Sightseeing other than art and museums in Tuscany

Hmm... You do seem to be spending quite a bit of time in Tuscany. Couldn't you drop a couple of those hill towns in favor of hiking in Cinque Terre? Or head a little bit north to the lakes? Or do something really masculine like a visit to the Ferrari factory.

You don't mention the Accademia, have you been there before? I also suggest the Museum (gulp) and convent of San Marco, just up the street from Accademia and a different kind of museum - used to be the Dominican friars' home, and upstairs each cell (individual room) has a fresco by Fra Angelico. The museum is small and all the artwork is in its original place, not collected from everywhere, which I think gives it a different feel. Your husband might like it.

In Rome, you could bribe him into the Galleria Borghese with an afternoon in the park - you can rent a rowboat on the lake (depending on time of year).

Also in Rome are some escorted half-day food tours, visits to various markets, wine shops.

How about a cooking class? My husband loved one we did a coupel of years ago. We also hike a lot to get out of the museums and churches. You may be surprised how much he'll like the churches and abbeys....Also allow plenty of time for just wandering and sitting over a glass of wine.

You don't say what interests your husband. Fortunately, my wife's and my interests pretty much coincide: architecture, food, and natural beauty being at the top. Although we each have liberal arts educations, neither of us is particularly museum oriented. We enjoyed the architecture of Florence but were underwhelmed by the Ufizzi and completely bored with the Accademia with the exception of a the first sight of the David. Tuscany is lovely from a natural beauty and architecture standpoint. However, I do think that 2 weeks is at least triple the time required and probably quadruple what I would choose. I concur with the Cinque Terre and Dolomite/Lake Como region suggestions. It sounds like you have only 2-3 days in Rome. If that is the case, unless you have already spent time in Rome, I would increase to a week. I would also recommend Venice. Venice is so different from any other place. Yes, there are other cities with canals like Ghent and Bruges, but Venice is very unique.

Many of the sights in Arezzo are churches and art (The Legend of the True Cross fresco cycle at San Francesco, a Cimabue cross, etc) - but there are some other things too. The Piazza Grande is a nice, large square - there are cafes around the edges of it, you can grab a meal or a coffee - just be aware they will be more expensive than other cafes because of their location of course. If you like the movie La Vita è Bella, much of it was filmed in and around Arezzo. There are little signs at the different spots, including Piazza Grande. The Corso Italia is the main street - lots of shopping. At the top of the hill is a nice park at the city wall, it has a really nice view over the countryside. If your stay in Tuscany happens to fall over the first weekend of a month, go check out the monthly antique fair in Arezzo. The town will be busier that day as stalls line the streets but it's fun to walk around and see it all. Also if you are there in late June or early September, they have a semiannual joust that is fun to see. Be aware of ZTLs, there should be places to park outside the city walls or near the train station. I can give some food and gelato recommendations too. If you're interested, message me.

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If you want a meal near Arezzo with a beautiful view - check out L'Antico Borgo in Civitella (in Val di Chiana). Sit outside around sunset and it's really lovely.

Thank you all for the input! My lodgings are pre-paid so I do not anticipate any overnight trips - the only variation may be Cinque Terre. And I have been to Rome before, and he is not a city person - Toronto overwhelmed him! so we are just hitting the highlights. We have very similar tastes and he is very open to new things - he really enjoyed an Eyptology exhibit once in New Orleans). Ferrari appeals to me too! And of course, SMH, cooking class! - we are both major foodies.
I see there is an International Craft Fair in Florence when we are there, anyone know if that is worth pursuing?

Oh, and to david, the length of our stay is to build in lots of Do Nothing time too, just meandering along the streets of Montepulciano, languishing in the aparment's garden, a day of reading or painting or sleeping! It is my Retirement Reward Trip and I SOOOO look forward to doing much nothing every other day or so in a slower more genteel country! :)

Note that you can visit the Ferrari Museum, but can only visit the factory if you are an owner of a Ferrari. You can, however, visit the Lamborghini factory! It is in Sant'Agata Bolognese, a small town outside of Bologna. Admission isn't cheap, but if you and your husband like cars it is definitely worth it. You get to see the assembly line and production, see their museum... Sometimes you'll see them test driving cars through the town. Make reservations and schedule your tour on their website. It'll be a fun memory and a good alternative to all the art and churches. It'll be a 2.5 hour drive from Montepulciano but combine it with a visit to Bologna (wonderful food!!). I think it would be worth it.

Even though your apartment is prepaid, don't be afraid to leave it for a night and visit someplace totally different (Cinque Terre?). If you're feeling burned out, just call ahead for a reservation, throw a few essentials into a small bag and head out. It feels wasteful, paying for two places for the night, but if you (or your husband) need a break from all those churches and museums, it will absolutely be worth it. We've done this several times and never regretted it.

For me the glory of being in Tuscany is the beauty of the small towns and the countryside. We spent two weeks in an apartment in Montepulciano a year or so ago and just adored driving around the Val d'Orcia. Here are some photos to show what we mean. http://janettravels.wordpress.com/2011/09/20/patterns/ When we were taking these pictures it was fall; in the spring you have lush fields of poppies and other wildflowers; in the summer there are the grapes and the sunflowers. This is just such a stunning part of the world.

While Florence is a place to be immersed in art and we love that, when out in the Tuscan countryside, the best thing is the views, the food, the wine, and just the immense beauty of the small towns.

Janet - I love your remarks, it fuels my fire!! As do your photos. Where did you stay in Montepulciano? We will be at the Politian which has wonderful reviews and just in my correspondence with the owner I am also anticipating a marvelous stay.
Charlene, this frugal Yankee may just make that leap and go to Cinque Terre, as this is our "trip of a lifetime" before we settle down as pensioners (never! Travel is in my blood!) so which towns do you recommend?
And Devon, I guess I will need to order my 'rari now to get into the factory tour!