Spending 3 weeks in Tuscany next spring and have 2 [possibly 3] nights left to allocate. Thoughts on Arrezzo vs Montepulciano ?
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
8692 posts
Will you have a car?
Where else will you stay while in Tuscany?
Posted by
OP
60 posts
No car. Previous stop will be Pienza.
Posted by
San Diego, California, USA
1790 posts
Very different places. Arezzo is a city of nearly 100K with an ancient central core ay the top of the hill and Montepulciano is a rural tiny hill town of about 13K. If you want the rural countryside Tuscany of film and photo Montepulciano is easily the winner. If you want to explore a city that is an interesting mix of modern life and shops blended with the ancient and while not nearly as spectacular as Siena is also way less touristy.
Arezzo is reachable by train while Montepulciano reasonably requires a car.
Hope that helps,
=Tod
Posted by
San Diego, California, USA
1790 posts
How will you be getting to Pienza without a car and how are planning on continuing your trip from there two either of the other destinations?
=Tod
Posted by
786 posts
Montepulciano is extremely popular during the daytime which is the only time I have been there and that was in the offseason. It’s possible that it quiets down at night, but I would choose Arezzo and play it safe.
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
8692 posts
Same question as above
How will you get to Pienza without a car?
Posted by
Niagara, Ontario
1875 posts
A bus runs between Siena and Pienza.
The same bus goes to Montepulciano, about 15 minutes from Pienza. Unless you want to experience the evening ambience of Montepulciano, do it as a day trip from Pienza. The bus runs early from Pienza.
Posted by
786 posts
Trains and buses go throughout Tuscany. You won’t have problems getting around, it just takes longer than driving yourself.