We will be staying in a villa in Siena. But we are arriving by plane in Florence. We arrive in Florence at 12:55 and are picking up a rental and driving to Siena. We cannot check into the villa until 5:00. We are thinking of stopping and purchasing some foods and toiletries so we can pack lighter. Would you recommend doing this in Florence or in Siena? I'm thinking we might have a better selection in Florence - we are traveling with small children and want to buy diapers, sunscreen, bug spray also.
Any tips and suggestions are welcome. It's our first trip to Italy.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16239 posts
In order to best advise you I need to know:
1. where you are picking up the rental (FLR airport?) and at what time.
2. where exactly your villa is located.
3. whether you are going there straight from the airport or stopping in Florence for a short visit first.
In any case Siena is not a small village, it's a city, albeit smaller than Florence, so anything you are planning to shop for will be available anywhere, I'm just trying to guide you to the best store along your itinerary to the villa.
Please be aware that if you are traveling on a Sunday, many smaller stores may be closed. I'll give you a few options, depending on how much time you have since most stores close by 8 pm.
Posted by
OP
43 posts
Roberto! Thank you so much for your help!
We are arriving on a Saturday at the Florence airport and picking up our rental car there (hertz). We are scheduled to arrive at 12:55 and our rental car appointment is for 13:00. (I am aware we will be going through customs, but my husband made the car reservation separately from our flights at that time.)
Our villa is just outside Castelnuovo Berardenga. Is that helpful?
We can spend some time in Florence or Siena. We have free time until we can check in at 5:00. We are going back to Florence for a proper visit later in the trip. And also for Siena too. Perhaps, can you recommend a lunch spot in Florence for my family of four (two small kids)? :)
Posted by
Dartmouth, NS, Canada
213 posts
There is a Conad Superstore - 5 minutes from the airport - open 7 days a week. They are very similar to NA superstores for product variety and choice.
CONAD SUPERSTORE
VIA PISTOIESE ANG. VIA DEL PESCIOLINO LOC. LE PIAGGE50145 FIRENZE
Tel. 055 3427386 Fax. 0553025650
Fa parte della cooperativa: CONAD DEL TIRRENO
Orari
lun 08:00 21:00
mar 08:00 21:00
mer 08:00 21:00
gio 08:00 21:00
ven 08:00 21:00
sab 08:00 21:00
dom 08:30 13:30 e 15:30 20:00
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16239 posts
Forget Le Piagge. Why would you want to go to the worst neighborhood in Florence. If you want to go near the airport, go to the IperCoop Superstore of the Centro Sesto. That way it's easier to get back on the freeway. It' huge. Follow these directions
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16239 posts
Near Castelnuovo Berardenga at Taverne D'Arbia they built a new Coop Supermarket.
Coming from Florence these are the easiest directions
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16239 posts
About half way between Florence and Siena, in Poggibonsi, is also this Coop supermarket which I know and is big. Easy off the freeway too. Here are the directions