Simple day trips from Florence
 

I will be in Florence in January with 5 others and we wish to see as much of Tuscany as we can in 5 short days. I would be very happy spending the whole time looking at art and eating gelato, but I do not think that my travel companions would feel the same. Being the only one that has ever been to Italy, I would like to show the most of this beautiful region as I can.
Can anyone suggest day trips?
I am planning on Siena and trying to find the spot where I had the best gnocchi of my life....
Any other kindred advice?

H P,

Tuscany is not at its best in January.

However, in addition to Siena, you can train to Bologna and Orvieto.

You can even do a daytrip to Venice. It will be much less crowded than in the Season.

Do take the no. 7 bus from the train station up to Fiesole for the Etruscan ruins and watch the sun set over the city from the terrace of the Bar Bleu. It's heated.

((I))

options:
1. Lucca and Pisa (or just one of them)
2. Drive the Chianti loop stopping in a few places.
3. Siena
4. San Gimignano
4. Volterra
5. Pienza
(or any of the other hill towns)

San Gimignano!!!

Yes, do Fiesole...just a short city bus ride and you end up on a hillside with the ruins mentioned and a monastery up to which you can walk and sidewalk cafes over which you can see Florence in all of its glory.