Tuscany..need experienced advice
 

Mid September, four adults will spend 2 nights in Florence then 4 nights in Tuscany area. This is our first trip to Italy and I am overwhelmed and confused as to where to stay in Tuscany. We desire a nice place indicative of the area with beautiful views where we can be centrally located to other small towns and get a real flavor of Tuscany. We fly out of Milan. Please recommend "Must See" in the Tuscany area staying there for four days. Thanks

I am sure you will receive replies from those who are much more experienced than I. I have been only been to Italy once, but I will share with you what I experienced and what I will be doing on my next trip there. I tried to experience two different "feels" while in Tuscany. First I rented a small villa in the countryside (just outside a small town) close to Cortona for one week. Very quiet, peaceful and scenic. We really enjoyed it. Loved the house. We actually explored a lot of Umbria from here. My favorite town was Gubbio. Also enjoyable was going to Lake Trasimeno and riding the ferry to Isola Maggiore.

www.summersleases.com/cortona1.cfm

Next I rented an apartment in Montepulciano for a week. Open the front door and step out onto the main street. Lovely apartment with gated parking for our rental car. We walked all over the city and it was convenient for daytrips. We loved Montepulciano.

www.appartamentialpoggiolo.it/

I preferred the city apartment. Next trip I am looking for a city apartment in a smaller town, possibly San Quirico for a two week visit.

You will get a lot of "must sees" from other posters. Aside from all the usual sightseeing places, I would suggest that you visit some of the small hilltowns. I enjoyed just walking around and experiencing the Italian culture in a small town. And pick one to visit for "Market Day." This is the market where the locals shop. Very enjoyable. You only have four days. Don't cram too much into those 4 days. Take time to enjoy the italian people and their way of life. Have a wonderful trip!

Hi K,

I'll be taking my third trip to Italy in mid-Sept. Maybe we will cross paths.

On my second trip, we stayed in Chianti for 4 nights. A tiny village called San Sano about 20 minutes drive north on the 222 from Siena (where we picked up our car). From there we did day trips to San Giminagno and Volterra (long day), Siena, Greve, Castello di Brolio, and one day did wine tasting with a long lunch at La Badia di Coltibuono.

We thought San Sano and the Hotel San Sano (****) were the most perfect place we stayed on our 3 week trip. However, I felt Chianti was not the best location for driving day trips. The roads are windy and slower going.

Also, after 4 days driving back to the same place to sleep, I started to feel like I was doing a lot of backtracking - about 2 hours every day. The good part about staying a a very tiny village/countryside is no traffic, no parking problems, no trouble finding the hotel in a medieval hill town with narrow streets.

On my Sept trip I am traveling solo and will spend 5 days in Tuscany/Umbria in 3 towns. Assisi, Gubbio, and Montalcino. I am staying right in the towns this time and am prepared for possible stress finding the hotels and parking. My reason for staying right in town is to be able to walk to and from dinner and to experience the hill towns in a different way.

Most posters here will say that 1 night stays are too hectic and not worth the checking in/out time involved. However, I travel light and am not concerned about it. I think not backtracking will work for me.

I would suggest visiting Chianti on your way from Florence (if you like wine) and then driving on to your destination. Most here will recommend southern Tuscany, around Montepulciano. From there you can do day trips to Siena, San Gimignano, Volterra, etc., and of course Montepulciano and Pienza.

There are so many wonderful places to visit - you will return!

Buon viaggio!

My favorite area in Tuscany is the Val d'Orcia - just south of Pienza. I can't think of a better region to visit and get the "feel" of Tuscany, with the villages of Montepulciano, Pienza, San Qirico, Montalcino, and Monticchiello close by. The countryside is majestic with the freshly plowed fields in different shades of camel or rust color, and the cypress trees "dancing" up the hills and farmhouses perched everywhere.

I have a 20+ page Italy itinerary that I've sent to over 400 people on this travel board and the aol board. The itinerary has a heavy dose of Tuscany in it. E-mail me at [email protected] if you want a copy.

Stu Dudley

We stayed at Fattoria La Loggia (www.fatlaloggia.it) a few yaers ago and loved it. It's a working farm (grapes, olives) that has a set of gorgeously furnished apartments. Breakfast (just-baked tuscan bread, jams made on the farm, fresh yogurt, etc) is served in your room or outside on the patio.

It's in a great location, between Florence and Siena just off the highway. It was easy to take day trips to local towns, or just cruise through the Tuscan countryside.