suestein

I know this sort of thing has been done ad nauseum on this board, but now this is MY trip, and I'd love some feedback from all of the experienced travellers out there.

My husband and I, and another couple, will be staying in Siena for 4 nights in mid October. We have hired Luca Garrapa to pick us up from the airport, then drive us around for the next 2 days. We are "foodies" and lovers of wine, but also appreciate art and the serenity of a beautiful place. Below is our proposed itinerary from Luca, and I was wondering if anyone has any comments-- places we should pass by for other better sights down the road, etc. We would like to keep the wineries on the schedule, as well as the visit to the San'Antimo abbey for the Gregorian monks chanting.

DAY 1
15 : Pick up at the Pisa airport

17 - 18.30 : after driving through hills, visit of San Gimignano

19.15 : Your Hotel in Siena.


DAY 2:
9.30 : Pick up at Your Hotel in Siena

10 . visit of Pontignano ( medieval monastery )

11 : Wine tasting + visit of the wine cellar

13 : very very good lunch in the garden of a farm where a mama cooks only for us with the ingredients coming from the farm + visit of the wine cellar

15.30 : visit of the garden around the Castle of Brolio + wine tasting outside the castle .

16.30 : visit of San Gusmè (small medieval village )

17.30 back to Your Hotel in Siena

DAY 3:
10 : Pick up at Your Hotel in Siena

11.15 - 12.30 : after driving through hills of Crete Senesi area , Monteoliveto Abbey ( medieval benedectine abbey )

13. - 14.10: lunch in an osteria

14.40 - 15.20 : visit of S. Antimo abbey + gregorian chants

15.40 - 16.30 : wine tasting in a winery + visit of the wine cellar

17- 18 : visit of Montalcino ( medieval village )

19 : back to Your Hotel in Siena

After Siena, we will be in Florence and then Venice for 3 nights in each place.

Thanks so much!

bobthenavigator

Sue, I love day 3--that will be special. Luca has his favorite haunts and it is hard to fault that. But, since many of his clients want to see Chianti, and often from Florence, he has developed that route for day 2. I would prefer to see Montepulciano and Pienza that day--with a stop at Santa Anna and a drive thru the Crete Sensei on the way back to Siena. Just my two cents---both options will be terrific.

tuscanlifeedit

I think this itinerary sounds lovely. It will give you a nice time off the beaten path, as well as some visits to more well known sites/sights.

I would probably tend to trust the driver to show us a good time, and it appears that he has scheduled things around mid-day closting times, so that's pretty good.

Just an opinion of course, but I guess that's what you were after! ;-)

suestein

Friends who recently travelled through the area have also recommended at stop in Pienza. Supposedly good olive oil and cheeses there.

How late are village markets open? Since we are staying in an apartment with cooking facilites, we were hoping to cook in one evening.

suestein

Thanks, Bob and Tuscanlife, for your input. This our first trip to Italy, and we just want to "make it right."

Are there any places-- during these 2 days of touring-- to stop into a cheese factory/store, or a place that makes olive oil? What about shopping? I'd love to pick up some nice ceramics.

Thanks!

bobthenavigator

Buy and read TOP 10 TUSCANY by Reid Bramblett for that and more.