Visit Italy in February

Wang

New member
Hi.

We have read through your fantastic and informative forum! We learned a lot from your forums. Well done to the Team!

We are a family of 4. We are planning our first trip to Italy in Feb 2015, really excited about it. We come across many threads which discussed about similar places we plan to cover. Our concern is that we are traveling in February where it gets dark earlier and some places will be closed.

After departing from Rome, we would like to visit Pisa, Siena, Florence, San Gimignano, vineyard/wineries before moving to Venice. We only have 5 days in Tuscany, we wish we have more time.

We plan to rent a car to move around these places and are concerned with the parking fees. What about combining some of the travel with train/bus?

We would love to experience farm stay during our stay in Tuscany. Do you have any recommendations for our 2 boys, 10 and 13 years old? And which city/town would you recommend us to base? So far, we plan to stay in Florence for at least 1 night, the night before we take a train to Venice.

Any suggestion is welcome. Thank you in advance.
 
If you wish to see also Siena and surroundings, you could consider staying in one of the beautiful farm estates around Sovicille (little village at 13 kms from Siena). From here you can visit the interesting "Val d'Orcia", the "Crete senesi", the "Chianti-area". Not far from Sovicille, there is a wonderful abbey called ABBAZIA DI SAN GALGANO with, next to it, the chapel with the famous sword in the stone (children love this place). Very interesting for children is also the little museum in the walled in town of Monteriggioni (with faithful reproductions of the original medieval weapons)....there are so many places to see and to discover in every big and small town or village of Tuscany. So, wherever you decide to stay, you certainly will enjoy it...if you need other information, get in touch with us, we'll be happy to help you! info@prolocosovicille.it
 
Thank you.

Do you think we can cover Monteriggioni and San Gimignano in 1 day if we stay in Sovicille?
 
Ciao Wang,

Very glad you found us, and glad to be of help!

You can certainly cover Monteriggioni and San Gimignano in one day. Monteriggioni is quite small, so even if you visit the museum and climb around the walls (I'd suggest it as you can do both with a combined ticket - check this page out for more details), you should dedicate more time of the day to San Gimignano. You could also stop in Monteriggioni as you head to Siena, if you want to spend the day dedicated to San Gimignano with some time spent in Chianti's wine country.

5 days will pass quickly but if you stay in this central area between San Gimignano, Florence and Siena, you'll be able to see the places you have on your list. I would suggest a day in Pisa, another to explore San Gimignano and Chianti, another in Siena (and Monteriggioni) and then the last 2 in Florence.

As far as specific places that would be ideal with kids, I suggest these in particular:
http://www.tuscanyaccommodation.com/agriturismo-montalbino.html
http://www.tuscanyaccommodation.com/podere-casanova.html
http://www.tuscanyaccommodation.com/agriturismo-vernianello.html

All cater to families, have playgrounds and the first one in particular has animals ;-)

If we can be of further help, let us know! In the meantime, happy new year!!
 
Dear Lourdes.

Happy New Year.

We are trying to contact the places that you have recommended.

We will contact you again should we need further assistance.

Thank you.
 
Never to dark to enjoy Tuscany

Hello -

even though it gets dark a bit early in Feb doesn't mean you will miss out on seeing the sites!

Driving up from Rome, the first thing I would suggest is a peek at Orvieto. It makes a great mid way break (for young and old alike) and between the caverns underneathe the city which are visitiable, the Well of St. Patrizio...and all the lovely little restaurants - you really can't go wrong (even if it really isn't in Tuscany :) )

You could make Siena your first city stop while going into Tuscany. This is a place that even in the evening, will delight and amaze. Maybe a hotel there the first night and then the next 4 nights in a agriturism in the countryside.

If you are wanting to visit Pisa (maybe together with Lucca and biking the city walls with the kids), Florence and San Gimignano, you could consider a base near San Gimignano which is close to those three day trips and gives you the best of the Tuscan scenery.

As per parking, normally it is between 1 - 1.50 Euro an hour and to be honest when your time is a bit limited, I believe it is worth paying to save time from endlessly touring the streets looking for that perfect spot. In all four areas you mentioned parking is clearly indicated with a blue sign and a large letter P on it.
 
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