We have a car and two days between leaving Siena and arriving in Rome. We want to enjoy/see the Italian countryside... suggestions for towns to visits, aguritismos to stay in? Thanks in advance for your help!
Posted by
Sunnyside, New York, United States
439 posts
Hi,
A few years ago we stayed in a small mountain town in Lazio, about half way between Rome & Florence, very close to the A1 highway in a town called Soriano nel Cimino. There are only 3 hotels in the town. We stayed at Palazzo Catalani. If you do go, the best part of the hotel was the restaurant. The food was DELICIOUS! My husband & I had decided to spit meals, 1/2 1st course, 1/2 2nd cource, full dessert...more of a way to sample as much as we could, limiting calorie intake. The chef/waiter thought we were trying to save $, starting giving us 2 portions of the sides. We had been drinking house wines, basically because we don't normally drink wine & we didn't know what to order. He started recommending very good "cheap" alternatives. It was the best place we ate in Italy. We planned on eating elsewhere but I kept coming back, we stayed at the hotel a week.
Each room does have a kitchen or kitchenette. This was a nice option, especially for breakfast. At that time, the hotel offered to stock the kitchen. I think it was 35 euros, they gave us, eggs, milk, bread, cereal, juice, maybe a few other things. This fed myself & my husband for the week for breakfast.
Mary
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
Mary's suggestion sounds great.
I enjoyed a couple of days in Bolsena, a small town on Lago di Bolsena. Volcanic crater lake, beach, castle, very laid-back. The best gelato I have ever had from a small artigianal shop on via Santa Cristina, the owner offers six or eight flavored a day, rotating from a list of a dozen. Many awards line the walls. Rum raisin to die for.
Posted by
OP
New Orleans, LA, USA
26 posts
These both sound great! I'll check them out. Where did you stay in Bolsena?
Posted by
Virginia, USA
792 posts
Orvieto would be a great place to stop. Halfway between Sienna and Rome. Easy to get to.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
I stayed at Hotel Nazionale, rather bare bones, but it was a last-minute decision. Check booking.com, there are some very nice B&Bs but I was booking a room too late for them, and my budget was very tight.
Posted by
Wichita
831 posts
Pam,
This may give you ideas http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/tuscany/hs_planning.htm
Posted by
OP
New Orleans, LA, USA
26 posts
Thanks Henry - this will be incredibly helpful when we are driving. need to study...