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Best base town(s) for day car trip around Tuscany

Posted by (Tucson) on

Hello, we have about 12 days to visit Tuscany in mid-June and hopefully take a couple of those nights in the Cinque Terra. We were thinking of Siena as at least one of the "base camps", and we are wondering if Montalcino should be another one or is there someplace more interesting/better located, or should we just choose only one location to base out of? If so where?

We fly into and out of Florence, but we have spent enough time there, so other than getting a covid test done before flying back, we do not intend to spend much time in Florence.

Thank you!

Posted by
4438 posts

That sounds like a good balance (city+village+coast), but have you determined what places you will be visiting? I don't like to spend more than an hour or so in the car per day, so that's often how I decide on a base.

Posted by
6129 posts

We used Siena and Montepulcuano as our bases
Didn’t find Montalcino all that interesting
We visited Pienza for a few hours and decided that would be our next base for southern Tuscany (we loved Montepulciano but it is very very steep)

Posted by
118 posts

Hi,
Montalcino is centrally located and from there you can easily get to Siena, Pienza, Montepulciano, Volterra, the Val d'Orcia, Grosseto, the beaches at Maremma, etc. The surrounding countryside is absolutely gorgeous. However, there is very, very little to do in the village itself (other than drink great Brunello) and see the Fortress/Castle. I stayed there for a week 5-6 years ago and I think you can walk the entire place in just a few hours. There are some nice restaurants, wine bars, a police barracks and a cool church, but that's it. The nearby vineyards are fantastic, however.

Best of luck

Posted by
5 posts

If you are going to Cinque Terra from Florence, Lucca is a great place to stay for 2 to 3 nights. Very interesting walled city with lots of charm and history.

Posted by
11185 posts

You have a good plan but stay inside the Cinque Terre for three nights to visit all five villages. Then stay in Santa Margherita Ligure or Camogli before or after the Cinque Terre.

Posted by
2972 posts

Pienza may be even more centrally located than Montalcino. I’ve never been to Pienza but people like the old town. I have been to Montalcino and was disappointed.

Posted by
2 posts

We stayed in a villa apt in one of the small little towns just outside of Siena while visiting the Tuscany area. Its was easy to travel around to neighboring towns and wonderful to enjoy a pool and our own little area overlooking the beautiful hills of Tuscany for a home cooked meal. We met lots of people from other countries while staying there as the villa had 8 apartments to rent. It was perfect. I loved shopping at the local Coop and found that with a little bit of Italian and a Rick Steves phrase book, I could ask for anything in their deli, which is a experience all in itself.

Posted by
16 posts

Thanks everyone! I have booked Siena and Montepulciano (both Rick hotels) and two nights in Cinque Terre. I may add a day in Cinque Terre. That just depends on figuring out the covid test issue in Florence. I appreciate the help! Joni

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