The real Italy
 

Hi we are looking to fly probably into Pisa hiring a car and touring interesting and pretty places in Italy. We have been to Florence and Lucca. Any ideas please.
Thanks

All of Italy is real!

What time of year are you going? Are you opposed to taking the trains? Are you flying out of Pisa? How many days will you have?

Do you want to stay in one place and do "day trips"? Or do you want to take a road trip?

Did you like Florence and Lucca? Do you like to eat fish? Drink wine?

What do you think is pretty? Small villages? Sea coasts? Mountains of marble? Vinyards? Islands? Medieval towers? Flower gardens?

From Pisa why not head up the coast to Liguria? You can head for Rapallo, Camogli or Santa Margherita Ligure as a base and explore the countryside around. You'll pass Cinque Terre on the way, but it's an area that IMO is overrated. Several pretty villages but they don't do much for me.

With a car you'll have a good opportunity to see a lot of the area, but you don't say how long you'll have or when you're going. There are lots of other possibilities, but Liguria is a region I personally like very much.

Let's get real!

WHEN?
HOW LONG?
HOW MANY?

Thanks for reply. We looking up to two weeks around May time. We are quite flexible and we would be flying back from Pisa. We love Italian food and wine and wouldn't mind taking in a vineyard tour. We don't mind using the train or bus but thought we might see more by car.
By real Itay I meant away from main tourist areas. We liked Lucca and Florence was interesting but obviously a lot of tourists.

In May, I would send you to south Tuscany and Umbria.

Here are some places I like in Tuscany. With 2 weeks, I would pick more than one location in Tuscany and one in Umbria. What is your budget?


BOB’S FAVORITE DIGS IN TUSCANY

A. RURAL LOCATIONS: All have parking and good food options nearby

1. SANT’ ANTONIO APTS. http://www.santantonio.it/ Lovely apartments
in a rural setting near Montepulciano—very helpful owner

2. Cretaiole Agriturismo http://www.cretaiole.it/ Good value for families
Isabella also has 2 apts. in Castelmuzio for rent—wonderful—see her site.

3. Terre di Nano www.terredinano.com 100 to 155
Both rooms and apartments at rural Agriturismo near Monticchiello

4. Casanova di Pescille http://www.casanovadipescille.com/ 100E
Rural B&B 3 KM from famed San Gimignano—we loved the views of San Gim.

5. Fattoria Tregole www.fattoria-tregole.com 110E to 180E
Has both B&B and apartment accommodations. Near Castellina in Chianti

6. Agriturismo apts. near San Quirico— www.poggiolo.info/ About 110E

7. New historic B&B north of Pienza. http://www.camprena.it/index.htm
Site of filming for THE ENGLISH PATIENT About 90E for double

8. http://www.borgoargenina.it/index.html A special rural B&B in Chianti.
The lovely owner, Elena, will make you feel like family. 170E for double

B. IN-TOWN LOCATIONS: For walking convenience to shops & ristorantes.

1. Palazzo del Capitano www.palazzodelcapitano.com 170 to 210E
Very nice small hotel in center of San Quirico—perfect location to explore.

2. Vecchia Oliviera www.vecchiaoliviera.com/ 150 to 200E
Nice 4 star hotel at the gate into lovely Montalcino---has pool.

3. Palazzina Cesari www.montalcinoitaly.com 80 to 110E
Lovely small B&B in heart of Montalcino—great value—2 night stay minimum.

4. Locanda di San Francesco www.locandasanfrancesco.it 180 to 200E
Nice boutique B&B in a lovely location in Montepulciano—great reviews !

5. Politian apartments http://www.politian.com/ Good value apts. with
minimum stay of 3 nights in Montepulciano---helpful host---85E

6. Palazzo Ravizza www.palazzoravizza.it 170 to 250E
Very nice & popular hotel in Siena with parking.

If you like Italian food and wine and don't want a lot of tourist and are flying in and out of Pisa, I highly recommend that you include in your itinerary some time in the area of Bolgheri, which is not far from Pisa, and is the home of Super Tuscans. Plus you are near enough to the sea to have a few seafood lunches.

http://www.discovertuscany.com/the-e.../bolgheri.html

http://www.tuscany-charming.it/en/places/bolgheri.asp

http://www.turismo.intoscana.it/site...e-of-Bolgheri/

If a friend landing in Pisa asked me to take them on an untouristy visit to Tuscany, I would start off by take them to the Bolgheri and Barratti beach areas

http://www.discovertuscany.com/the-e...f-baratti.html

http://girlinflorence.com/2013/07/16...ratti-tuscany/

and then I would drive a route that included Massa Marittima and the abbey of San Galgano. I'd head for an agriturimo near Buonconvento -- and from there test the waters about how much "touristy" stuff they wanted. In that area there is a mix of the most famous picture postcard views and famed wineries, but also some towns and hidey-holes that most tourists still haven't stumbled across. You can mix it up exploring.

From Buonconvento, I'd suggest driving back to the small town of San Minato for the finale. There are pretty towns along the way -- Monteriggioni, Certaldo alta -- but also quirky places like Montecatini Alta with its historic funicular, or the Monstummano grotto spas, or a tour of the Chocolate Valley of Tuscany

http://www.turismo.intoscana.it/allt...ea-of-tuscany/

That's brilliant thanks for your help. We will be spending the weekend considering all that has been said and planning what I think will be a lovely holiday.

I would certainly reccommend a visit to the city of Lucca, just to the north of Pisa. This walled city really gives you a feel of stepping back in time, and is full of Italian charm. The mountains in norhern Tuscany offer a very dramatic landscape and the pretty rolling hills and medieval villages to the south of Tuscany are also very pretty.

This is my experience of Lucca and the mountains, with some photos from the trip:

http://elistravelsite.blogspot.co.uk...n-tuscany.html

You will fall in love with any place you visit in this fantastic country! Enjoy!
Elis

Sorry, just noticed you said you've already been to Lucca!! Another suggestion is the coastline of Liguria - one of my favourite places in the world - here are some pictures and more info on this area:

http://elistravelsite.blogspot.co.uk...era-italy.html

Enjoy your trip!!

Think about Arezzo and Orvieto. They are on the main train line from Florence to Rome. Stay at least a couple of nights to get the feel of the towns in the evening. Both have fascinating Etruscan and Roman histories and some fine medieval buildings. Orvieto is on a stunning little mountain (actually an eroded, flattened volcano), reached most easily by a funicular from the train station. And Orvieto's cathedral is massive and magnificent.