Tommmo

After a week with a friends group in a villa in Florence these older aussies are rambling the countryside in a rented Punto...slow but steers like a go cart on the wrong side of the roads, only forgetting a few times. The group thing in the villa was good though it quickly became clear different personalities will bring consequences in close confinement and if your'e sensitive about your cheese,wine and ham disappearing constantly then be aware....but the pool was great after long sticky days tramping Florence......
We did Siena and Lucca by train first from Florence not wanting to drive in Florence . (what a nightmare that is!) They are must-sees and memorable day trips. Now we've cruised Montalcino, Pienza and are in Montepulciano....enjoyable towns all.
Don't miss the Sax wine bar in centre M'ciano...best food,ambience and prices we've yet seen!
Yesterday brought thunder and storms and rain all night but the grapes nearing harvest, should survive ok we are told.....this morning is damp and cloudy but we'll head for Spello via a Castle on the Lago .
Very relaxed pace of towns is agreeing with us....I think we will just spend a night in Rome now, it's enough for a big city crammed with tourists...and jump on our Ryanair flight Rome - Rhodes nonstop and into the horizon.....stay tuned.

kybourbon

Was your villa actually in Florence?

Tommmo

It was a ten minute walk away and just on the outskirts - called Villa Larione on Via Larione. Lovely place, though the traffic noise was often intrusive.

kybourbon

Are you staying in southern Tuscany or still day tripping from Florence?

Tommmo

Have been cruisin' and stayed at Pienza x 2 M'pulsiano x1 Spello x 2 with the mandatory stops in between. Huge thunderstorms went on for a couple of days and near froze us at times but a good pasta fagioli etc. thawed us out and then it was 30 deg again!
Will drive the narrow roads to Assisi today to pay respects to Frank.....All good...

traveltilican

Hi Tommmo......we are leaving for Tuscany tomorrow and hoping the weather will be better when we get there. Maybe we will bring the balmy weather we have enjoyed here in Memphis for the last three days. We are staying near Montepulciano for seven days and like you, will do day trips to places you enumerated. Hoping to visit Assisi on Sunday and hear the English mass there.

My husband and I both have windbreakers packed, all pants, no shorts and for me a couple of scarves. Do you think we should throw in a heavier fleece?

Happy travels.

Tommmo

Yes if you get a thunderstorm like we did the temp.plummets!
at other times it would have been up to 33 deg....
Assisi is indeed wonderful - possibly the best town of them all we think.
Enjoy