My wife and I have decided to take a short trip to Tuscany August 15th through the 22nd. We'll be spending 1-2 nights in Florence and the remaining nights in Chiusi, which we'll use a base for day trips. Aside from the heat and tourists (which we'll deal with), we're a little concerned that things may be closed. We can obviously deal with some things being closed, but it is our first trip to the region and we may want to consider changing our plans if a lot of places will be closed and we would really be missing out.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much.

Aari

I don't think you will find things closed and Montepulciano will be preparing for the Bravio delle Botti. I was in that area about a week later last year and everything was open. There were few tourists except in the larger towns like Assisi and Siena.
http://www.braviodellebotti.com/

www.weather2travel.com Climate Guides

AC Hotel Rooms a must for me personally

avoid long day tours and big meals in the heat

of the day it can get hot usually not too humid though

odds are great you will be fine.

Rarely though gets very hot try to stay flexible so

I can train cheaply north to sirmione.com Garda

Hotel Eden

Can always get cool there on the lake not too far

from where you will be.

Other than tourist crowds in big cities odds are great

you will be fine... Happy Travels,

Chiusi is quite close by some of the major spa centers of Tuscany, which do a brisk business in August, so I think you won't feel you are missing anything. I hope that while you are in Chiusi you will not only see the really very enjoyable Etruscan museum (labeled in English as well -- and be sure to visit the basement), but that you will also stop by the restaurant Zaira for a glass of wine or a meal and tour its wine cellar, which is actually an Etruscan tunnel that has been in continual use since Etruscan times. It is open in August

http://www.frommers.com/destinations/chiusi/D49174.html

I have no idea why anyone would suggest to you that Sirmione on Lago di Garda is "not too far" from where you will be. It is nowhere near where you will be, other than also being in Italy. Lago Trasimeno, which you can see from Chiusi, is usually pretty humid. But heat doesn't seem to be your concern anyway.

Enjoy your Tuscan stay.

aari5. I will also be in Tuscany quite near Chuisi in August.
I expect it to be hot but I have emailed a couple of merchants that I would like to visit and they are not closed.

I would suggest that you get accomodations with air if you can,
The Palio is in Siena on August 16th and I think it will be quite crowded. If you like that kind of thing fine. We plan to avoid the area.

Take it easy and enjoy. That is what I plan to do.