A group of us will be spending 2 weeks just south of Sienna this July. Can anyone please sugggest some daytrips and restaurants in the area? We love art, good food and wineries, not necessarily in that order. Is there a train from Sienna to Venice? If so, how long would it take? Thanks.

There are trains - anywhere from 4 - 6 hours.<BR><BR>If you do a search on this forum Tuscany Siena you'll find a plethora of information.

Do not miss the Cane e Gatto restaurant in Siena. Your hotel will make the reservations for you. You will be at the restaurant for about 3 hours and it will be expensive, but oh is it ever worth it. It is very close to the Antica Torre Hotel. Another very good restaurant is the Mangitoia near the hotel Antico Pozzo in San Gimignano. Have a blast.

For sure you are going to Montalcino, Montepulciano and Pienza. They are lovely hilltop villages with good restaurants and good wine. <BR>In Montepulciano, near Madonn di San Biagio church - the way is a beautiful alley with tuscan cypresses - a very good restaurant "La Grotta". <BR>Enjoy your trip <BR>Ismael

joan <BR>Have you already been to Florence? <BR>If not, you are going aren't you? <BR>Since you mention art, Florence as you know is museum-goers heaven, or hell, I suppose, if you overdo it. <BR>Maybe some of this information will help: <BR>www.toursaroundtuscany.com escorted day tours <BR> <BR>The two best places on the web that I know of for information on the <BR> Italian rail system are: <BR> www.itwg.com/trains/trains.asp <BR> and <BR> www.fs-on-line.com/ <BR>recommended on Fodor's forum Dec 2000: www.railsaver.com <BR>good websites about Siena: <BR>www.turismoverde.com/english/enhome.htm includes bus schedules <BR>www.comune.siena.it <BR>www.turismoverde.com/english/enhome.htm bus service Siena <BR>www.annells.demon.co.uk/main/busita.htm links to websites on Italian bus services <BR>Ypu cam easily do a daytrip from Siena to San Gimignano, for example, by taking a bus round trip. <BR>In Siena, visit the Enoteca Italica Permanente, housed in a former fortress. Wines from all over Italy are available for tasting. <BR>Can't help you with Siena-Venice travel. <BR>

Hi, Joan, there is a restaurant called "Il Pozzo" near Poggiobonsi (SP?) that has had great reviews - alas, it was closed the Sunday and Monday we were there. We ate in an old wine cave in Castellina in Chianti called Gallapappa that we enjoyed. Go to www.monterinaldi.com and request a map - they will send you a map of *all* the vineyards in Chianti with roads marked well - great map and free! (Thanks to Elaine!!) The roads are great and it is fun driving around the area - have fun. Don't drive in Florence - it is horrendous and there is no need - it is a walking town. Enough art for a lifetime, don't miss David - get tickets ahead of time - you will have long lines in July. Also agree with recommendation of Montalcino and Montepulciano. Forget Castello Brolio - we were disappointed and the winery is a couple blocks away. Radda in Chianti is supposed to have a fantastic meat and cheese store. It was all great - I envy your two weeks. If I can help more, e-mail me directly.

Is a car an absolute MUST for visiting these small towns? Can it be rented in these towns for a few days? Will be spending several weeks this fall and I don't want the expense for the entire time. HELP! Terry

hi Terry, <BR>we rented a car this past September from Europcars i think [we booked it through a travel agent at home - canada]. they had a major office in florence. from what i could tell it was very reasonable for the rental...but the price of gas wasn't. if you stay off the autostrada you'll also save yourself the tolls but, it may take you longer to get from A to B - not so bad in the tuscan countryside <BR>i don't think there are train stations in every small town but probably close. We just found the car so much more relaxing and parking was never really an issue. <BR>enjoy. <BR>ciao <BR>SP

Ditto the last reply. Thorough enjoyment and freedom rests on getting a car. <BR> <BR>FYI: Il Pozzo is in Monteriggioni, a few kilometers from Siena. There is also another really good tuscan restaurant across the piazza from it that I can't recall. And Hotel Monteriggioni a few doors down (4stars and it looked so awsome.) <BR>