Tuscany/Umbria etc.
 

On our two week, romantic 25th anniversary trip next June/early July, after starting in Rome and the Amalfi Coast, and before we end up at Lake Como, I am looking for a good geographical location for day trips in the Tuscany area. We've been to Florence a few times and don't need to do that. We want a gorgeous area with a view, a breakfast, then access by car to a variety of locations, returning in the evening perhaps for dinner and conversation with fellow travelers. I can find the hotel/villa/B & B/farm house etc., but the geographical location is what I'm after. Thanks.

San Quirico d'Orcia is all of the above. Stay at the Palazzo del Capitano. You can find many posts about this here.

If not there, Siena or San Gimignano are both extraordinary...Enjoy your trip!

Montepulciano or Gubbio

Locanda di San Frnacesco in Montepulciano. It is gorgeous, has a wonderful wine bar that serves amazing food, sits at the top of a hill that overlooks the Tuscan sunset, close to many other Val d'Orcia towns. (Stay in the orange room. We LOVED it.)

I'll nominate Albergo Rosati, a few km south of Orvieto. Maybe ten generous rooms and a daily dinner for ten or fifteen people (incouding neighbors) that goes on until the wine and grappa is gone. The whole thing is "chaired" by the owner. We were there a few years ago and another couple from the US stays there yearly for three weeks. Its that good. They have a website I'm sure.

As for my nomination? If you want romantic and beautiful, Montepulciano is it. And I loved my stay here (again, booked through my favorite people who find everything for me lately and save me hours googling): http://www.italiancollection.com/en/...-tre-rose.html

And a fun day trip? Lunch at Castello Dei Sorci! Because it's gorgeous, peaceful, fun, interesting, delicious, homemade, and really, who doesn't like lunch in a haunted castle?

http://www.castellodisorci.it/italiano/storia.html

We were in tuscany Sept. 2008 and stayed at Palazzo del Capitano and Albergo Rosati. The hotel and breakfast at Palazzo del Capitano is fine but we felt somewhat isolated. If I could do it over, I would stay at
Pienza(loved),Montalcino or Montepulciano. Be sure to buy a lot of cheese in Pienza~we enjoyed ours for 3months.

We then stayed at Albergo Rosati which is more rustic. At first I was a bit hesitant about the dinner but it turned out to be a highlight of our trip!! The host is delightful and most helpful and can arrange tours in the area.
I would love to find a hotel/B&B in Provence for 2010 with the same experience. I definitely will return on our next trip.

I feel the Val d'Orcia area in southern Tuscany is the most beautiful area of Tuscany. Stay just outside of Pienza.

This is where I like to stay. The views from the property are spectacular. A great breakfast is served overlooking the valley. The website can give you an idea of the beauty of the area-

http://www.fontebertusi.it/eng/

Here is a website with more info on the area and a listing of places to stay-

http://www.portalepienza.it/

Both Pienza and San Quirico d'Orcia make good daytripping bases. They're centrally located in the Val d'Orcia, flat and easy to get in and out of with a car. And small but with a selection of restaurants.

My ideal is to stay on the edge of town (parking available, quick exit) but be able to walk into town to restaurants, so we can indulge in the local wine after a long day sight-seeing. Another option is an agriturismo that serves dinner.

Casa Reminiscenza close to Lago Bolsena and Orvieto has got good comments in Norw media. www.casaremi.com. Small, run by two guys. Car rental in Orvieto

I've got to say that Castello di Sorci is not where to go to eat. It was the worst meal I had last trip to Italy a few months back. That said, nearby Anghiari is wonderful and would make a great base of operations for a Tuscany/Umbria vacation.

Check the driving times to other places you want to see before you pick Orvieto. Some of the best of both Umbria and Tuscany are too far for day trips.

I should add something positive so I'll recommend the pizza at Bar Baldaccio in the aforementioned Anghiari. Maybe the best pizza I've ever had even though it isn't cooked in a wood fired oven and will be well under 10 Euro. Try the Napolitana col aglio and say hello to Stefano. Just don't say anything bad about AC Milan in there!

Irishmickey--

Our 25th is coming up in a couple of months too! Congratulations!

I can strongly nominate Agriturismo Savernano south of Florence about 30 mins. by train. Here's the website:
http://www.agriturismosavernano.com/

Look on TripAdvisor as well, since it is a very popular location with many reviews and pictures.

We stayed there for a week this last April. What a find. The food is fantastic, and the rooms are some of the most spacious we've stayed in anywhere. The bathrooms are very modern (as in very hot water, great water pressure, etc.)

The location feels very remote--so relaxing, rural, intimate, and beautiful. And yet it is so close to all the usual suspects (i.e., all the great hill towns you'd like to see).

We chose not to eat anywhere else because this was some of the best food we encountered in our month in Italy. Breakfast is an amazing treat (don't miss the special scrambled eggs...I still think about them).

As I recall, rooms were about 100E. Ask for the one upstairs on the far corner facing the back. I believe it's #5. Incredible sunsets. (other note: room has a safe and fridge).

This agriturismo is unique and romantic---the owner loves birds and so there are swans and peacocks on the property. A beautiful pool and beautiful grounds/landscaping. I think this place is a treasure.

Enjoy!

LisaG

Why don't you go to Bettona, a lovely hilltown in Umbria. Very close to Perugia, Todi, Assisi, Spoleto and all the other beautifull litle towns in Umbria. Umbria is not so crowded with tourists and very romantic.
We stayed there for 2 weeks in July in B&B Le 4 Stagioni with a breath taking view on Perugia. Here's the website: http://www.villa4stagioni.com/en/home/