Please help me decide between these two places to stay in Tuscany
 

We need a place for two for 4 nights. We have narrowed it down to these two. Please help us pick one:
1. http://www.palazzodelcapitano.com
E 120 - room with view of garden
E 130 - room with view of the hills
Breakfast is included in the price.

or

2. An apartment in "il giardino segreto" in Pienza for E 62/night

I couldn't find enough pictures of il giardino segreto.

Which is a better value, town to stay etc...

Thanks!

Wow tough, but wonderful choice. I was ready to do my usual spiel which is that I prefer to stay IN town, rather than have to drive to dinner or out in the evenings in particular. But both these match that.
I like both towns, but Pienza would draw me a little more. The place in San Quirico looks wonderful, but I'm not familiar with the one in Pienza.

Will you have a car?

Thanks Neo. Yes we will have a car.

TripQs, the first place looks awesome! So is it within walking distance to the town, restaurants, etc.? And could you get there by train from Rome, and then rent a car there?

I love Pal. Capitano as have many of my clients. The village is the real thing and has several good places to eat.

TripQs, I'd ask whether those restorations started in December 2006 would affect you.

Samsaf, You cannot get to San Quirico d'Orcia by train from Rome, and there's no car-rental agency there.

Samsaf, we will be renting a car from Venice and driving into Tuscany.

Zerlina, should I check with Pal. Capitano about the restorations?

Thanks for the info, TripQs and Zerlina!

You could take the train from Rome to Chiusi and rent the car there and drive to San Quirico d'Orcia on autostrada and through some beautiful Tuscan countryside. Check with AutoEurope who will use Hertz or Avis in Chiusi.

But TripQ's has already said they are going to Tuscany from VENICE, not Rome. I'd agree renting a car in Venice is probably preferable to paying for two train tickets to Tuscany and then renting a car.

Oops!

Stayed at Palazzo del Capitano for new years this January. Can't remember any renovations and the place was full, so maybe they were finished - or not yet started? Absolutely loved this hotel. It is right in San Quirico where there are plenty of restaurants. San Quirico is a lovely town and centrally located for driving around southern Tuscany.