Itinerary critique please?
May 21, 2014, 4:38 PM
Hello,

My husband and I will be driving to Tuscany from Venice and then staying in the wonderfully reviewed Hotel Vecchio Asilo (near San Gimignano but not in it). If I had been able to research a bit more ahead of time before booking, I would have split Tuscany into 2 B&Bs, one north and one south. But as it is we are pretty central. We already have been to Florence and so can skip it this time in favor of small hilltowns. We will have 4 and a half to 5 days in Tuscany, 5 nights. We like hiking, walking, exploring, scenic driving. So I'm not quite set yet on how much we can see but thinking one day for Siena, one day for Lucca and Volterra, one day for Southern Tuscany-Montalcino, Montepulciano,San Quirico d’Orcia, Pienza,etc., one day for the Maremma. I really want to see Pitigliano, Sorano, and Sovana and walk through the Vie Cave. l am thinking a hike through those Maremma hilltop towns and the Vie Cave will be really memorable for us. Would like to get to Monteriggioni and Carrara as well but not sure if it fdits in anywhere or if it's doable. Don't really know if we can/should do all this as it seems like a lot on paper but some of those little towns seem very close together and tiny. I'm thinking long days and getting back to our B&B late in the evening and sitting outside in the garden drinking wine and putting our feet up! Any feedback is welcome and thanks so much

Tinglehead - I think that you are being a bit optimistic about what you may be able to accomplish on each day, bearing in mind the time it takes to drive from one hill-top town to another along those windy roads.

probably spending some time with a decent map and google maps may help you to group places together and work out driving time. In particular, the trip to Pitigliano would probably be just too far in a day; you could go to Massa maritima instead, which is another most interesting town of the same time, but rather closer to San gim and in the Maremma as well which is one of your interests.

I think you're right about those long days!

www.viamichelin.com is good for getting an estimate of driving times (and tolls and gas), although the drive times tend to be optimistic.

You will be staying so close to the Chianti small towns and countryside, so I suggest spending at least a day there. Another day for the Val d'Orcia area, and then a day visiting Sorano and Pitigliano. That day will require a very early start. I'd skip Lucca. I'd even skip Siena and save it for a day trip from Florence on another visit. Volterra is an easy visit form your base.

Where are you going after your countryside visit? If you're headed to Rome, you could experience Pitigliano/Sorano on your way.

Too much in a day---especially the Val d' Orcia.
You will do well to see Montalcino and St. Antimo---and Bagno Vignoni---in a day. Pitigliano is just too far.

It's not just the driving times between towns, but because you have to park outside the towns and walk in/out you need to add more time. If you happen to go to a particular town on its market day, finding a place to park can be time-consuming.

I agree with zoecat about Lucca, but I admit I'm not a big fan of the town. Siena would be harder to skip, but getting through the clog of traffic and then the hordes of tourists might dampen your enthusiasm for the place. I think a day of exploring Chianti would a great contrast to what you'll see in southern Tuscany.

We spent a week in Tuscany (in October 2013)and felt we could have spent a months and not seen it all. It is absolutely lovely and the people were friendly, helpful and welcoming. One of our best days was a drive through the countryside, a stop at a winery (Casa Emma) for a very informative tasting (outside, with a view of the vineyard) and then a drive down to Monteriggioni - a quintessential hilltown. We had a late lunch, another wine tasting and a stroll through the streets and on the walls. A picture perfect day, unhurried and memorable.
If I were asked for advice it would be to take your time, savor the experience and plan to return.

Just a little tip: if during your trip you will want to relax, in Tuscany there are many free hot springs thermal baths: the full list here

www.italytraveller.com/en/e/bargain-baths

Thanks all. I beleive I will skip Lucca based on all your advice and I was already wavering on it anyway. As far as Val d'Orcia,I actually didn't plan on getting to all those places, just some. Can anyone highlight that area for me with additional suggestions to bobthenavigator? I have done quite a bit of research on my own but honestly, without having been there, all the names of unseen towns start to swim together! I am really disappointed about the Maremma as I wanted to walk through the Vie Cave and Pitigliano particularly. As far as plans for after Tuscany We are heading to Bergamo and then home from Milan. Again, thanks for all suggestions and happy travels!

Christina55, thanks so much for the tip on the baths. I had not heard of them...putting on my agenda!

joan - that picture of Saturnia may be a litte misleading - when we went, there wasn't half that amount of water in the pools, some of which were pretty muddy as a consequence.

it was a lot of fun wallowing around in them though, and there are some nice restaurants in the nearby villages.

Bookmarking

Thanks Annhig. Wallowing is my speciality!

joan, if you are seriously thinking of going to Saturnia [and why wouldn't you?] as you arrive there is a rather manky car park [also free] to the right of the entrance, as I recall. it's then a very short walk to the pools.

afterwards we had a lovely meal in a restaurant in a nearby village which sadly I've been unable to identify ever since; Pitigliano is also close and should not be missed.

You may already be aware of the fact that in most small towns everything except restaurants close between 12:30 and 3 pm, so there is quite a bit of time in the middle of the day which will be just window browsing and observing. This factors in to your planning, especially when you have an aggressive list of sites to visit and tends to break the day into two parts--morning and afternoon.

Thanks annhig, again!
Had to look up "manky" lol. It means what I figured it means, the same as the American version: "skanky".

joan - i may have overstated the awfulness of the car park - perhaps scruffy would be closer to the mark. But i'm sure you've got the idea!