Trip to Tuscany in May
Jan 23rd, 2013, 10:24 PM
#21
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By the way, I sympathize with this "overwhelmed" feeling of planning a trip to Tuscany, but this is partly the fault of guidebooks and other misleading advice people get. Most of Tuscany is really very very lovely and full of general interest. The mistake, I think, is to imagine one needs to fuss about where to "base". I see all these posts about "Which hilltown????? HELP!!!" Honestly, it scarcely matters.
It really can be worthwhile to make time to see a specific great artwork (as in Arezzo) or a specific great piazza (again, as in Arezzo!) or abbey or winery. It can help to give some thought to what you want to emphasize for your trip -- seeing more of Italy? Or relaxing more in Italy? Spending more time inside towns, seeing churches or shopping? Or spending more time in your car, enjoying scenic driving? Seeing more of the famous places? Or deliberately seeking out something off the beaten track?
But I wouldn't agonize about getting more specific than that in Tuscany. It's like a many-roomed mansion with miles of gardens, stuffed with treasures and curiosities at every turn. It's hard to go "wrong."
It really can be worthwhile to make time to see a specific great artwork (as in Arezzo) or a specific great piazza (again, as in Arezzo!) or abbey or winery. It can help to give some thought to what you want to emphasize for your trip -- seeing more of Italy? Or relaxing more in Italy? Spending more time inside towns, seeing churches or shopping? Or spending more time in your car, enjoying scenic driving? Seeing more of the famous places? Or deliberately seeking out something off the beaten track?
But I wouldn't agonize about getting more specific than that in Tuscany. It's like a many-roomed mansion with miles of gardens, stuffed with treasures and curiosities at every turn. It's hard to go "wrong."
Jan 31st, 2013, 04:37 PM
#22
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Thank you for all of the feedback. I am doing some research now to determine if we should head to the Lucca area after Florence and Chianti or head to the south west as suggested by golden autumn. I will then pose some more questions!
We would like to stay in a combination of city and country sites. The reason we like a city is so that there are great restaurant choices without the need to drive. We love wine, food, the ambience and just driving around to explore. It's not that we need to do anything in particular, just enjoy it all! I agree that anywhere is good as a base, but then again we do have to pick somewhere! So, as of now, we thought Florence, San Gimigano, Siena, somewhere in the Chianti area and then either the southwest area or the Lucca area. Any thoughts are appreciated--but I will pose another question when I get some of the specifics down.
We would like to stay in a combination of city and country sites. The reason we like a city is so that there are great restaurant choices without the need to drive. We love wine, food, the ambience and just driving around to explore. It's not that we need to do anything in particular, just enjoy it all! I agree that anywhere is good as a base, but then again we do have to pick somewhere! So, as of now, we thought Florence, San Gimigano, Siena, somewhere in the Chianti area and then either the southwest area or the Lucca area. Any thoughts are appreciated--but I will pose another question when I get some of the specifics down.
