I am planning a villa vacation for a group of friends. I am looking for the perfect small Tuscan town. I also am looking for a central location which would make day trips easy. Somewhere in the Sienna area looks intriguing, but exactly which towns? Suggestions, please. Thanks.

Hi peggy,

Have you looked up "Tuscany" in the "search this forum" box?

There are several recent threads about staying in small towns and villas.

Peggy, that question comes up often. It seems everyone wants the "perfect" Tuscan location. Here are some ideas to get started:
1. go to slowtrav.com and plan to spend some time reading about Tuscany, rental reviews etc.
2. Get a good map--preferably the TCI map at 200k to 1--and draw a square around these towns that circle Siena:
Montepulciano
Montalcino
San Gimignano
Gaiole in Chianti
3. set your critieria for the rental, to include these: price, # bedrooms, # baths, pool or not, self catering, apts. or standalone house, and location within your square--the most important criteria.

There are over 700 rental places just in Tuscany. You will go crazy if you do not screen by criteria.

After that, get back if you have questions. I have been thru this dozens of times and it takes some work.

How is it going so far, Peggy?

Radda and Castellini-in-Chianti would also be good bases for easy day trips. Radda is about 40-min. drive from Siena.

Try Invitation to Tuscany - they have several apartments/villas located in small towns...
Theres some great apartment rentals in Siena too - don't know how many friends.
Also - The Parker Company - good outfit.

Thanks for the help so far. I am a "newbie" to this site and am enjoying all the info. I like to say that not many travel agents can afford to visit destinations, so we need to find other resources.
To Bobthe navigator... it sounds like I'm on the right track. I've been using italianvillas.com. How is Cortona? Can I count on price range to determine quality? Which towns are your favorites?
Thanks to all for your help. Looking forward to more.

forget Cortona...overated town...more in Umbria which is okay.
if you want town for day trips and have to your self at night - try San Gimiganno...ay town...stay in Chianti, Southern Tuscany, or between Florence and Lucca..

Peggy, I'd like to stress the advice that Bob gave you - go to www.slowtrav.com and read up on Tuscany. There are also many vacation rental reviews which are of immense help to someone in your situation.

We stayed near Monteriggioni last trip, although ten days earlier we had 2 nights in Chiusi, so we saw quite a bit of Tuscany in our day trips. I think I'd like to stay in Pienza next time.

Amen !
Get your map--draw your square with those towns as the corners. You will see that Cortona is well outside that square. I prefer south of Siena, but the area just NW of Siena is also good.

Alright, I'm back, and after all this research I'm considering a shift in plans. I have been to, and loved, Tuscany, but have not been to the Italian Riviera. It looks as if staying near Lucca would allow us to day trip to both areas. Any thoughts?
Bob, I enjoyed your article about small European towns.

Peggy, if you mean by Italian Riviera the Cinque Terre up to Santa Margherita Ligure, be aware that this area is still a long drive from Lucca and daytrips wouldn't be worthwhile from that distance. If you mean the area around San Remo, daytrips there from Lucca would be next to impossible.