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Tuscan Hill Towns - Home Base Suggestion needed- Montalcino?

Hello there- I read a thread below about suggested Tuscan itinerary with interest. We're headed back to Italy Oct. 1 for a few weeks, and will split our time roughly as follows:

First 10 days- Milan/Como/Dolomites (will take a train from Como to Verona and rent a car for the Dolomites, dropping the car back in Verona)

4/5 nights in Florence. We've been there before, but want to take a couple day trips by train (Lucca).

5 nights exploring hill towns south of Sienna (including Sienna).

We are thinking of staying on a farm in Montalcino. The Farm is more a gentleman's farm (not a full time farm). It looks to be a lovely apartment near some vineyards. I've heard that wine and food are front and central in this town, and that its small. Will this be a good location in terms of day tripping? We will have rental car No. 2 at that point.

We will rent/return the car in Sienna.

Thank you in advance!

Posted by
11315 posts

We have used Montalcino as a base twice and would do so again. One day drive thru the Val d’Orcia to Pienza and Montepulciano. Delightful. The Abbey of Sant’Antimo near Montalcino is worth a visit and there is some hiking in the area. Ask locally about that as it has been a few years since we were there.

BTW, one of our all time favorite wineries is just outside of town, Ventolaio. The Enoteca di Piazza in Montalcino is a lot of fun with its wine tasting system. We actually had them ship us a case of Brunello.

Now I want to go back, darn it!

Posted by
18 posts

Laurel- you’re from Forest Grove, Oregon, close
To many fine wineries! I live in Bend.

I’m really looking forward to the wines of the Montalcino region… thank you for weighing in. 😎

Posted by
11315 posts

Oh my yes, we do have great options near here. We belong to way too many wine clubs that keep us awash in Pinot Noir. When we travel, I love to have the local wines and only wish I could ship more back to OR.