john183

We will be spending a week in early June of 2014 at an agriturismo between Siena and the Castello Brolio (both of which we intend to visit). We will be in Apt. Le Logge at the Podere Lucignano Secondo Agriturismo. http://www.lucignanosecondo.it/ We have several fairly long day trips planned (early starts and late returns) but for a couple of days we would like to just sort of hang out for a part of the day enjoying our apartment (maybe just sleep in one morning and enjoy a leisurely long breakfast or cook a nice dinner one evening and watch the sunset from the terrace).

On these days we would like to venture out in to the rural “hood” close to our agriturismo and visit local wineries, eat at local restaurants and generally just have some fun looking for adventure without having to drive too far from home. I think we can get some good advice from the owners of the agriturismo once we are there and I’ve found a couple of places I want to visit but I thought I would check with you folks to see if you have any recommendations of fun things to do in that neck of the woods.

kybourbon

Have you been to the area before? Where are you going on the day trips you already have planned?

klondike

Where you are staying states they can make arrangements for wine tastings for you--you might check with them and see what they recommend.

We spent a weekend in that area a couple of weeks ago and really loved the property (which had air conditioning and a pool)but it sounds like that detail of your trip is taken care of. We did enjoy the tour of their winery and like the wine enough to purchase several cases. We have been to perhaps 6-8 wine tours in Tuscany, and Giuseppe is one of the best--succinct but detailed enough, easy to understand. You can really tell he knows the vines and making wine. They normally do a tour at 6pm to include their guests, but Giuseppe arranged a special visit for 4 us; He does that if he is able he told us. Though they don't serve dinner all the time, we happened upon an event (it was the weekend of the Palio in Siena)they were celebrating. Their dinner out in the garden overlooking Siena, watching the sun set and the stars come out, the candles, the cuisine and the wine....an evening we won't forget ever!!!
www.castelpugna.com

We also drove an hour away to Montalcino and enjoyed a few hours in this lovely little hill-top town. It was a Sunday morning and they hade a little artisanal market that was fun (bio honey, oil, soaps, garlic, baked goods etc. The wine shops were open for tastings of the famous Brunello and we bought a couple of bottles there as well. Very nice vibe to the town imo.

As kybourbon says, we can help more if we know what you already have planned.

constant

You will be in the centre of an area packed with interest. These two sites will help you with list of sights:
http://www.bella-toscana.com/
http://www.chianti.info/
Nearby are both Gaiole and Radda, a bit further away, Badia a Coltibuono.
http://www.gaiole-in-chianti.com/
http://www.radda-in-chianti.com/
http://www.badia-a-coltibuono.com/
And you're surrounded by castles on every side, not just Brolio. There a several pre-organised routes that you can follow to explore the area:
http://www.greve-in-chianti.com/cast...hianti_eng.htm

john183

Thanks for the replies and the links. We have been to Tuscany twice (once stayed near Panzano, the other time in Proceno) for a week each time. For this trip, we have several possible all-day long day trips figured out (Assisi, Montalcino/Montepulciano, Panzano/Greve, Radda/Gaiole/Castellina plus more) that we will pick and choose from while we are there depending on the weather and our mood.

What I'm really hoping to get from this post are ideas for something interesting I might not be able to discover on my own that one of you found and is fairly close to the place we are staying. We would like to be able to hop in the car and get there and back quickly and easily. Thanks again for your info so far.

kybourbon

Don't know if you consider this too far or not.

http://www.monteolivetomaggiore.it/

Perhaps a pool day at Quercegrossa (I don't think you have to stay there to use these pools, but you would have to check).

http://www.mulinodiquercegrossa.it/sito/it

john183

kybourbon - both of these are exactly the kind of ideas I'm looking for. And these places are not too far away - thanks again.

klondike - the Castel di Pugna is also exactly the kind of thing I'm looking for - thanks.

constant - I haven't had a chance to link in detail at all the links you provided but it looks like there should be lots of good info in them - thanks.

zoecat

A couple of ideas for you:

It may not be close enough for your "quick and easy" drive, but the roofless Abbey of San Galgano is in a lovely setting and is a fascinating visit-

http://www.sangalgano.org/ENG/index.htm

If you haven't visited yet, do go to the small, quiet, beautiful village of Volpaia, located near your base. I really enjoyed my casual lunch outside at the Bar Ucci, which is owned by the excellent restaurant across the street, La Bottega. Stroll through the village, do some wine, oil and vinegar tasting at the central wine shop, and enjoy a lovely drive on the dirt road leading out of the village.

To experience one of the most beautiful drives in Tuscany, take the SP8 off of the SS73 and then the dirt road toward Torre A Castello and from there to Asciano. Wow!!!!

wrenwood

zoecat is right about Volpaia, we LOVED our tour there, so different then other tours we have taken. And lunch at La Bottega was delicious! Beautiful village.


http://travel.usnews.com/Tuscany_Ita...Volpaia_62348/

john183

zoecat and wrenwood - thank you so much for these ideas - again this is exactly what I was hoping to find.

I'm afraid ya'all are going to really mess up our day trip plans because I'm going to want to spend the entire week doing these fun things close to home and not taking any long day trips - LOL!!!

Great ideas - thanks!

kybourbon

>>>take the SP8 off of the SS73 and then the dirt road toward Torre A Castello and from there to Asciano<<<

Monte Oliveto Maggiore is near Asciano.

>>>Montalcino/Montepulciano<<<

Near Montalcino, if you haven't been, the abby Sant'Antimo.

http://www.antimo.it/

john183

kybourbon - thanks, we did go to Sant'Antimo on a previous trip but it had been struck by lightning the night before we were there. A part of the ceiling had fallen and the abbey was not open so we only saw the very beautiful outside. We are looking forward to returning and going inside.

Years ago when we stayed near Panzano, the owner of the villa we were staying at arranged a private tour for my wife and I of Panzanello Winery. A young Andrea Sommaruga was just establishing himself in the family business and we had a fantastic couple of hours with him - we even hopped in his old pickup and went out in to the vineyards for a while. From his web site, it looks like Andrea has been very successful and we are looking forward to another Panzanello visit on this trip.

I'm sure the owners of the villa we will be staying at next June will be able to steer us toward a place like this but I was wondering if anyone knows of any small vineyards near our area where we could get an intimate tour like we did at Panzanello. I've found several possible places but was hoping I could get a recommendation.