Tuscany - "Enough to do there?"
 

I ask your assistance, even though I recognize that the question is so general that it is hard to answer. I particularly look forward to a reply from Eloise and Ira, if they would indulge me!

My wife and I have traveled abroad three years in a row, and I am hoping to make this year the fourth. Last year we spend 10 days in Rome and Venice and absolutely fell in love with Italy. It was the best vacation we have ever had, both of us agreed.

This year we are thinking of going to Tuscany. We have always had a preference for "city" vacations, and are a bit perplexed that there might not be "enough to do" in Tuscany. Would you care to offer anything that you can on this subject?

I know, it is virtually impossible as you do not know us nor we you, but I would be interested in your thoughts nonetheless!

Thanks very much,

Dave Zemens
Rochester, Michigan

How long are you planning to stay this time and what time of year will it be? Are you considering renting a car so that you can see many of the great hilltowns?

Do you like wine and visiting wineries? Interested in visiting olive oil mills?
Parts of Tuscany are peppered with Etruscan ruins.

Florence, located in Tuscany, is a wonderful city for a vacation and some time there would allow you to experience the best of all worlds - Italy, a city and the Tuscan countryside.

We generally like to spend nine nights on the ground, and we would defintely rent a car...Florence as a base, eh?

with 9 nights, I'd suggest 2 bases.
Western Tuscany - Lucca, Pisa, Florence with Florence as the base.
Southern Tuscany - Greve, Siena, San G, Pienza, etc, etc, all the way to Orvieto (though thats Umbria) based in an agritourismo somewhere.

I think you've asked a good question. I hope I don't come across as spoiled rotten, but I got very antsy during the Tuscan portion of our vacation last August, and couldn't wait to get back to the city's pulse and life.

I think the (dare I say it?) endless rolling countryside, beautiful as it was, bored me to tears. I did enjoy our stay in San Gimignano, and a day trip to Siena, but even that portion of the trip didn't compare favorably to vacations we'd taken to Italian cities and the coast.

Weadles:
I understand, and have the same fears. Tell me more about the "coast", would you!

Dave

Perhaps Weadles meant the Amalfi Coast. Very relaxing and beautiful, but LOTS to see in the area!

I suspect Weadles means the Cinque Terre as the coast. Whether or not that's it, the CT would be a great place to visit. It all depends what you're into. If you like beautiful drives and smaller hilltowns you could spend a lifetime exploring inland Tuscany but the coastal villages offer fabulous scenery and wonderful food from the sea.

I did mean the Amalfi Coast. We've been four times, and I'm always sorry to leave. I think being on or near water is endlessly fascinating to me in a way that bucolic countryside isn't.

I also generally prefer the food, and the variety of destinations. Pompeii, Naples, Capri, and the AC towns are all within a half day of travel time from Rome.

Anyway, I suppose it depends what you like to do on vacation, but for us the combination of ROme on one end, and the Amalfi Coast on the other, has always been a winner.

Hi dw,

For nine days, you night want to consider 5 in Florence, with daytrips to Bologna and/or Orvieto by train, and 4 at an Agriturisimo near Siena from which you could take daytrips by car or bus.

I also suggest looking at www.slowtrav.com

((I))

Last Sept. we went to the Italian Riviera, Tuscany and Rome. It was a great combo, but we has a few more days. You might consider Porto Venere or Santa Margherita and Tuscany. I am not a big wine drinker and even though I loved the hill towns I was DONE in 4 days.