stisha

I need some advice! My girlfriends and I are traveling to Italy for a little over a week. We are thinking of flying into Pisa and maybe staying in Tuscany overnight to go to a winery that day or the next day. We'd like to rent a car from the airport. How easy is that?
My girlfriend wants to go to the winery that started the super Tuscan (sounds good to me). Suggestions on a nice place to stay?.
Then-we thought we would travel on to Umbria. We would love a place that's not in a city, but more in the countryside. Worried that it will be too much like a b&b though. We all like the feeling of anonymity (somewhat) that a hotel affords one. However the country is very attractive. Suggestions on where to stay?
Two more things- we want a cooking class that is one or two days or two separate days. Suggestions?
Lastly, how crazy will it be to go to the Amalfi coast in August ???
Any advice is greatly appreciated!! Also -its my 50th birthday so I don't mind spending a bit more and we're all very active!
Thanks a bunch!!
Leaving and flying back to USA out of Rome

stevewith

The Amalfi coast will be crazy in August, and with only a week in Italy, it is hard to see how you could make that work.

It is easy to rent a car in Pisa and head to Bolgheri. It is not a long drive. But after that, I think driving all the way to Umbria for a countryside experience of Italy really isn't necessary. Since you are flying out of Rome, it would be simpler to stay in Tuscany.

You don't say how many of you are traveling, but if you rent an apartment (or more than one apartment) on an Italian agriturismo (farm), you will have your own space, including your own outdoor space, plus a pool. Without knowing your budget it is hard to make recommendations but if you do Google searches for "short stay agriturismo Tuscany" or "short stay agriturismo Umbria" , you should get plenty of hits. You will see that many agriturismi also offer cooking classes, or it won't be hard to find one in a town or farm nearby.

Since you are flying out of Rome, you might focus on the Maremma area of Tuscany for your agriturismo, or the area around Orvieto in Umbria. The val d'Orcia area is considered by many to be the crown jewel of Tuscan scenery, so you might want to go there.

You will most likely need to spend your last night in Rome or near the Rome airport.

You have a fairly busy complicated wish list and you are travelign at the peak tourist season, so you need to reserve things fairly quickly.

stevewith

stisha,

you have 2 threads going. The way to find a thread you started is to clcik on your own screen name at the top right corner of the Fodor's web page.

Here is your other thread with many answers

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...s-in-italy.cfm

You should stick to one thread

stisha

Thank you for your recommendations. I am new to this forum and to forums in general. Your advice is very helpful! Puts my mind at ease regarding privacy at the possibility of staying at an agriturismo. I will look up Maremma. We had considered Orvieto as a base. The coast is looking like it will have to be another trip. We are not on a tight budget, so staying at nicer places (3 or 4 star) since its a short trip would be part of the goal.
Ay other suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

WWK

The Sunday New York Times today has an article on "The Lesser-known Gems" of Tuscany. Take a look. They mention Bolgheri Talamone, and Capalbio, all of which are south of Forte dei Marmi.

bilboburgler

" the winery that started the super Tuscan" there was not one. It was a general movement away from the restrictions of the AC /DOC system which resulted in these great wines

stevewith

Tenuta San Guido in Bolgheri deserves the credit for much of early development of Super Tuscans and for leading the way for a Super Tuscan wine to be awarded official DOC status.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenuta_San_Guido

It can be interesting to include a pilgrimate like that in a trip. It helps give the trip a shape.

Stisha,

Since your trip is so soon, I suggest that you start by looking on Booking.com to see if you can find a suitable agriturismo near Orvieto in August. I also recommend that you do a google search for "agriturismo Civitella d'Angliano", which is a little south of Orvieto but has a nice reputation for food and scenery and charm, and much fewer tourists. I believe you can find cooking classes in the town.

If you strike out there, try a similar search for Torre Alfina, which is just a bit west of Orvieto.

stevewith

wrong spelling --

Correct spelling is Civitella d'Agliano

stisha

You have been incredibly helpful, and I can't thank you enough!