Ging crazy looking for a Hill Side Town

It doesn't sound like Arezzo, which is more on a hillside running to the top of the hill. There is a Roman arena there, a large park at the top of town, and signs all over town pointing out places where "Life is Beautiful" (the movie) was filmed.

Maybe Montalcino, which is at the top of a hill and is famous world-over for Barrolo wines. Also just opposite Montalcino is Montepulciano, also a great hill town known for wine.

Do you remember the route you took from Rome? Did you go through Arrezzo on the way or did you go near Siena? Which direction from any larger town you might have passed?

It was on the road ( autostraza A1) up by Siena and Florence ( I think)to Bologna
Pat

Montepulciano has very steep streets with lots of little shops along the way to the top. Google images and see if you recognize anything.

TAB

It sounds like alot of villages I have visited. try Montepulciano, or San Gimignano.

Swan - I wasn't suggesting that the town is Arezzo. I asked Pat if their route went near Arezzo because that would be on the other side of the hills from Siena and would narrow the possibilities down.

Pat - If you took the A1, then Montepuliciano could be it (did you see the town from your left as you drove north from Rome?). Cortona also comes to mind because it would take about 45 minutes to get there from the A1. The streets are steep and I think one could see it from the A1 - it would be on the right as you drove north.

So it helps to know you were on the A1. Any more help on which direction the town was? And it was definitely before you got near Florence?

Was it Orvieto (it's actually in Umbria, not Tuscany)? You can see it from the interstate heading out of Rome toward Florence. It's not too far outside of Rome...

Although I must say that all of the hill towns have the super fresh markets & great wine!! :)

No it was not Orvieto because we stopped there on our way to Rome.This was on our way North heading for Padua on the Autostrada.
Thank you
PAT

I'm slightly confused by your route after reading the comments (travelling North to Venice or South to Rome? Or both?), but the town that pops into my mind is Civita di Bagnoreggio (or just Bagnoreggio)...but that is in Umbria, and probably too far south. It's not too far from Orvieto.

Trevi? Between Foligno and Spoleto?

Don't think it is Trevi. Just returned from there and there are very few shops or cafes. Good luck. So many beautiful hill towns in Tuscany; many with walls surrounding them.

Sounds like Brigadoon to me. (^_^)

Not to sound too critical, but why is it that when women ask for directions and the name of some place, they remember how the town smelled so sweet just after the spring rain...but they neglect to tell us whether the town was on the west side or the east side of A1....it must be related to all of the left side/right side of the brain stuff

I'm not about to touch Bill's comment. :-) But here's a thought: I don't know what kind of records you kept of your trip, but if you charged anything while in that town, you would have a record of the name of the store and the town. I keep all my records in Quicken and it's very helpful to be able to go back for years and look these sorts of things up that way.

Hi everyone, surprised by the reply nearly a year later!!! Actually found the hilltown.It was Montepulciano. My visit was hindered by a broken ankle and foot.Non weight bearing cast. SO....we are going back again in May. Tuscany is not for wheelchair bound people but I climbed stairs on my buttocks and made the most of it. I was not allowed to return to USA for 10 days until I had my blood thinned. Hospital in Siena was an experience!!!
But thanks for the comments and directions and yes I remember the smell of the rain on a mountain side but wasn't sure OF WEST OR EAST!!!!
Pat