Which would you choose to re-visit if you had to choose one? And, could you pick one town as your fave?

Tuscany !
Val d'Orcia---Pienza, Montalcino et al

Without a doubt Tuscany. Sorry but I cannot choose just one town - there are so many delightful ones.

What travel2live2 said.

I absolutely wouldn't stay in a Tuscan town, unless living among a concentration of medieval buildings has a novelty vaue for you. If Dante didn't put getting in and out of Siena every day as one of the things people in Hell have to do, it was because his mind was carried away by dirty fantasies about Beatrice rather than doing his job right.

I'd rent a house in the countryside, drive round and learn the art of choosing the right car park to visit a walled hilltown for a day

This might be of interest...

http://tinyurl.com/6kw8fl

Absolutely Tuscany.

Agree with Bob -definitely the Val d'Orcia towns. We loved Montalcino, San Quirico and Pienza in particular.

Tuscany!! I agree with Flanneruk, we stayed in a villa in Castellina in Chianti - the surrounding countryside is absolutely divine!! About a 40 minute drive to Florence and from memory about 1/2 hour to San Gimignano and Sienna.

Sorry, I mean't to say that the villa was just outside Castellina in Chianti, not right in the town. oops!

Sorry it took so long to respond-this post dropped quickly and I couldn't find it with a search.
Anyway, it looks like Tuscany is almost a slam dunk. TuckH, the Times Online article was very good. Author edges Tuscany 4-3 but had to equivocate in some instances.
Am going to Provence in Sept. for second trip and to try to figure out which I like most.
A good problem, eh?

Tuscany for sure...Val d'Orcia region.

Why do you want to figure out which one you like the most - are you planning to move to one of these areas???

I've spent a considerable amount of time in each area. I think the Val d'Orcia is the prettiest region, but I think there are more things within a short distance of Provence (Coast, Alps, Rhone Valley, Ardeche).

Stu Dudley

Tuscany!!! =) Agree with Bob on this one, too. The Val d'Orcia is pretty spectacular. Volterra further north is also incredible.

We've been to both several times, but and hearts and interests always lead us back to Tuscany (and neighboring region Umbria). Provence is beautiful, but Tuscany and its many villages far surpass what Southern France offers. And, the foods of Tuscany...! Yum, yum!

Love them both, but if I had to choose one, I think I'd choose Provence. annie

I would love to say it's a toss-up but as sublime as Provence is...Tuscany has my heart.

bookmarking...

Thanks Katie for finding this again. Am still having probs; when I "call up" my own posts, the most recent is before 8/6, and there are no 8/10 posts on Europe when I change forums (or is that 'fora'?).

Anyway, Stu I'd move in a moment if I weren't so attached to familiar ways of doing things in USA (and won the lottery). The food in US is getting a little scary though. Hub and I have been to Italy several times and are just getting to know south of France now. Was just curious about what other people think of both places. We seriously sigh when we think about Italy-it has our hearts too, caroltis, but are enjoying France in a more concrete way. Maybe we are just more used to travel.
We loved Spoleto (I know not Tuscany) and the family who owned the hotel (Clitunnis). We also loved Arles. We'll make Aix our base in September so I'll see what happens to my attitude!

For me it's Provence hands down. I found the people of Provence more welcoming and I enjoyed the local markets more in Provence. Tuscany is beautiful, but Provence has a beauty and warmth that make visiting a more full bodied experience, like a fine Cote d' Rhone wine.