Rome to Umbria OR Rome to Tuscany?
 

My husband and I will be spending four days in Rome in mid March. We have an additional four days to travel before heading to London to visit our son. Absolutely cannot decide between Tuscany and Umbria. We are definitely "food" people and not so big on museums. Just want to see the countryside and enjoy the relaxed pace and beauty of these areas; but which one? We will be at the Hotel de Russie in Rome so we are set for accomodations there but would love suggestions for hotels, restaurants and itinerary ideas. I know I am asking for quite a bit of assistence; especially since I cannot decide on Umbria or Tuscany. I need some focus. Thank You Thank You Thank You!!!

Hi lobsters,

Hard choice. I couldn't say which I prefer. Both are wonderful and similar in many ways. Tuscany is a bit more rural and preserved due to the agricultural preserve laws. Umbria is less touristed by a bit.

If you are interested mostly in wine and food, I would choose southern Tuscany - Montalcino is home of Brunello.

Maybe a bit more emphasis on art/architecture/religion? Umbria and Assisi.

Do one this trip and save the other for the next trip. You'll be back!

Look at Locanda san Francesco in Montepulciano. That is where I would go in March. Good food abounds within a 15 mile radius.

My husband and I are also very much interested in wine and food and will be spending 5 days in Tuscany in September. We're basing ourselves in Monticchiello, a tiiiiiny little village just a few minutes from Pienza. From everything I've read, this area (Southern Tuscany, Val d'Orcia) sounds like it will be perfect for what we're looking for. There's Brunello in Montalcino, of course, and Pienza is the town where the air is supposedly perfumed with their local Pecorino. I've already read about several great restaurants I want to visit, and the scenery in the Val d'Orcia area is absolutely postcard-perfect.

Thanks to both of you for helping me to FOCUS!! I had thought that Umbria would have been the more rural less touched area but now that I have looked into Tuscany a bit more, it seems perfect. Thanks Bob for the hotel suggestion. It looks dreamy; just hope they have a room. Just need a minute to relook at Podere Vigliano, which is situated in Monteleone d'Orvieto to see if it can be realistically added to the trek. Any special rstaurants to consider in Montepulciano? We love local spots. TY again.

Tara: Val d'orcia is also on my list (What isn't!!) Now, I have to reconsider this!! Time to drag the map out again and see where everything falls and what is really doable. If I put this back on I will let you know and we can share notes. Thanks for your help.This is as deliciously difficult as the Napa/ Sonoma question I wrestled with last fall!!

In Montepulciano try La Grotta and Cafe Poliziano. In Montechiello, :10 south, try La Porta In Pienza, try Latte Luna. Or, the best ristorante in Tuscany, La Chiusa in Montefollinico, only :15 north---but bring money.

lobsters,

Montalcino, I stayed at Il Giglio*** in town. Lovely hotel, excellent value. Awesome views, loved Montalcino. Dine at Grappolo Blu - traditional Tuscan food is a perfect compliment to the Brunello.

Pienza, had a very good lunch at Latte di Luna.

In Spello (Umbria) stayed at the wonderful Palazzo Bocci ****, highly recommend. To die for dinner at Il Mulino, their restaurant across the street. Spello was probably my favorite place on the last trip of 3 weeks!

Also discovered a new wine in Montefalco (Umbria), Sagrantino di Montefalco - excellent!

Wish I was going!

Thanks again to Dayle and Bob.Your suggestions have been noted and will start more research tomorrow. Still going back and forth with Umbria vs Tuscany.We have thought about hiring a car and driver to take us around and the site hillsandroads.com appears often. Also Alessandro Cammilli and Francesco Caruso. Any advice on this idea? It is 3AM and I am counting the hours till Barnes and Noble opens up. One more map and one more guide book and then hopefully we will end the Tuscany/Umbria debate.

Plans have changed a bit. Two young men have decided to join us and since we share the same last name we welcome them with open arms!! However, the Hotel de Russie cannot accomodate us now and so we are looking for another place to stay for four nights in Rome. Love the area of the Hotel de Russie and found an apartment on this site: http://www.windowsonitaly.com Does anyone know anything about this company? Any other suggestions for either an apartment or a hotel with suites. Would prefer that to two rooms as we do like to hang out with each other. From Rome the four of us will travel to the southern part of tuscany and need to be near a train station for one son to leave to go back to London. Looks like we need to be based in or around Orvieto, Montepulciano, or Chiasu for train station convenience. Am I missing some other train stop? Then the three of us will continue up to Pienza... Thanks for any help.

A great BIG thank you to Bob the navigator. We stayed at La Locanda San Francesco and it was wonderful. Perfect start to our Tuscany adventure.

Terrific---prego!

Sounds lovely!

Hit reply too soon. 4lobsters, we need a trip report!

Here goes... Our London to Rome to Tuscany/Umbria Adventure.
We have been to London many times as our older son lives there but never tire of this great city. We have done all the usual tourist things and now spend our time visiting neighborhoods and taking quick train trips to Richmond, Surrey, Windsor Castle etc.
We spent 4 days in London and then flew to Rome. Revisited the Coliseum, Forum, and the Vatican. This time we added San Clemente, Piazza del populo and wandered all around Campo di Fiori. Wanted to see the "church of truth" (can't remember the exact name) but never got to it. Our hotel was located near the Via Marguta and Spanish Steps so we spent some time walking around there and up in the Borghese Gardens. Some days we logged 10-14 miles on foot!!
Four days later found ourselves in a rental car with a GPS gal named "Jane" We drove first to Siena. toured around and had lunch before heading to Montepulciano. Followed Stu Dudley's auto itinerary (thanks Stu) and somehow found our way to Locanda San Francesco. I was not prepared for the narrow streets!!! The hotel was so charming and the owners could not have been sweeter. Our rooms were lovely both with great views. We dined at restaurants they recommended within walking distance and both were very good. We should have taken a meal at the hotel and definitely would have had we stayed an extra night but there is just something about eating in the hotel that doesn't seem adventurous enough. The next day we drove into different cities (Pienza, Montalcino,S.Antimo, Monticcchielo,Montefollinico) We had a private wine tasting at the Enoteca La Fortezza which was very educational and delicious. The Brunellos were wonderful as was the light lunch? they served(antipasto, bruschetta, lasagna etc.
At this time of year, there were not many tourists and quite a few restaurants and stores had not reopened for the season yet.We stayed at the Locanda for two nights and on the third day we drove to Allerona, Orvieto and stayed at the I Casali di Monticchio.This property has been lovingly restored by a remarkable woman and her children. They have such respect for the countryside and a real warmth for their guests. Their manager was equally impressive and gave us some great ideas for a day trip to Orvieto and another wine tasting at a local winery. We ate dinner at the Casali and were pleasantly surprised with the foods that were presented. There was no menu to pick from and we ate so well. Orvieto was very quiet and the underground tour was closed during the week so we just meandered around and then heaed back to Rome for the evening before heading back to the states.
We saw so much and were able to get a great feel for all the places we visited. Definitely have to go back and do a more relaxed visit. There is such a fine line between planning too much and not planning enough and this forum certainly helped with finding that balance. At one point in the preplanning stage, I began to panic with the abundance of info and broke down and found a travel consultant who calmed me down and finalized all our wants and needs into something manageable. She also threw in some of the better suggestions in our itinerary.So, it took 5 people that I know by name and a zillion people that I know by "user" name to help make this trip a dream vacation. Plus "Jane" the GPS lady and the cartographers from Touring Club Italiano.Thanks to all.

4lobsters,

So glad to hear you had a good time! March is nice for no crowds!

Here's hoping you return soon.

Where is this auto itinerary?

I found the itinerary on this forum written by a well traveled and well respected member Stu Dudley. He has tons of information and ideas for driving through Tuscany.