Using San Gimignano as a base for touring Tuscany
Mar 25th, 2000, 01:11 PM
#2
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Hi Dick! Yes, I thought very seriously about it when I based in Siena last trip then spent 2 nights in San G. Now, I was driving and it would not be so convenient if you were, say, bus and train traveling. But we found it stressless to get in & out of, it had a handy supermarket for picnics, plenty of good restaurants, and best of all, more short and long day trips than we could count! <BR> <BR>Therefore, when we go back in 2 weeks we have reservations to stay in San G. as a base for a week. I'll be happy to anwser any more specific questions. Ciao! Jan
Mar 25th, 2000, 02:40 PM
#3
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Loved San G, but pretty small little town (stayed there one night). My favorite was Sienna as it was a little bigger so a little more to do in the evening (not huge like Florence, just a little bigger). Another thought is to stay at one of the great Tuscan villas in the countryside (easy in and out and very romantic).
Mar 25th, 2000, 09:55 PM
#4
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Jan would love to hear more about the area. Have you ever stayed in a monastery? What about Lucca? Do you know of a good spa in area? Can you go for just 1-2 days? Are there any special places to shop for hand made fine crafts? So many questions. Sorry. <BR>Hope you have all the answers or someone else does.. Thanks
Apr 4th, 2000, 01:41 PM
#7
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San Gimignano is lovely, but overrun with busloads of tourists even in April such that the last time I tried to go we were unable to park and moved on to neighboring villages instead. <BR> <BR>Lucca is comparatively peaceful and also a bit larger, with a surprising number of upscale boutiques and the highest number of churches per capita in Italy (which is saying a lot!), not to mention those walls to walk on from which you can admire the gardens.... <BR> <BR>Siena is another excellent choice - more nightlife than you might expect for a relatively small town because of the university there. Not a monastery, but a hotel run by nuns there called Alba(?)Domus, has some rooms with balconies and spectacular views of the Duomo. Little English is spoken, however.
Apr 4th, 2000, 01:59 PM
#8
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Lucca is a good city to visit and to use to do daytrips to northern Tuscany. I personally think it's too far to go much farther than Siena (which took us 1 1/2 hours last time--with an Italian cousin driving!) Would you consider splitting time between Lucca and something farther south? I would stay out of San Gimignano except for a daytrip. I would stay in the countryside instead-- Locanda le Piazze near Castellina, Relais Borgo di Toiano in Sovicille (3 night minimum),or in Panzano near Greve in Chianti. There's also a fantastic hotel in Sinalunga (think that might be into Umbria) called Locanda dell'Amorosa--pricey but a real treat and more accessible than San Gimignano, where you have to negotiate with the tour buses and many tourists. If you must stay in San Gimignano, the Antico Pozzo is my recommendation but have a meal at the Cisterna. Alternatively, stay just outside town at the Relais Santa Chiara.
