Umbria or Tuscany?
 

Planning a honeymoon to Italy in mid-September and trying to decide whether to stay in Tuscany or Umbria for 5 nights. I hear staying in Siena is beautiful. Any recommendations for an Umbria home base? <BR><BR>Thanks!

Dear Randy, no doubt that Tuscany is more complete than Umbria, on the other hand they are so close that you can consider them all one region, Siena is a jewel and a great place for doing day trips providing though that you have a car as its pretty isolated from public transportation.

I love Siena, don't get me wrong. I think it is a great place for a honeymoon or any other visit. But I like the smaller villages, and I have two favorites: Castellina in Chianti, which is between Florence and Siena; and Torgiano, which isn't too far from Perugia. Whichever you select, you won't go wrong.

I'm a foodie, so I prefer Umbria. NOT that Tuscany isn't great for that, but we stayed at a farmhouse central to Perugia, Assisi, Todi, Orvieto, Spoletto, Deruta and Gubbio- we went hunting for truffles and mushrooms, picked olives in a grove and then had them pressed for the oil, learned to make Italian pizza, sampled chocolates and beautiful salamis and prosciutto, pecorino cheese, breads from wood fired ovens... we were also close enough that we took 2 days north to Montalcino for some Brunello tasting at an estate, before spending a day in Siena and 2 days in Florence... depending on what your interests are, you may be able to do both?<BR><BR>Congratulations and buon viaggio!<BR>Wendy

I'm a foodie, so I prefer Umbria. NOT that Tuscany isn't great for that, but we stayed at a farmhouse central to Perugia, Assisi, Orvieto, Spoleto, Deruta and Gubbio- we went hunting for truffles and mushrooms, picked olives in a grove and then had them pressed for the oil, learned to make Italian pizza, sampled chocolates and beautiful salamis and prosciutto, pecorino cheese, breads from wood fired ovens... we were also close enough that we took 2 days north to Montalcino for some Brunello tasting at an estate, before spending a day in Siena and 2 days in Florence... depending on what your interests are, you may be able to do both?<BR><BR>Congratulations and buon viaggio!<BR>Wendy

SIENA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am interested in the idea a "homebase" in Tuscany (from which one could do daytrips to Siena, Florence) and wonder if anyone can recommend an apartment or cottage (maybe with pool access. . .)in Tuscan.<BR><BR>Thanks, <BR>Christy