Tuscany Region
 

Hi. We're nailing down our 2 week Italy trip and we're going to have about 3-4 days in Tuscany. I would love to hear what towns in that area to visit/stay at. Thanks.

We stayed in Montepulciano for a week a few years ago and loved it. My preference is always to stay in an apartment town but many people prefer the lovely villas in the countryside.

I suggest that you narrow your question a bit. Do you want to stay in Florence, or Pienza. Big city or small countryside village.

Here is something I posted a few years ago.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...y-171368-2.cfm

Stu Dudley

Are you renting a car?

Sorry, I should have been more specific. We're going to see the Amalfi coast, then up to Florence. In between that we have 3-4 days in Tuscany. I know there are many cool places in the region, but since we only have a few days, I was hoping to hear suggestions as to what the best of the best smaller places were to see/stay.

And yes, we will have a rental car. Thanks

Stu Dudley

I had looked at the Val D'Orcia area and thought it looked gorgeous. Can you suggest a specific town/village to stay?

Stay in the Val d'Orica - the most beautiful countryside in Italy, IMO. Either Montepulciano, Pienza, San Quirico, or Montalcino. We'll be in San Quirico for 2 weeks in 3 weeks from today. We're staying in an apartment, but here is a nice hotel in San Quirico:
http://www.palazzodelcapitano.com/en/

Stu Dudley

That's great Stu. We'll definitely look into San Quirico on our way up from the Amalfi Coast. We leave Amalfi on Sept 7, so we could hit Val d'Orcia on the way up. We would still like to chose another town/village or two to stay at on our way up to Florence.

As a potential itinerary, we're looking at the 7th in San Q, then Siena for a night, San G for a night, Lucca for a night, then heading on to Florence.

Any suggestions of towns to substitute in instead of the above, please let me know.

Those towns are very popular so if the trip is this September you need to lock in some reservations for lodgings

I've never been to San Quirico, but of Montalcino, Pienza, and Montepulciano, my favorites would be in the order I've just listed them. All are very pleasant, though.

If you're looking for something outside that area, I really liked Sovana. It's a charming small town, an outlying village of Sorano, with an Etruscan necropolis, and some craft shops. Sovana is in the extreme south of Tuscany, just north of the border with Lazio, so you'd hit it before the Val d'Orcia. There are some interesting trips you can take from Sovana, including to Pitigliano.

You might also consider Volterra, another Etruscan town, not far from San Gimignano.

I would recommend not moving every night. You will loose the whole feel of slower pace that makes the countryside so special. I have a feeling that once you arrive in your small town of choice in the Val d'Orca you will regret having to leave the next day!

Ditto Dayle.

Stu Dudley

It's Orcia, Dayle. Orca means killer whale, or also a mythological man-eating sea monster.

I know bvlenci! Too tired last night!