Tuscany trip.?

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kitiyapron

Sansepolcro is an interesting old town in a beautiful area ; you may be going there for some special reason . Just south of Florence , I recommend Figline Valdarno as a pretty unspoiled town with lovely square .
Casa Grande is the best hotel , but worthy of a visit just to look at the garden and ancient courtyard ; you can eat well there too , but it may be necessary to book ahead . On the square is a simple Tuscan restaurant
" Stroncapane ". There is another more fancy nearer the church , but I think it pretentious and expensive .
Other places I recommend to visit are Montepulciano , Villa La Foce , beautiful gardens , Pienza , Bagno Vignoni , The monastic church of Sant'Antimo , one of the most beautiful architectural structures in all Italy near Castelnuovo dell'Abbate . Montalcino to sample its excellent wine . Castellina in Chianti is a pretty old town and has a good restaurant , ask . Colle di val d'Elsa is an attractive town with some good restaurants . San Giminiano should not be missed for its amazing towers , but is a lovely old town to walk around and much good food on offer . Volterra is an historic town , particularly noted for sculptured alabaster . Travelling toward the coast are guardistallo , Bibbona , Bolgheri noted for good wine . Marina di Cecina for a swim in the sea , is quite nice or Vada . Between Luca and Montecatini Terme are a series of beautiful historic villas and gardens . I'm sure many people would think you should not pass without a visit to Florence . If you want to , here's how . Exit the autostrada del sole at Firenze Sud , take the flyover road towards the city , at its end turn left for the city , there will be a couple of traffic lights and then a small roundabout , keep straight on . After the small roundabout you'll see a big Renault agency on your right with RAI television studios following ; immediately turn right and find parking in a grove of pine trees , failing this the other side of the main road . At the back of the pine grove is a small road leading into Via Arretina , straight opposite is a newsagent to buy some bus tickets , get a 4times ticket . Along the road to your left as you cross is a bus stop , take a no.14 , get out in Via Cavour , just before The Duomo ; from there you can walk easily across the city , straight on will take you to Piazza Signoria and Palazzo Vecchio , on again across Ponte Vecchio to Palazzo Pitti ; where you can see the galleria Palatina and Boboli Gardens . I don't recommend trying the Uffizzi , because there are long queues . Returning to your car , go to the middle of the north side of the Duomo cathedral , where there is a bus stop for no.14 . On your outward trip , look carefully for your landmark signs . You will get off right by the little road into the car park under the pines ; before your stop is a large block of modernish apartments with a row of pine trees in front . Retrace your steps onto the autostrada , south . Good Luck , Have a Great Time .

Sean F

You cannot and by this mean absolutely cannot miss out Firenze, it is the most beautiful city in Italy other than Venice. You are right the food is absolutely brilliant (but no better than the decent Italian restaurants in London and the South East), the art is un-imaginable breathtaking as is the architecture. I love that part of the world and envy you greatly.

darin2z

For small Tuscan towns and villages with character, don't miss (in no particular order):
Siena
Lucca
San Gimignano
Volterra
Pienza
Montepulciano
Monteriggioni
Massa Marittima
Cortona
Pitigliano

Lucy

I'm with Sean on this one. I lived in Florence for a year. It's great. Must see in Firenze/Florence - Uffizzi -lots of famous
paintings - Boticelli being my favorite, Giardino di Boboli - great park - they have concerts some times, Piazzale Michelangelo - panoramic view of Florence and surrounding areas - just walk there, it's up the river from the Ponte Vecchio (opposite of US embassy), Accademia - only if you really like sculpture - there is a replica of David in Piazza de la Signoria otherwise. The Duomo and Capella de Medici are obvious - but there's so much more.

Outside of Florence I loved Luca, Siena and San Giminiano - go to San Giminiano - you'll love it! Best character by far, and you'll find the world's best gelato there (ice cream).

I've never been to Cinque Terre, but it's 5 fishing villages that, I heard, must be experienced.

Food in Florence - I loved Tratoria Anita (by Piazza de la Signoria-Via Vinegia 16). Also liked pizza in Giardino di Barbani (Piazza Independenza 3) - dinner only both places. Also liked Pane e Olio by Ponte Rosso.

For lunch, a lot of Italians go to Palle D'Oro, in Mercato San Lorenzo. If you eat outside or sit down, you generally get charged more, it will show on your bill. Tip as much as you like as servers have salaries in Italy. If you want to know where people eat, ask the people in Mercato San Lorenzo - the guys/girls who sell stuff. Just tell them you want to eat in a place they eat, not the general tourist places. It also helps if you buy something from them. You should bargain with them - ask for a "sconto" (discount), but don't insult the merchandise.

Be aware that most outside vendors (not food) will charge you according to how you're dressed. If you look like you have money, they'll give you one price. If you look more modest, you'll actually get a better price. (For instance they sell really cheap to Chinese people because they know China's economy is not the same as the US economy - this is a fact, even if it's not fair).

Also watch your pockets in crowded areas. Italians don't steal, but a lot of illegal immigrants do because that's how they live. It's difficult for them to get jobs.

I stayed at Albergo Por Santa Maria before I got an appartment. It's on Via Calimaruzza, 3, between Piazza de la Signoria and Piazza Porcellino. She's reasonable, tell her Cenzia from Chicago sent you. You'll have your own room, but you have to share a bathroom with others. I hope she's still around. If you like scarves, go see Allessandro Meucci in Piazza Porcellino. You can tell him that a Romanian girl who used to work for Rachid send you. He's really nice and has some nice things. You can e-mail me if you'd like.

rosie

We are doing this trip in january, arriving in bologna and leaving from pisa. We are getting the train though. I dont think there is much in Bologna, we are spending the first night there but getting the train to florence first thing next morning. We are also debating whether to stop off at imola to see the race track, but it'll probably be all closed up that time of year.

smilies1998

Siena
Lucca/Pisa They are very close to each other.
San Gimignano/ florence they are close to each other also. Assisi is not to far from them either.
Assisi which should be wonderful if the sunflowers are still out. These are all great cities to visit.

Vivian

You should see the famous tower when you're visiting Pisa, its beautiful. Theres lots of exhibitions you can visit for the tourists and many gardens.

um, i havent been to duomo yet in siena but alot of tourists go there, its a huge palace and theres many landmarks in italy, so have a good time!!

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