Bologna is a great day and only an hour by train.

We always spend a day visiting wineries in the countryside.

IMO, Orvieto is too far for a daytrip - 90 minutes by fast train to Rome then change and another hour to Orvieto Would not be my choice though Orvieto is lovely.

Certaldo is another option.

"IMO, Orvieto is too far for a daytrip - 90 minutes by fast train to Rome then change and another hour to Orvieto would not be my choice though Orvieto is lovely."

This is backtracking. There are direct trains from Florence to Orvieto. Depending on the train, the trip would be as short as 1 hour 50 minutes or as long as 2 hours 45 minutes. This still might not be short enough for a "day" trip. A visit to Orvieto is easier from Rome—just an hour travel each way.

Hi Charnees! We'll be there (Impruneta) September 24,25,26,27,28 so I think it's that weekend, the 25-26. Will check.

The most obvious daytrips from Florence IMO are still missing: why go so far? There are terrific sights much nearer to Florence! The two nearest major cities to Florence are Pistoia and Prato, certainly reachable by train (I don't use public transport, so can't really advise on this); the sights are even better in Pistoia, but Prato isn't bad either. If you have a car, you could visit Certaldo, Castelfiorentino (the Museo Civico, great, tiny & neglected) and the Medici villa at Poggio a Caiano - and go to Prato the same day, nonetheless (parking is no problem in center). Prato has also one of Italy's best gelaterie; if you're interested, I can get out my notes and post name & address.

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I've "narrowed" the list of possibilities:

Impruneta -- though I might not make it for the Grape Festival, which I read is the last Sunday in Sept. That is the day we are arriving in Florence from Sorrento. If only it were a weeklong celebration!

Orvieto -- though I am concerned about the travel time.

Cortona -- reminds me that I don't need to stay in Tuscany.

Parma

Pistoia

Bologna

A lot of you suggested San Gimignano. I've been there once (and adored the torture museum, bitsy1), but my boyfriend hasn't. It's a possibility, but I'm reluctant only because a good part of this trip is already dedicated to places he/we wanted to return to; I'm pushing for some new experiences.

franco, I do like your suggestions. I need not aim for a single destination, if I stick close or work my way around, I could see a lot of small towns. :-)

Thanks again!

annw, thanks for the probable dates. Unfortunately, we will be in Rome then, so I guess we'll have to skip the festival.

Another place near to Florence springs to my mind: since you mentioned souvenirs, you might consider going to Scarperia, in the Mugello hills north-east of Florence. They're producing Italy's most famous knives there, for centuries already. Family-size businesses only, and very reasonable prices. Their specialty are kitchen knives with olive wood handles, both practical (undestroyable!) and beautiful. Something that will benefit your kitchen for many years to come.

If people on Fodor's believe Pompei is a doable daytrip from Positano, surely le Cinque Terre is a doable dayrip from Florence! While le Cinque Terre is wonderful eye candy, a boat trip past the five towns and a pesto lunch will give you the drift of the place.

If you want to walk and smell the olive leaves, why not take the 15 minute bus ride up to Fiesole, where you can ponder the ruins of a Roman theater, have a lunch at an olive oil mill (Fattoria di Maiano) and then walk for an hour to Settignano, something Michaelangelo, Fra Angelico and Frank Lloyd Wright liked to do. You can take the 10 minute bus ride back to Florence.

http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-t...ce-108103.html

PS: When you are staying in Florence, you are staying in Tuscany.

Narnya and Charnees sorry for mis-speaking; it is of course the Grape Festival. My friends usually go there to help with the olive harvest so I confabulated the two!

I'll send back a report on the festival and sorry you both will miss it!

Charnees let me know what Bologna restaurants you end up with; I'm going to try to scoot over there during my week in Ravenna.

You may have done this before: The Karen Valentine highway -
route 222.

zeppole - Indeed when in Florence I am in Tuscany. My notation about Cortona was merely a reference to suggestions to visit other areas of Tuscany. The Cortona (Umbria) suggestion reminded me that I can travel outside of Tuscany -- that I need not confine myself to just the region of Tuscany.

As to your other point, I tried to visit Pompeii on one day while I had stayed in Sorrento. It was not enough time. I would rather not experience the Cinque Terre in the same fashion. I am intrigued, however, by your suggestion to see them by water. :-)

Cortona is Tuscany, too. Near the Umbrian border, but still Tuscany.

Now I'm REALLY embarrassed! :-/

annw: I think we're going to try and catch the Grape Festival on the 26th! We are arriving in FLR around 13:00/14:00 and can get to our inn quickly. Do you happen to know the hours of the festival -- if there are any? I looked for info online (even the official site) but can't find many specifics and we'd hate to make a dash for it and find out we're too late. We could arrive earlier, but not much earlier.

Still going to do a separate day trip, but really didn't want to miss the festivities.

I'll check with my friends to see -- they are getting tix -- will pass on any additional info -- I don't know when we are supposed to go I just know it is that long weekend-- more anon.

Here's the info he sent:



Festa dell'Uva (Grape Festival) Sunday, Sept 26, 2010

The Grape Festival, which started in 1926, and is probably the most
popular annual event in Impruneta both for natives and tourists. Over
the years it lost some of the original rural characteristics but its
essential popular nature has remained intact. The most important part
of the parade consists of allegorical carts built by the four
districts of Impruneta: Fornaci, Pallò, Sant’Antonio and Sante Marie.
During the day of the festival, popular dances, performances, tasting
of agricultural products and shows of the local handicraft products
are held. The "festa dell’uva" is held on last Sunday of September
(for 2008 that's 28 September. The food stalls open at 11 am and the
parade of floats starts at 3.30 pm. Tickets are required for the
parade and may be obtained from Agenzia Impruneta in via Fabbiolle, 1
Tel: 055 2011704. Hours: Monday to Friday 9 am to 1 pm and 4 pm to 7
pm.)

annw: Grazie mille!