Tuscany itinerary
 

My husband and I are spending a week in Tuscany, staying at La Chiusa, near Pienze. We are picking up a rental car in Florence and returning it in Rome.
Please advise me as to schedule of towns:
day 1. train arrives Florence at 1;30. Drive sr222 to Greve, wander for a while and take Autostrada to Pienza
day 2: Pienza & Montalcino
day 3: Monteriggioni, Volterra and San Gimignano in the evening around 4-5 pm.
or should we do Monteriggioni and Val d'Elsa (or Castellina) and San Gimmy in the evening again
day 4: Siena & Buoncourato ( sp?)
day 5: montepulciano, Sant' Antimo
day 6: Pitgliano and Sovana
day 7; Orievto on the way to Rome

I am trying to see some of Chianti and Umbria, and I cant decide what to do around the San Gimignano area. I know I want to spend two days around Pienza and one day south around Pitigliano. The rest is up for graps.

Help !

Your itinerary seems quite ambitious to me. It would wear me out, but you may be more energetic than am I.

Day 3 seems particularly crowded.

For me, Siena requires most of a day. You could head somewhere else for dinner, say San Gimignano, and skip the visit to the second town you named, which I am unfamiliar with.

Day 1: There's no autostrada between Greve and Pienza unless you mean the Si-Fi highway and the Via Cassia below Siena.
Day 2: I like the underrated S. Quirico; so add it in. Same for Montichiello.
Day 3: tuscanlife is correct - I'd drop Volterra and stick with Monteriggioni and San G.
Day 4: >>Buoncourato<< Do you mean Buonconvento? If so, I say skip it.
Day 5: Add in Bagno Vignoni.
Day 6: Use this day to catch your breath.
Day 7: Add in Civita Bagnoregio (a must).

Save Umbria for another trip.

sjoantwe,
You should go to Sant'Antimo when visiting Montalcino. When visiting Pitigliano and Sovana you might consider Sorano.
While I like Buonconvento I think Siena will use a full day.
Volterra and San Gimignano will use a full day.

Thanks everyone for some help. Day 3 was meant to list the places I was considering, certainly I didnt mean to go to all those in one day.

I have read comflicting things about Volterra and San Gimignano. Some like Volterra, others say skip. But there seems to be unifrom agreement to do San Gimignano late in the day.

So I think I will do Monteriggioni and San G later in the same day.
Adding S. Quirico & Montchiello.
Skipping Buonconvento.

Adding Bagno Vignoni.

Last day: driving from Montefolloncio, where we are staying to a villa near FCO airport. Is it too much to do Orvieto and Civita in one day and arrive at the next place, lets say by 4-5 pm?

>>Is it too much to do Orvieto and Civita in one day and arrive at the next place, lets say by 4-5 pm?<<

No, it's not too much - that's a good plan...

>>Is it too much to do Orvieto and Civita in one day and arrive at the next place, lets say by 4-5 pm?<<

I would get to Orvieto early, visit the Duomo, take the underground tour, wander the streets, have lunch, then depart for Civita right after lunch. A couple of hours driving to and visiting should be sufficient. Civita is really awesome. ((b))

ok, that sounds like a plan, Orvieto and Civita in one day.

Henry: I am adding Sant'Antimo to Montalcino, actually I was always going there.

What is your opinion about Sorano vs. Sovana? Which one would you recommend?

Hi,

Monteriggioni is really neat, but will not take much time as it is very small. We enjoyed strolling around town and browsing through some shops. It might also be a good place for lunch.

We found San G to be crowded with difficult parking even at 5:30 pm (mid-October 2004), but it wasn't totally mobbed. It is definitely a beautiful town, but it was not our favorite as we found it a bit touristy.

Volterra was really cool. The big thing there is the alabaster which makes it unique from the other Tuscan towns we visited. There seemed to be few tourists when we were there, but it is really "off the beaten path." The drive there from Castellina area was quite long and I think is even farther from Pienza.


I hope this little bit of info is helpful as you sort through your choices. You really can't go wrong as it is all wonderful. Just pick some to enjoy and don't worry about where you don't go.

Happy travels!

Oh...forgot to mention that we think Siena is really fabulous - we really enjoyed our day there. The Duomo is spectacular!

sjoantwe,
I was just suggesting a rearrangement of day two and five (Sant'Antimo is about seven kilometers from Montalcino)
Sovana may be a little easier to park and it will be easier to see scince it is basically a one street town.

ok, I think I have revised my schedule to the following:
day 1 drive from Florence , along the SS222 for awhile,to Montefollonico where we are staying, stopping in Panzano

day 2: Montalcino, San Quirico, Bagno Vignoni: this is a Sunday

day 3: Pienze/Montepulciano/Montichello

day 4: Monteriggioni/Siena

day 5: Castellina/Val d'Elsa/san G. in the late afternoon ( I want to see the crystal in Val d'Elsa)

day 6: Pitigliano/Sovana or Sorano

day: Orvieto/Civita on way to Rome

I didnt mention either abbey: my husband will only do one: should we do Monte Oliveto on Sant Antimo?

So, I eliminated Volterra, Buonconvento.

Whats the consensus?

Go with what you've outlined -- and maybe your DH will reconsider after seeing one abbey -- it's not like "going to church" -- half the enjoyment is in getting there, through the gorgeous countryside, etc. You may or may not find you will have opportunities to add or change your itinerary as the trip goes on. You'll know what you want to do when the time comes. You will love driving around Tuscany.

Monteriggioni can easily be seen on your way to Sienna (or maybe on your way home and plan to stop there for dinner).

Hi S,

I just got back and Sant'Antimo was one of the real highlights of my trip. I liked it much more than Monte Oliveto, a surprise to me. Be sure to go for mass to hear the Gregorian Chants. Dont't go for the official visiting hours. They have a web site that gives the service times. See my trip report.

Buon viaggio!

If you have time, DO have dinner at La Torre in Siena. During our 3 week trip last year, we had THE BEST pasta and ribollita here! If you are in the town square and facing the tower, there is an ally either to the left or right of the tower. Walk 15 yards or so and it is on the left. Hard to find bc it is a local place, but phenomenal food and the owner is a character himself! I did a detailed trip report of Tuscany last year, if you search on my name you may find it. Enjoy!