where to go in Tuscany?
 

I am visiting Tuscany this summer and will have a car. Staying in Siena. Of the following please rank the best towns to visit:<BR><BR>Chiusi<BR>Monteriggione<BR>Paenza<BR >Montepulciano<BR>Voterra<BR>St Gimignano<BR>Arezza<BR>Cortona<BR><BR>Thanks for your help.

How long is your stay? You might be able to cover them all!<BR>I suggest you buy the &quot;Top 10 Tuscany&quot; book in the Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guides series. It's a handy little book crammed with helpful information.

I liked Montalcino and hear it is preferred over Montelpulciano. Also fond of San Gimignano and Siena.

If you had three days to do this,I would suggest: Day 1--Monteriggione, San Gimignano and Volterra. Day 2-Pienza, Montepulciano and possibly Chiusi (although there's not much to see and do in Chiusi). Day 3-Chiusi,if you didn't do it the day before and really want to see it, Cortona and Arezzo.

While you are in the Siena area, Castello Banfi winery (near Montalcino) has a very good restaurant that serves wine pairing lunches and dinners. They have a web site. I highly recommed it!

I spent an afternoon in Cortona and it was far more striking than I had anticipated. I'd go there again for sure.

I agree with Grinisa on day one. Day two I would make Montalcino my highlight and include the 2 abbeys--St. Antimo and Mt. Oliveto Maggiore. You could include Pienza that day. The other day is Siena itself. Cortona is too far from Siena and you have so many good options closer. Have fun !