Getting to Gaiole in Chianti

[Guest]

Hello,
I have a general question on getting to Tuscany I am hoping you can help me with. I am heading to Gaiole from Rome and was thinking that the best way would be to get a train to Montevarchi and then a bus/taxi from Montevarchi to Gaiole. Do you have any other suggestions or any idea of what a taxi would cost?
Thanks,
Charles

[Cristina]

This does seem like the easiest way to get to Gaiole in Chianti without a car. The distance is about 20 km from Montevarchi to Gaiole, I am sure you'll be charged by the distance with a surcharge for leaving the city... I am not sure how much it will cost you, but it might not be over 30 euros. Ask before you get into the taxi, so that there will be no surprises.

You might also consider taking the SITA bus that goes from Florence to Montevarchi and as it head to Siena it goes through Gaiole. You can see the schedule for one route here
http://www.sitabus.it/sita-toscana/o...ldarno/341.pdf
and another here
http://www.sitabus.it/sita-toscana/o...ldarno/340.pdf
(I found the links through this page
http://www.sitabus.it/sita-toscana/o...0Valdambra.htm )

The bus will definitely be cheaper, if I understand the "tariffario" correctly, you pay by distance and around 20 km is about 2 euros. Another possibility, if you are heading to a farmhouse near Gaiole, would be to try to arrange for someone there to pick you up in Montevarchi.
Hope you find a good solution, and that I've been helpful.

[Guest]

Thank you, I think the taxi will be best. Do you know of any taxi companies that I can contact ahead of time or should I just wait and hope to get one at the station?
Thanks

[Cristina]

Montevarchi is a large town and should have regular taxi service at the train station, the easiest thing would be to wait and just find one there.