Where to stay for 6 days in Tuscany

[unamai]

Hello! My husband and I will be in Italy for 17 days in Apr/May of 2018. We have Rome and Florence figured out, but we have 6 nights before we head back down to Rome for a final night (have a room at airport) and early departure the next day. We are renting a car at Florence airport and will be driving through Tuscany.

So, my questions. . we're thinking we'd like to stay 3 days in Chianti area, and make day trips out to sites around there. Then also 3 days further south in Val D'orcia area.

We're looking for feedback on a centrally located village with good lodging options in both places, and would like to hear from those who know the area or have done a similar type itinerary. We like architecture, wine, literature, art, music, nature, farms, vineyards. . .although we live in Oregon and don't feel the need to sample lots of wine. See beautiful vineyards, farms, etc..yes! Any suggestions are appreciated.

[Riccardo Casa Howard]

Hi Unamai! And Benvenuti in Toscana!

The entire Chianti region is just outside Florence, so that you can choose to stay in Florence and visit the area hiring a car yourself or hiring a car with a driver
Don.'t miss the several fascinating hilltop towns, such as Montefioralle, Volpaia in Chianti, Radda in Chianti, Greve in Chianti and don't miss the enchanted Abbey of Badia a Passignano.
Get the occasion to have the best lunch at "Bar Ucci" in Volpaia in Chianti, Gina and Paola will welcome you and you will taste some traditional recipes.

The Val d'Orcia region is just 2 hours far from Florence driving by car. you can have many tasting experience and I can recommend the Paradiso of Frassina ones. Did you know the vineyards can feel and hear the music? Discover a fascinating tasting experience there!

I hope you will enjoy Tuscany!

Riccardo

[Lourdes]

Ciao unamai!

Dividing up the 6 days between central Tuscany around Chianti and southern Tuscany is a great idea, it is what we most often recommend to cut down on driving times when out and about exploring the region.

In Chianti, I would recommend a few places, all in the same general area between Castellina - San Gimignano - San Casciano and in between.
In Castellina:
http://www.tuscanyaccommodation.com/...i-serelle.html
http://www.tuscanyaccommodation.com/il-cellese.html
Both are farmhouses and offer apartments.

In San Donato, a B&B:
http://www.tuscanyaccommodation.com/...malaspina.html

Not far from San Gimignano:
http://www.tuscanyaccommodation.com/...a-roccaia.html
http://www.tuscanyaccommodation.com/...-libbiano.html

These two are a mix of B&Bs too in the area closer to San Casciano:
http://www.tuscanyaccommodation.com/...drifoglio.html
http://www.tuscanyaccommodation.com/...-poggiale.html

As far as the Val d'Orcia area, I enjoy the area just south of Siena heading toward Montalcino - you get the sweeping landscapes and hills with vineyards. Here are 3 options, all in the countryside and not in towns:
http://www.tuscanyaccommodation.com/...in-poggio.html
http://www.tuscanyaccommodation.com/...orsanello.html
http://www.tuscanyaccommodation.com/podere-cunina.html

Take a look and let me know if there is one in particular you like or if you decide on what type you like best and need more ideas. You can also do a search on www.tuscanyaccommodation.com directly to see what else you find.

[cpotuscany]

Very helpful Lourdes
We will be traveling to the area June 25th through the 22nd. We are flying into Rome. do you suggest a car rental or taking a train? We would like to go to Florence for a few days, Siena and some of the other villages you called out. Thereafter we think to go to the coast. Is this all do able by car or other means like guide trips? Florence seems far from these paces to stay?

Also do these farmhouses and places you recommend have air conditioning? I expect it will be very hot that time of year.

Thank you

[Lourdes]

Ciao cpotuscany,

Not sure on your total amount of days since you have from the 25th to the 22th..... are they backward or will you have about 3 weeks?

If you fly into Rome, I would suggest spending a few days there, then taking train to Florence. Make sure you are in Florence on June 24th, when the city celebrates its patron saint, St. John so that you can assist the historical parade downtown or alternatively the Calcio Storico final match (http://www.visitflorence.com/florenc...iorentino.html).

June gets warm but not impossibly hot, you don't need A/C as an absolute-must requirement. Generally, July and August are hotter, Florence gets warmer than towns in the countryside because it sits in a valley surrounded by hills. In any case, many of the farmhouse apartments do have A/C so it should not be a problem if we do get a heat wave early on in the summer. The pages for the properties will have an icon to show whether they have A/C or not.

You could use Florence for a few days as a base, to see both Florence and Siena and Pisa, which are both easy to get to with train/bus. But if you want to see more hilltop towns and head to the seaside, I would recommend a rental car. You can get it only once you're ready to leave Florence, not before. That way you don't worry about parking and traffic since you don't need a car while in Florence at all. A rental car will permit you to get to places not reached at all by trains or buses and will give you more freedom along the coast to stay wherever you want. I would just move out to the coast and not do it as a day trip, just so that you can enjoy more time at the coast instead of driving back and forth .

Enjoy!

[cpotuscany]

Sorry I messed the dates we arrive in Rome on Saturday morning June 16th. We intend to travel to Florence and stay for 2 nights? Then head out to the a central Tuscany location and visit the small towns. We will rent a car when we leave Florence as you advise. Thereafter, we could use advice where to stay. Maybe shoot out to Cinque Terra for a few days?

We need to head back to Rome to pick up our family and then we will spend a few days in Rome.

Thank you

[Lourdes]

You can certainly do Cinque Terre to do a part of the coast but it is hard to get to and move around with a car, you need to think get to a place where you can park and then move on foot/train while there.

I would suggest you consider the area between Florence and Siena as a good central area to stay in after Florence - the Chianti wine area is beautiful and offers many hilltop towns to enjoy (you can see/do Panzano, Radda, Castellina, San Gimignano, Volterra, Siena once you're there). Take a look at https://www.tuscanyaccommodation.com/chianti/ to start looking at the many choices you'll have. I guess you won't be around by the 24th at all, too bad you'll miss the Calcio Storico in Florence.

[navneet96]

I would like to inform you about florence hotel that is very cheapest and fascinating hotel everyone can easily stay in this hotel. There are vast number of facilities under one roof.

Hi Unamai! And Benvenuti in Toscana!

The entire Chianti region is just outside Florence, so that you can choose to stay in Florence and visit the area hiring a car yourself or hiring a car with a driver
Don.'t miss the several fascinating hilltop towns, such as Montefioralle, Volpaia in Chianti, Radda in Chianti, Greve in Chianti and don't miss the enchanted Abbey of Badia a Passignano.
Get the occasion to have the best lunch at "Bar Ucci" in Volpaia in Chianti, Gina and Paola will welcome you and you will taste some traditional recipes.

The Val d'Orcia region is just 2 hours far from Florence driving by car. you can have many tasting experience and I can recommend the Paradiso of Frassina ones. Did you know the vineyards can feel and hear the music? Discover a fascinating tasting experience there!

I hope you will enjoy Tuscany!

Riccardo