We are planning to rent a villa or apartments in Tuscany in June 2013 with our children and grandchildren, then travel on to Rome and Pompeii. We will be 2 grandparents arriving first for 3-5 days, followed by son 1 + wife + kids 11 and 13, son 2 + wife + son preschooler. We're thinking that a cluster of apartments might work better than renting a whole villa since only 2 of us will be there the first few days. We want to cook some meals and have the villa/apt. experience rather than a hotel.
Our problem will be the need for a large car for day trips to various towns. Even if we take regional trains, we still have to get to the station or drive from the villa into town in the evenings. Which town would you recommend as a base?
I've been looking at Cortona because of the variety of activities (Lago Trasimeno, forts, museums, churches, horseback riding, fishing, wineries a town away, cooking classes). We can't keep the kids interested if we just relax and sip wine. I'm looking at Montepulciano for wineries, the fortress near Trasimene, perhaps Gubbio, Pisa, or Chiusi. Maybe a day trip to Florence. When we leave Tuscany, we'll have 3 days in Rome, then on to Sorrento and Pompeii.
Our problem will be the need for a large car for day trips to various towns. Even if we take regional trains, we still have to get to the station or drive from the villa into town in the evenings. Which town would you recommend as a base?
I've been looking at Cortona because of the variety of activities (Lago Trasimeno, forts, museums, churches, horseback riding, fishing, wineries a town away, cooking classes). We can't keep the kids interested if we just relax and sip wine. I'm looking at Montepulciano for wineries, the fortress near Trasimene, perhaps Gubbio, Pisa, or Chiusi. Maybe a day trip to Florence. When we leave Tuscany, we'll have 3 days in Rome, then on to Sorrento and Pompeii.