I am now looking for a town in Tuscany where I can base for a week with my boyfriend next May for our civil ceremony. It will only be the two of us.

I have read a lot of posts and have come across a few towns in the area. I am just wondering where those of you have been in the area and have good knowledge of the area would pick as a base for a wedding/romantic getaway.

I know everyone has his own favourites and preferences but would like to hear some ideas. We are looking for romantic places. The rest is open. If you can, please also recommend accomodation, probably with a view of the tuscan hills/fields/vineyards... that is not more than 250 euros.

Thanks.

Maxi,

While I haven't been to Tuscany or Florence yet, I have been in the process of researching someplace nice to stay, and came across a really nice b&b called (villa la sosta) that is located right outside of Florence and is reasonable. www.villalasosta.com.

It is a "10 or 15 minute walk from the historic centre of Florence ". So it is close to Florence, but also may be far enough that it will seem a welcome rest from the city.

Giuseppina Fantoni and her brother Antonio responded to an inquiry I made and they seem friendly and genuinely willing to help accomodate.

Hope this helps!
Patricia

Our Tuscan moment is on top of the campanile in Siena. We succumbed to its beauty and its charms while trying to soak in the breath taking scenery surrounded us. It was surreal.

Unfortunately, we did Siena as a day trip from Florence. We'd have prefer the other way around. While Florence is great for arts, we certainly didn't get the same feeling from Florence's campanile looking out the sprawling city.

And for those heading to Siena, the Palio flag makes great souvenir. Made locally in Siena, a few euros each and takes almost no room in your luggage. We only bought 2 out of the 20 different designs and soon regretted not getting more. Well, that'll make a great excuse for a return trip!

We were based in this Chianti region for 10 days ; quiet and remote and at the same time close to all the towns you would want to day trip to; it is even nicer than what you see on the pictures

www.fontedemedici.it

Maxi,
I have to agree with Mitch. Any spot near Castellina-in-Chianti is a good choice. Views, Vineyards, and access to the Autostrada make it easy to explore when you want. Above all, it's romantic.

I love the Chianti region, but the Montalcino area sure seems to meet your desires. Honestly, you can't go wrong in most areas ,including Umbria (you should consider this area as well).

That I a tough one---we have been smitten in several locations. I would look at the S-146 corridor between Montepulciano and Montalcino--to include Pienza and San Quirico. As for a village, Montalcino is my fav. Here are 3 places to peruse:
www.tuscany.net/oliviera
www.palazzodelcapitano.com
www.lasaracina.it

Good luck and best wishes !

Thank you so much for all your contributions!

Patricia, thanks for sharing. I checked the website. The B&B looks very good and the price is very reasonable but I am not yet sure if we are going to stay in Florence this time.

carcassone, I have been to Florence once but never to Siena. Hope I will like Siena as much as you do.

mitchdesj, johnthedorf and jabez, thanks for sharing and letting me know that there are so many choices out there! I checked the link and it looks absolutely beautiful! How remote is this? What will be the nearest town where we can have our civil ceremony if we decide to stay there? And how long does it take?

And bobthenavigator, of course you are an expert! I was following some threads and already came across these 3 places. Personally, I like Palazzo del Capitano better. Is this place near anything, like restaurants where we can go for dinners?

Any other suggestions?

It is in the small village of San Quirico and easy to find. The owner, Roberto, has a lovely trattoria only a block away. Just about a perfect location to base for that area. However, also look at the spa hotel in Bagno Vignoni named Posta Marcucci and this one in Montefollinico: www.lacosta.it I doubt if Bagno Vignoni has a civil govt. office.

ttt

In 2000 we stayed in a B&B near a *very* tiny town named Panzano--a place so small that many of the "stores" on the main street of the town were just doorways off the street w/o signs--and while there we visited Radda, Castellina, Greve and Siena. After being in the tiny hill towns, we lost some of our ability to enjoy Siena. It just seemed so huge and hot compared to the tiny jewels that the towns were!! Our B&B did have views of the tuscan hills/fields/vineyards and then was just around 100 dollars/night but now is around 100 euros. If you are interested here is the site... http://www.tuscany.net/rosaboscorotondo/

Maxi: On the recommendation of a few folks here (Bobthenav) and after my own experiences being in this area for day trips in past travels to Tuscany, my husband and I are spending six nights in S. Querico at the Palazzo del Capitano this fall. We'll give our report when we get home in mid Oct. I don't think you can go wrong with this area.

We loved, loved, loved San Quirico d'Orcia (the residents are quick to point out that there are 2 SQs in Italy!) We stayed at the Palazzo del Capitano (also on bob's recommendation) early in June.

We loved the location---very near Montalcino, about an hour from Siena---and very convenient for touring southern Tuscany.

Our room was spacious, comfortable, and beautiful, with a king-sized canopied bed. The breakfasts were fabulous. Roberto is a wonderful host. Laura, his receptionist, speaks excellent English and is very helpful.

Roberto mapped out two days of sightseeing for us that he called "tranquille" and "no touristes" (sp?) To my husband's delight, these drives took us on back roads and dirt roads, definitely off the beaten track, where we had beautiful vistas. Roberto suggested places for lunch, which were great.

My husband needed to have a blood test while we were there, and Roberto and Laura went waaay out of their way to help us find a place to do this.

We were always delighted to return "home" to SQ at the end of a day of sightseeing. SQ is a teeny little village where you can walk around, watch the locals, and have a wonderful dinner.

There are two wonderful restaurants within a block or two of the hotel. One is Roberto's trattoria (we never did figure out when he sleeps!) called Al Vecchio Forno. The other name escapes me at the moment, and I could look it up. Both are intimate, very friendly, with excellent food and wines.

There was a festival going on when we were there, and all the ladies in town were doing the cooking. We joined in for a wonderful meal and lots of fun.

May will be a beautiful time there, with all the gorgeous fields of red poppies. We noticed from the guest book that there are lots of weddings at the Palazzo. There is a lovely garden in the rear.

Have a wonderful wedding wherever you stay! And let me know if I can give you any more info. Ciao!

Pienza!
My husband and I just returned from our honeymoon in Italy, but we left our hearts in Pienza.

We stayed at an old castle farmhouse just outside of Pienza called Castello la Grancia. We paid 80E/night, and it was a little piece of heaven.

We are already planning to return and rent out a whole farmhouse with our entire family in a year or two and just stay there and then daytrip around Tuscany.

I have to agree with the other posters who've recommended the SS-146 corridor of Montalcino, Montepulciano, Pienza, and SQdO. Technically, you can add Chiusi and Chianciano to that list, but Chiusi is nothing remarkable, and Chianciano has a minimum age requirement of 75.

I spent 5 weeks in Montepulciano several years ago, plus a week in Panicale, Umbria 2 years ago. MP is a great place to be -- it has good transportation connections, great views (especially from the patio of the Caffe Poliziano!), and great wine.

If you want to climb a campanile without feeling like you're climbing to the sky, you can climb the short campanile in the MP's city hall (Palazzo Municipio? It's white and looks like the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence). You get a great view of southern Tuscany, and only have to climb under 100 steps.

Umbria is a good base too, and wonderful hill towns as well, with the added benefit of not having been completely overrun by tourists (just partially overrun). Cortona is probably a great place when the tourists leave at night [thank you, Frances Mayes], but the day I was there it was mobbed.

Wow, thanks so much for all your reponses!

bobthenavigtor, I am looking at the websites you gave me and they all looked great. But after reading the reviews of others, I am really thinking of Palazzo del Capitano. Is there a town hall in town where we can have our civil ceremony?

socialworker, thanks for sharing. I guess I have to think about which town I exactly want. There are so many of them.

peggyann, please do report on the property. I will like to hear more about it.

chicgeek, thanks a lot for your detailed description. I can already picture the start of our new life there!

Jun04ItalyHoneymoon, I saw in a wedding planner's website some pictures of Pienza,which seems to be a nice place. Why did you decide to stay there?

tdyls, San Quirico, MP, Montalcino, Pienza are all very nice. It's difficult to pick only one!

ttt

we also stayed in chianti. it was at an agritourismo (a working, family owned vinyard). there are a million places like this and serve as great bases in tuscany. our place had an ancient chapel where the owner was married. candles burned in it 24 h a day. the whole place was beautiful. called Azienda Agricola Grignanello in La Piazza in Castellina in Chianti. we ate several good meals at the nearby Osteria alla Piazza. right next to the osteria there were some great apartments (also a country setting). We commented ourselves that we would stay in one of these apartments next time.

I agree with the other poster on Siena. It is a beautiful town but it is NOT Tuscany. Tuscany is hills, villages and vineyards. Siena is a bustling town. we spent 4 days in Florence then moved on to Tuscany with one day spent in Siena. After florence i just wanted to be in the hills and did not enjoy hot Siena as much as i should have. i'm not putting it down it's just that it doesn't seem like this is what you are looking for.