Where is a good, centrally located town to stay in Tuscany? My friend recommended Castellini in Chianti. I want something quaint and "off the beaten track". I am going to be in Tuscany for a week in May.

If you're going to be there for a week, do yourself a favor and get a good map. That way, as you read about various possibilities, you will have a good idea of where they are located.

hi-- we stayed here(see website below) and it was very much off the beaten path. even though it says "greve" for the location, it is really closest to a tiny and lovely town named panzano. when you open the website, and then click on "location", a map will appear, and then when you click again on the map, the map will enlarge to show the details of the towns' locations. this b&b was lovely and we stayed there at the same time--end of may. altho it gets very hot there, the night air is so cool that there is no need for a/c. even during the day, it was always cool and lovely in the hotel. here is the website---BTW unlike many websites, the place is much more charming in its actuality than on the site. The rooms look a little austere on the site and in person, it feels like the country villa that it is...you will need a car, but i was assuming you had one if you are staying a week. http://www.venere.com/it/toscana/gre...nti/villarosa/

And, will you have a car? Most of Chianti is hardly off the path as it may have been 20 years ago. I prefer south of Siena for many reasons. You will too if you prefer smaller crowds and fewer tourists.

We really enjoyed staying in the tiny village of San Sano. It's so small, you won't find it on most maps. Just off the Chianit hwy, about 20 minutes' drive north of Siena. Just about 50 private residences, 1 family-run tratorria. That's it. Dead quiet at night.

We stayed the the Hotel Residence San Sano which was our favorite overall stay of a 3 week trip. They are on www.chianti.net and also in Fodor's Inns of Charm & Character - Italy. Right in the middle of olive groves and vineyards, of course. Very near Castello di Brolio. Nice pool, excellent food, lovely in every way.

Buon Viaggio!

Hi Scooter1

You need to check out San Gimignano
- south of Florence and north of Seina.
Old cobblestone village with lots of towers, great shopping and ristorante's.
We will stay there on our next trip, bella!

Mike

First, I suggest you peruse the reviews at www.slowtrav.com There's lots of great info. We stayed outside Siena on an estate. It offered quiet country living and Siena was only 15 minutes away. It made a great hub for exploring the Chianti region and the smaller hilltowns to the south of Siena.