<BR>My husband and I will be leaving in 3 weeks time and have booked for 5 nights in a villa 10 min drive outside San Giminagno. We plan to us this as a base for the 5 days. We have been to Florence and Pisa in the past. Would love any suggesions regarding day trips for the 5 days we will be in Tuscany. What routes to take and what we should not miss. We will have a car. Any help would be most grateful.

I vote Volterra, Siena, and San Galgano.

Montalcino and Montepulciano are great (especially for wine lovers). There's a nice vineyard to visit outside Montalcino...Fattoria dei Barbi. Also, I've heard wonderful things about Pienza.

Rose, we love Tuscany. been there several times. Hope you enjoy it as much as we do. For lots of information, check out my web page:<BR>http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/5733<BR>Hope you find it useful.

Another vote for Siena & Volterra. Also a pitstop in Monteriggioni --- one of those lovely walled villages that's up overlooking the area. <BR>

rose:<BR>We are planning also to rent a villa next year with our family. Could you tell me what realtor/web site you used?? After your return, I would love to know your comments.<BR><BR>thanks, marilyn

Another vote for Seina, Monteriggioni, Pienza. BTW there was a great thread on this board about a trip to Tuscany, I can't remeber who posted it but it was very detailed.

Someone kindly topped that thread that Susan mentioned a couple of days ago and I made a copy. Do a search for "Toscana Suggestions" by Dean.

That was the one Rocco--thanks for filling in my blank memory.

Hi Rose. Route #68, south of San Giminagno, from Colle di Val s'Elsa to Volterra, was one of our favorite drives. It's on a ridgetop with great views of the lush green countryside in either direction. <BR><BR>Another drive we liked was #146, between #2 and Montelpuciano (it goes through Pienza and, before Pienza, you'll see the famous little capella bordered by cypress trees, off to your right in the distance.)<BR><BR>As for towns, we loved Cortona and Volterra. Regretted not stopping in Monteriggioni (which a lot of people seem to like), but we visited, and liked, nearby Colle di Val s'Elsa. <BR><BR>The cream-colored abbey of Sant Antimo, south of Montalcino, is quite beautiful and its beauty is matched by its scenic location. The nearby town of Bagno Vignoni is interesting due to the fact that its "town square" is a hot spring (can't go in it, though.) <BR><BR>The area south of Siena, toward Montalcino/Pienza/Montelpuciano, seemed to have most of the classic Tuscan landscapes, with stone farmhouses and rows of cypress trees.

Sorry have not responded earlier, but was away for a day so.. A big thank you to all of you that responded to my request, all the information is most helpful. Marilyn the web address of where we are staying is www.vallebuia.com I have been dealing with Francesca Grantham. This place was recommended to me by friends of ours that were in Tuscany 2/3 years ago. Corresponding with Francesca has been very prompt and extremely helpful, so I will let you know on our return what it was like. Steve thank you for your website - Capo thank you also for the routes, we will certainly take your advise. Yes I have read Dean's article and must say made me feel like I should leave tomorrow. Well done and thanks again. I will inform you of our trip on our return.

ttt

We stayed near San G a few years ago and thoroughly enjoyed a simple afternoon trip to nearby Certaldo Alto - a small but beautiful medieval town that was the home of Giovanni Boccaccio. We walked around the town and discovered &quot;Osteria del Vicario&quot; - a magical little restaurant with lodgings in a 13th century monastery (http://www.osteriadelvicario.it/prima.htm). Unassuming on the outside - we were stunned when we entered and saw the gorgeous patio perched way above the Tuscan countryside. The tables on the patio are covered in white linens, the view was stunning, and we ordered one of the most memorable meals of our entire trip - hearty, authentic, well prepared 'Tuscan' fare (right down to the lardo on the mixed meat platter!) and fine Tuscan wine. From San G. this is the ideal 'day trip' when you are a little tired and don't want to drive too far, or if you get a late start. From San G. this is about a 30-45 minute drive max (we use to eat up a lot of time taking wrong turns around Pongibonsi!)

Help! I have searched for Dean's Toscana Suggestions but could not find the message. Can anyone give me more specific info. Also, what is topping?<BR>Thanks for the help.

I tried to find it, too, but couldn't. Yes, please help.

Via a text serach for &quot;toscana and dean&quot; I found the following -<BR><BR>Florence: http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessages.jsp?fid=2&amp;tid=1325605<BR><BR>Roma: http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessages.jsp?fid=2&amp;tid=1326938<BR><BR>Dean gives very good advice, and these are well worth resurrecting.

Siena,Montalcino and Montepulciano..my favorite stops.