We love food and wine and are returning to Italy the last week in September thru the first week of October. I have 5 nights to book for the Tuscany/Umbria part of our trip travelling back to Rome for the 6th night. One of those days will be a Sunday. I will have a rental car and be driving in from Sorrento to do the wine country for these days and then turn car in to do Rome. We have been to Florence, Sienna, San G, Volterra, Pievescola, and Panzano in Chianti. Not sure want to do Assisi. Would like to do Montalcino and Montepulciano (2 or 3 nights based on your suggestions) but where else? Not opposed to going back to Florence but thought about elsewhere in Tuscany/Umbria – your thoughts?
Posted by
Washington DC
27221 posts
I'll speak up for Assisi. It is a beautiful, beautiful place. Aside from the magnificent basilica, there's the town to explore. Get just a little distance from the basilica and you may be the only tourists on the street. I only visited on a day-trip; I'd like to go back and spend a night or two.
Then there's Orvieto with its beautiful historic center at the top of the funicular. In Orvieto you might need to wander just a bit more to get away from other travelers (they tend to walk from the funicular to the area of the Duomo), but it can be done. There are enough things to see in Orvieto that the tourist card can be worthwhile. I have the impression that Orvieto gets a lot of Italian visitors on weekends, so it might be a bit less busy if visited on a weekday. It is a real city, with folks living in the upper town, so it doesn't have that all-tourism-all-the-time feeling you get in San Gimignano, though you'll probably have to walk a block or two out of the core tourist zone to find that out. Also, there are quite a lot of good restaurants to explore.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11363 posts
If you are in Sorrento, why not go to Puglia? Exceptional food and wine, very inexpensive. Head over to Lecce for 2 or 3 nights and the remaining nights somewhere like Polignano al Mare or Martina Franca.
Posted by
OP
154 posts
Puglia sounds wonderful but I'm kinda obsessed with Montepulciano/Montalcino bc we had to cut that out of our last trip so I am looking for something up that way and the wines there. I was thinking of stopping in Orvieto on the way up but unsure if it warranted 2-3 nights. Will check that out. Keep the ideas coming! thx :)
Posted by
Carmel, CA, USA
2455 posts
I’m with acraven, two of my favorites towns in Italy are Assisi and Orvieto, and I hope to get back to both one of these days, along with other Umbrian towns like Spello, Gubbio, etc. I have heard Umbria described as Tuscany, the way it used to be.
Posted by
lexington, il
4105 posts
Before you discount Puglia, read this. Wines here as Laurel stated are wonderful.
http://winefolly.com/tutorial/italian-value-wine-secret-puglia-wine/
This area does fit into your itinerary better.
Posted by
39 posts
There are so many lovely little towns that don't really make the 'must do' lists. The view from Gabbio was incredible. As was Assisi and I LOVED Montepulciano. San G is overrated and too crowded. We left after an hour and spent the day in Volterra. We spent a week at an air bnb in Corciano and loved it. Great home base. We also spent another week in a villa in Gambassi de terme.
Posted by
WA State
3961 posts
Have to agree Gubbio has a beautiful view from the Palace. The town is charming. Fond memories of Montepulciano, Assisi, Orvieto and Spoleto, just to name a few. September is lovely in Tuscany & Umbria.