We are trying to figure out how to best see the area with a car in 2 days. We will already have visited Florence, San G. and Lucca. We will be staying in Siena and would like to leave Siena in the early morning, visit towns and then stay overnight in one of the towns on our way to Rome (late the following day). Which towns would you suggest we include and where should we do the overnight stay? We were thinking of Montepulciano, Cartona, ???? staying overnight in Perugia? Orvieto? Assisi? Thanks for any help you can give us. We are confused!

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I'd try Locanda Rosati, a few km south of Orvieto. A wonderful place with a great kitchen and genial host. Dinner goes on and on with free flowing wine and grappa. Orvieto boasts, of course, its famous cathedral and also a world class restaurant: I Sette Consoli, not to be missed. Locanda Rosati has a website.

Another plug for I Sette Consoli. We're staying at Locanda Rosati, and the dinner sounds like fun. But, I don't know if I can eat that much food in one day. I'd have to chose one or the other, me thinks.

Can't recommend specific b&bs or hotels, but second the idea of Orvieto. Montepulciano is a charming little hilltown with some great wine (and lots of less-great tourist plonk) but Orvieto has a jaw-dropping cathedral and some great restaurants. Assisi is also an amazing visit but isn't really the most convenient layover from Siena to Rome.

I haven't been to Assisi or Perugia, but we loved Orvieto! I would highly recommend staying there overnight. It's a wonderful place in the evening. We stayed at the Palazzo Piccolomini and it was very nice. That was a few years ago, so you might check for a current recommendation on it.

Be sure to take the Underground tour of the caves. Fascinating!

BUDMAN: I did both one day last September. You have to concentrate and stay on mission, but its doable.

DRJ -- OK, I'll be going this September, and I'll do it in your honor.

The free flowing wine may have some influence. O

Cortona is up in the far (eastern) end of Tuscany, very close to Umbria. In fact, I made it a day trip while staying in Perugia in September. I really liked Perugia and found it a central city with easy access to the neighboring towns (Assisi, Orvieto, etc). I would recommend stopping there after Siena. Perugia is famous for its annual jazz festival, and chocolate (among other things).

BUDMAN: You'll have a great time. When I was there last Sept. I met a pleasant couple from Tucson who spend two or three weeks at Locanda Rosati every year. They may be there when you are. BTW, the wood sculptures all over the locanda can be purchased at the studio of Michaelangeli in the center of Orvieto. I shot my entire mad money budget there and enjoy my purchases every day. Ciao.

Much as I adored Assisi, if you are saying you have only 1 night and 2 days to see hilltowns and get to Rome, I would just visit towns to the south of Siena, such as Montepulciano and Pienza, then overnight in Orvieto, touring Orvieto day two, the on to Rome by day's end. Buon Viaggio!