My husband and I will be renting a car in Florence for our week stay in Chiusi. If we are picking up our car at about 1 pm, is it reasonable to try to tour Cortona and/or Arezzo in the afternoon and still "check in" at our villa by 7:00 pm? Also, I'd love to hear which of all the wonderful Tuscan hilltowns you all would recommend - other than Siena which is already a must on our list. Pienza? Montepulciano? Chianti Road? It is hard to choose, but we want to take it fairly slowly for the week and really enjoy ourselves. We appreciate any advice!
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
You are really centrally located in Chiusi. Suggested day trips would be 1) Montepulciano and Cortona. 2) Siena. 3) Go west than Siena and hit San Gimignano and Volterra. 3) Cortona, Perugia and Assisi (alhtough Assisi should be a 1-day trip by itself.
Posted by
Wichita
831 posts
Lauren,
See http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/tuscany/hs_planning.htm
for ideas in southern Tuscany.
Posted by
OP
Longwood, FL, USA
19 posts
Thanks for the ideas. Can someone suggest a really good map for this area so that we can best estimate travel distances? And so we know where we are going! Do any maps show where parking lots outside the towns are?
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
www.viamichelin.com will give you a good idea on driving distances and times. The Rick Steve's book will show you parking areas for all of these towns and cities. I hope you have one.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
You could buy a Michelin regional map in advance. See this one.