nice tasting room. There are many others but they mostly require a reservation and are situated around Bevagna and Montefalco. I have also tasted local wines in an enoteca in Spello--don't recall the name however.
Sep 11th, 2009, 12:43 PM
#31
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hazel: Thanks for pointing out my huge misconception, I erroneously thought Jean was trying to say that Spoleto is even smaller than Spelo when it's actually the other way around. Now I need to look further into both because in some ways I prefer San Luca hotel however Spello is more north closer to Gubbio which is a priority of mine.
macanimals: Thanks for your Sagrantino tasting tip, I'll keep Arnoldo Capari on my notes, I just read about their Bruciato & Grecante which I've never heard before. As far as the multi Tuscan wine tasting place in Greve, we actually prefer to visit the actual ground of a winery/vineyard rather than just tasting without meeting the producers to learn more about the style, specific environment or philosophy (if any) to make us appreciate their wine better.
macanimals: Thanks for your Sagrantino tasting tip, I'll keep Arnoldo Capari on my notes, I just read about their Bruciato & Grecante which I've never heard before. As far as the multi Tuscan wine tasting place in Greve, we actually prefer to visit the actual ground of a winery/vineyard rather than just tasting without meeting the producers to learn more about the style, specific environment or philosophy (if any) to make us appreciate their wine better.
Sep 11th, 2009, 01:34 PM
#33
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DAX,
Check out the web site for Palazzo Bocci before you decide.
www.palazzobocci.com
The Photo Gallary pic in the bottom row, left was the view from my window.
Check out the web site for Palazzo Bocci before you decide.
www.palazzobocci.com
The Photo Gallary pic in the bottom row, left was the view from my window.
Sep 11th, 2009, 01:55 PM
#34
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Dayle, I have studied Bocci thoroughly as well and Spello is indeed closer to the north destinations; it'll be a tough decision, I'll let the group decide. The north has Gubbio & Perugia while the south has Norcia, Montefalco with its Arnoldo Caprai sagrantino etc. Thanks everyone! I appreciate all your input!
Sep 12th, 2009, 08:09 AM
#35
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If you do decide to visit Norcia, be sure to also visit the nearby Piano Grande.
http://tinyurl.com/q7qozz
The Taverna Castelluccio in the hill perched town of Castelluccio (the only town in the Piano Grande) serves excellent meals using local ingredients. They are closed on Wednesdays. There are some very interesting drives and places to visit in the Norcia area.
I like the Touring Club of Italy Umbria guidebook to help point the way through the region. It offers excellent driving and walking itineraries.
http://tinyurl.com/q7qozz
The Taverna Castelluccio in the hill perched town of Castelluccio (the only town in the Piano Grande) serves excellent meals using local ingredients. They are closed on Wednesdays. There are some very interesting drives and places to visit in the Norcia area.
I like the Touring Club of Italy Umbria guidebook to help point the way through the region. It offers excellent driving and walking itineraries.
