My wife and I (mid 30's) will be visiting Italy for the first time in mid-may. We will be driving between Rome, Assisi, Florence and Siena.

Does anyone have any recommedations on towns to stop and visit as we travel from destination to destination. We aren't so focused on the arts and cathedrals as we are on great food, good experiences and visiting with the locals. Thanks!

I've visited about all of the hill towns in Tuscany, and the ones I'd go back to again and again are in the Chianti area...Castellina, Radda, etc. A more mountainous, wooded terrain with smaller towns than the areas like Montepulciano, Montalcino, Cortona, etc.
However, that said, you can't go wrong. They all have their charms.

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1. Make sure you have a meal at Bar Orso, about 1km before you get to the car park at Monteriggione, a great restaurant where the locals eat.
2. Go to the township of Colle di Val d'Elsa, a really quaint Tuscan walled town close to San Giminagno.

MattKn,
E-mail me and I will send you a list.

There's a list of the castles of Chianti on www.greve-in-chianti.com - these can be linked in a number of really pleasing itineraires thriought Chianti. You'll meet authentic Tuscans all along the route!

I would recommend staying in Fisole when visiting Florence...it is a small town overlooking Florence. It is only about a 15 minute bus ride up the hill but the view is incredible. Also there is an excellent 5 star restaurant up there on the hillside called Carpe Diem that is excellent

About seven kilometers frome Greve in Chianti is a small road that will take you up to Lamole. The Ristoro di Lamole would be a great place to enjoy a delicious lunch at a very reasonable price. Their Lamole di Lamole Chianti was terrific as was their olio.

We spent an enjoyable two hours dining here and enjoyed the wonderful views from the patio as well as delicious dish after delicious dish. I describe the food we ate here in my "We Didn't Drink All The Vino" trip report. It was one of the top three spots we dined at during our 21 day trip.

Yes indeed! See www.lamole.info - the ristoro has a truly spectacular view and their dishes are out of the ordinary. Right next door they have an incredible range of wines for sale, plus olive oil, olive oil with truffles, honey etc. There's also a summer music programme at Lamole for those who are in the area for a week or two.

Consider Todi, Cortona, Pienza and
Montalcino.

Our favorite was San Gimignano, it still has the original medieval towers.

I would recommend Pienza. Make sure to eat at Latte Luna. the food was reasonably priced and excellent.