Hi all, I would really appreciate any input on a day trip from Florence that I'm trying to plan out. Trip will be first week of September. I had wanted to squeeze in Siena and San Gimignano, but after reading the RS guidebook it seems like San Gimignano doesn't have much to offer other than its skyline. But I'm also wondering if I can really spend an entire day in Siena (I know most of you will argue yes)? Solo traveler and will be traveling to either or both cities by bus, which I know will cut a lot of hours. I definitely want to try the recommended restaurant listed in RS in Siena for lunch. Thoughts?
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16355 posts
Without a car is going to be tough to do both in a day.
Posted by
Huntsville, AL, USA
8373 posts
I too would suggest you pick one, unless you join an organized tour that takes you to both. They're maybe 20 miles apart, but in the same direction. And the best way to Siena from Florence is the bus, not the train. It's an hour's ride.
I enjoyed San Gimignano, but liked Volterra better.
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
Certaldo is just about as jammed up as any of the other hill towns, with the usual assortment of cooking schools for tourists, etc. In the last few years they've actually gotten pretty good at holding a festival every time you turn around to attract even more tourists. The part at the top of the hill is actually Certaldo Alto. It's not exactly undiscovered. It's just not in The Bible.
Posted by
Myrtle Beach, USA
12315 posts
I liked San Gimignano, but agree that it's too much to try in one day without a car (and probably too much even then). If you can find a day tour by bus that does both, that would be nice. Otherwise, I'd stick with Siena. The biggest wrap against San Gimignano is that it's built to appear medieval rather than being fully authentic, but then so are most of the castles in Europe. I found San Gimignano had a great medieval feel that's hard to duplicate. Volterra is what I'd call a "classic" hill town, it's exactly what I picture when I envision a hill town. San Gimignano and Siena are each a slightly different flavor but IMO both worth seeing.
Posted by
OP
Pico Rivera, CA
594 posts
Thank you all for the input. I think I've made my decision and just going to do Siena. I know there is a tour that goes to both cities and spends a few hours in each, but I still feel it might be too crammed. Plus, I'll save lots of money by going to Siena via bus. If I get bored, I'll just head back to my home base in Florence and discover anything else I haven't seen.