My wife and I have 11 nights in Italy this June, into Pisa and out of Venice - The first 2 nights are set for the CT, the last 2 nights are set for Venice - The middle 7 are planned for Tuscany, but my initial plan for a full week in a small town (Barga) without a car has been rejected by almost everyone who hears it - The new plans will be to rent a car for the middle 7 days, to get us to and around Tuscany and to get us to Venice (but not get it for the 2 days in the CT or keep it for the 2 days in Venice)- I am still hellbent to spend 3 days in Barga (great reviews - I just gotta see it), but I am now searching for a single more central place in Tuscany to spend 4 nights, experience cooking classes, and have a base to explore - I'm leaning towards Chianti or Sienna, but after thinking I had this trip done, I once again need more help - Here we go again - Please don't tell me I am nuts to skip Rome or Florence - I know they are fabulous and I will surely return to see them on another future trip - We want small hillside towns, prefer a villa or b&b, great food and wine, locals and as few tourists as possible - Money is not the key concern, but we don't want either extreme of big fancy hotels or economy dives - Thanks in advance - especially bob the navigator, you have been helpful - Bynar

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Maybe spend three nights in CT and three nights in Venice instead of only two? In Tuscany, we really enjoyed staying in Montepulciano - many wineries, good food and can get crowded during the day but very quiet in the evenings. We stayed in a wonderful apartment with a spectacular view - Politian Apartments - see slowtrav for reviews or their website at www.politian.com.

This place is outside Florence so you can use it as a base or, if you want, go into the city. It is really a calssy place with great service and great staff. Small .. you will have a one bedroom place with living room .. the breakfast that is provided was mostly carbs so I went into town and bought an egg skillet and cooked my own breakfast.

Villa Poggio ai Merli

via di Giogoli, 5
50018 - Scandicci (FI)
Tel. + 39 055 250257
Fax. + 39 055 250718
e-mail: [email protected]
web : www.poggioaimerli.com

We stayed this past summer at Le Traverse in Pienza. Pienza is near Montalcino & Montepulciano in the Val D'Orcia (probably misspelled) - which is a World Heritage Site. We absolutely loved this area and loved staying with Pinuccia at Le Traverse. She gave us great suggestions for dinners and itineraries. Another couple was there from London and they were staying the entire week in this one little place and felt like there was more than enough to see. We were there for only 2 nights and we will definitely return. Yes, a car was necessary for the type of trip we wanted.