sandralist

Personally, I think San Gimignano looks better from the road than actually making it a parking-eating stop. It is absolutely tour bus central, and on a weekend it is likely to be more touristy than usual. The first time I went to Tuscany, I went to San Gimignano as one of my first stops. I scratched my head wondering why on earth everybody raved about the "fantastic scenery" of Tuscany. The hills around San Gimignano are of course nice hills --- but they are just hills. The Tuscan scenery everybody raves about is actually in the Chianti and the val d;Orcia.

Furthermore, it is pretty hard to find a restaurant in San Gimignano that isn't compromised for tourist palates.

I think your original plan to visit San Gimignano if you feel like it as a daytrip from your base is the better plan. And if you do go, the artwork inside the churches -- which most tourists ignore in favor of snapping pictures of the "Manhattan skyline of Tuscany" is really worth the paltry euros it costs to see them.

However, if your main interest in San Gimignano is the towers and you have no interest in church art, the towers look most impressive from the road as you keep driving onward to Volterra (the more interesting town overall). San Gimignano has been overrun by tourism.

Jean

I also think San Gimignano is more interesting viewed from a distance.

sandralist

I also think it is worth remembering that this thread is entitled:

Taking the Scenic Route from Florence to Montepulciano

I don't consider a routing that includes San Gimignano a scenic route. It's not ugly, and the sight of the towers is a highlight of Tuscany, but the countryside (while pleasant) is not as unusually pretty as that of Chianti, le Crete Sinesi or the val d'Orcia areas of Tuscany.

joan

Sandralist, I was thinking the same thing. It appears on google maps that San G and Monteriggioni are both NOT on country roads, but right off the autostrada.

Jean's suggestions of Radda and Castellina ARE on SR222, which appears to be the most scenic route. So although the church stuff does not interest me (more interested in farms/agriturismo and restaurants), I think that may be the better scenery en route to Montepulciano....

When I get my Italian maps, I will better able to make specific plans.

Meanwhile, I'd still love some suggestions for specific restaurants or farms to tour on SR222, the scenic route....

Thanks again to all.

HappyTrvlr

Drive down Rt.222, the historic Chiantigianna, and stop for lunch in Panzano. Enoteca Baldi is on the main town square and has outdoor seating. Another place is Il Vinaio up the hill in the oldest sextion of town, by the church.

wekewoody

Joan, in your opening post you mentioned something about a cheese farm...We just returned from a week in Montepulciano and did a cheese tasting at Podere Il Casale which is between Montepulciano and Montechiello. They produce their own cheese from their own sheep and goats. They do tastings, lunches and dinner. It was a lot of fun in a lovely spot and the cheese is spectacular. It might be something fun to do once you are settled in Montepulciano.

Sandra is the owner and can be reached at
[email protected]

Here is the website:
http://www.podereilcasale.it

joan

Thanks, Happy Trvlr! I'll check that out!

Wekewoody, that is the one! I submitted the email form and never heard back, but I'll try again, sounds right "up our alley" as they say. Appreciate it very much.

wekewoody

Joan,

Send her an email using the address I listed. That should work.

One other thing to note, the google map on their website IS correct. I googled the place on my own and came up with a different location further south. Trust her map.

joan

Gotcha.