Considering renting a house just outside of Montalcino for 4wks beg. end of May 2002. Some of the group will be making their first trip to Italy. Is Montalcino too remote a location for a "home base" from which to explore Tuscany...from Cinque Terra to Florence, Chianti, Siena, east part of Umbria, etc?

Debra<BR><BR>Try www.slowtrav.com. It's a noncommercial site with reviews of many places to stay in the Montalcino area.<BR><BR>Buon viaggio

Debra,<BR> Montalcino would be an ideal location for exploring everything on your list except Cinque Terra (which would be maybe a 3-5 hour drive?). The Crete Senesi--the area to the south of Siena where Montalcino is located--is truly a little bit of heaven on earth!

Debra---<BR>Montalcino is about a 15 minute drive from the main north-south highway that will take you to all of the Tuscany attractions. Its number is highway 2. From there you can go north or south to all the Tuscany villages; my favorites are mostly in the southern region and are not as touristy as San G or Lucca. However, I'd certainly advise you to see the places from north to south because Tuscany is lovely. If you want, I'll suggest my favorite villages that I enjoy visiting. Good travels....

Wow--did you say 4 weeks? Sounds like alot of fun. I do love south Tuscany, but I would not spend all 4 weeks there.<BR>There is much to see and do within an hour radius of Montalcino. However, I see no reason to drive 2 hours each way to other destinations. Why not split the time and move further north for the other 2 weeks. Holler if you need some ideas.

Wayne, I would love to hear your favorite villages in Tuscany! And, why they are your favorites. I will be there for 4 days in April. I am having a difficult time trying to narrow down my towns I will be able to visit in that short time. Thanks.