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Must-visit Tuscan cities

Posted by (Vermont) on

In October we will be visiting Italy for about 12 days. We'll be spending 4 nights in Rome and 3 nights in Florence and plan on 5 days in Tuscany.

My thought is to split up the 5 nights in Tuscany into a 2night stay and a 3 night stay. The reason is as follows: A main goal of this trip is to visit the tiny borgo/town that my family is from. It's called Torre Alfina, and is near Orvieto (it is part of the comune Acquapendente). This is a very tiny town of fewer than 400 and a gorgeous medieval castle.

To balance this very small town, I hope to find another homebase in Tuscany we can experience and do a day trip or two from. Are there suggestions? Siena? Or perhaps a port town or city on the coast, so we can experience some lovely ocean views? I'm open to ideas and suggestions, and looking for what you have loved in your visits.

My only other thought is to head up to Bologna/Parma/Modena. I just don't want to rush the trip, but I'd love to visit these three cities.

Posted by
438 posts

By car or transit? That could make a big difference in the suggestions.

Posted by
5268 posts

Sooooo many choices!
Do you plan to rent a car for Torre Alfina? It might make sense to take the train to Orvieto, get the car there for Torre Alfina, then explore southern Tuscany, and then drop the car at Florence airport (or where ever is convenient).
Since you mentioned the coast, after Torre Alfina, you could drive straight to the sea. We loved everything from Pitigliano to the Monte Argentario promontory.

Posted by
15798 posts

Bologna is a great choice if you don't want to have a car. It's a rail hub, with the train station within walking distance of the historic center. Day trips to other good places include Padua, Ferrara and even Ravenna which is a longer trip but a wow.

Posted by
7 posts

For 5 days, I would stay in one place and do day trips. Montepulciano is a great option and it's easy to get to the Orvieto area from there, and pretty much many other places in Tuscany!! Years ago we made that our base and stayed at a great Agriturismo called Nibbiano. It was just outside of Montepulciano. Some of my favorite hill towns that we visited from their were Pienza, Montalcino, Pitigliano, Sorano, and Siena. Im going back in July and staying fro 7 nights in the Chianti area. We loved Montepulciano, and Im sure you will too! Ive been to Bologna/Parma and Modena and IMO you should stick with Tuscany.

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