We're going to Italy for the first time in September. We will have 6-7 days in Rome and 3 or 4 days in Florence. In between we are considering 2 or 3 nights at a B&B in Siena, renting a car at the end of our stay and going to a gorgeous agritourismo about an hours walk outside of San Gimignano for 2-3 nights and staying at a charming B&B near Montepulciano (it's in a very tiny hilltop town nearby) for 1-2 nights. Are we attempting too much? I am worried I've fallen in love with the B&Bs, and just want to stay at all of them but told myself we wouldn't jump around and get exhausted. Ideas? 2 nights or 3 in Siena? Rest of time at agritourismo before heading to florence? Skip agritourismo and spend more nights near Montepulciano? We love to explore old cities, are not that crazed about renaissance art and I like the country more than my husband! Suggestions?
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San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15225 posts
Anything in excess of 5 nights in Rome might be...excessive, especially since you like rural settings more.. 4 nights is ideal.
3 nights (2 full days) totally devoted to Florence only is adequate.
In your shoes I might not stay any nights in Siena if you love your rural accommodations so much. Siena is only 45 min drive from San Gimignano, so you could visit it on a day trip from San Gimignano area by car.
I don't know where you fly to and what you do before and after, but I'd probably rent a car on my way out of Rome (after 4 nights) and split my time between Montepulciano area and San Gimignano area. Then I'd drive to Florence for 3 nights, and return the car upon entering Florence (you don't want a car while in Florence). If you prefer more urban stay, you could base yourselves in Siena and use Siena as a base for the whole Tuscan stay. Siena is halfway between Montepulciano and San Gimignano (45minto 1 hour from either). However you seem to like agriturismo more than cities.