suggestions

drfields82

New member
Flying to Tuscany early August and could really use help with suggestions despite the hours I continue to spend on reviewing itineraries. ?Thoughts:

1. Spend day in Florence. Sleep in Florence (Have been to Florence before so no need to spend more than one day in town (absolute must to spend the day here given travel companion would like to see the city).

2. Florence to Chianti region: stop in Panzano, Castellina, Radda and sleep in San Gimignano? Radda worth seeing?

3. Following day spend in San Gimignano and then head to Siena (see Volterra prior to driving to Siena?) and sleep in Siena.

4. See Sienna and then head to Montalcino, Pienza and sleep in Montepulciano.

5. See Montepulciano or revisit towns from before. Drive back to direction of Florence and sleep somewhere close to Florence so we can make a 10am flight the following day to Munich. Would like to sleep closer to airport night before flight so we do not risk traffic etc. Any suggestions on what town to sleep in?

*Suggestions/input greatly appreciated
 
Planning your itinerary

buongiorno,

here are a few suggestions for your questions:

1. Perhaps the best way for your traveling companion to see Florence in one day is to select an overview walking tour. And even though you have seen the city - and I realize the monuments really don't change, there is always something new to see at the museums, and the city-scape. You might even appreciate doing a walking tour of Florence from a diffferent perspective so that your companion sees it all and you see it with new eyes, for example following the antique walls around the city or walking in the steps of Michelangelo, Donatello or Dante. Check out this link for some itin ideas while in the city: https://www.visitflorence.com/itineraries-in-florence/

2. Radda is definitely worth seeing, as is Panzano and Castellina. You might want to consider organizing a wine tasting along the way. I love this itinerary, which includes Panzano and Castellina - but it starts from Impruneta, the land of terracotta!
https://www.chianti.com/itineraries-in-chianti/impruneta.html

3. Definitely include Volterra. The great thing about spending the night in San Gimignano, is you will get to see the city in the morning before all the tourists arrive (around 9:30 -10 am) - and the same goes for staying in Siena and Montepulciano.

4. Make sure you see all of Siena before you head out (and the shopping is great here, so many specialty shops). Maybe plan on doing Montalcino completely and then head over to Montepulciano and settle in. Pienza is so close that you won't loose time traveling to visit it after Montepulciano - where as Montalcino is a bit further away.

5. If you have time you might want to consider adding Bagno Vignoni (one of my favorite little towns) and/or Bagni di San Filipoo. And if you have an extra day - using Montepulciano as your base, you could look into Cetona and/or Cortona.

6. If you have a 10:30 am flight, you will want to be at the airport around 8:30ish, and that is prime traffic time. You might just want to drop off the car beforehand, get a hotel in the city and then use a taxi to get you there on time. No need to fight traffic on your last day on the holiday and cancel out all those wonderful memories.

Buon Viaggio,

Donna Denise
 
I'll add just a few more suggestions:

1. consider doing a walking tour with a guide, it definitely changes how you see things and experience them, take a look at some here:
http://tours.visitflorence.com/en/13618/Florence-tours/City-Tours/d519-g12-c5330

6. with regards to making early flight out, the new tram service that connects SMN train station to the airport should open next week!! it is great news for Florence and for all visitors who need to get to the airport without traffic! so definitely consider dropping off the car, sleeping in Florence and then taking tram or taxi (taxi does get some traffic too) to airport.
Another option is to stay at a hotel near the airport, there are many - check some hotels near airport here.
 
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