Two couples have booked air to Italy in June 2004. We have one week for Tuscany. Would you recommend a base near Siena (don't care about the coast or Pisa this trip) or a base near Cortona? We are in to wine, food, and historic "stuff".

Thanks for the help!

No question--near Siena and preferably south of Siena. Cortona is too isolated.
If you plan to rent, check out slowtrav.com for great info & reviews.

Near Siena,
lovely city!!!!
This summer the children and I stayed at a place called Castello Montalto.
they have a variety of rentals .
www.montalto.it
Very friendly and a lovely spot!!!
and it only took me a 90 mins or so to drive down from Florence!

If you're interested primarily, or solely, in exploring Tuscany, I'd recommend a base near Siena. If you may want to explore Umbria as well as Tuscany, then I'd recommend a base near Cortona, as Cortona is very near the Tuscany/Umbria border.

I also recommend Siena. If you want to go to the wineries....make advanced reservations! We had some trouble without reservations. The food was great! The wine was great! The sites were wonderful. We went with another couple this past May and it was truely a trip of a lifetime (and we travel all over!)! Take tons of pictures and have fun! I also recommend Castello di Brolio for a tour of the grounds and wine tasting.