Hi! We are planning our trip to Italy and have a few question about Tuscany. We plan on taking a wine tour, however, we would like to see as much of the region as possible. My husband is a photographer and we both love wine, so we were thinking a Chianti tour would be our best fit for our tour. Does anyone have any other recommendations? Do you recommend renting a car in Florence and driving to Chianti and exploring the other regions? We will have 5 days total in Tuscany. Then our plan was to drive back to Florence and fly back to Chicago from there. Thanks in advance for any suggestions!
Posted by
Denver, CO, USA
35 posts
Hi Colleen, My wife and I just got back from Italy, and stayed in Florence for 4 nights and did a tour of the Chianti region. We decided we did not want to deal with the hassle of driving in Italy and the stress, so we went with a private tour company that is very reasonably priced. http://www.slow-days.com/index.html The tour guide, Simon, is from the UK and is really a nice guy and very knowledgeable and his wife is from the area. We went out on a tour with Simon and two others, five total, and toured the Chianti region. He is flexible on his itinerary, which is neat. Just ask him. But we wanted to see Radda in Chianti, which truly is a neat little town. We also had lunch (included) in Gaiole in Chianti and toured a Castle and had wine tasting. All expenses are included in one set price - 125 Euros. I really was very happy with the there company and it was an excellent day and I would recommend it to anyone! Jason
Posted by
Little Rock, AR, USA
111 posts
Absolutely rent a car and drive down any and all the Chianti roads. Be flexible and enjoy each day as it develops.
Posted by
Toledo
653 posts
You can take the Chianti area "wine road" (well marked) and any side roads that look interesting. Montalcino, Greve di Chianti, Montepulciano, Todi are all beautiful towns (especially for photographers) and the house wines at the trattorie are fantastic, in addition to the wines you'll taste on a tour (I assume you're going to go vineyard hopping).
Posted by
Little Rock, AR
105 posts
Renting a car is a great option (I strongly suggest a GPS with an Italy card) for greatest flexiblility. I am a photographer, and I loved Montalcino (home of the Brunello wines), and the lovely Abbey of Sant'Antimo about 10 miles away. I honestly think I could go there today and drive around for a decade and not see all the beauty in Tuscany. There are also several good bus tours available if you do not want the expense and stress of renting a car.
Posted by
Natick, Mass, USA
31 posts
the S-222 road from florence to siena, through the chianti region, is the most beautiful drive on the planet. definitely rent a car so you can enjoy the region at your own pace. your camera won't have any room left after that drive! i've travel to quite a few places in my lifetime, but the S-222 drive on a bright, sunny day is honestly one of, if not the most naturally beautiful thing i've ever experienced.
Posted by
Natick, Mass, USA
31 posts
the S-222 road from florence to siena, through the chianti region, is the most beautiful drive on the planet. definitely rent a car so you can enjoy the region at your own pace. your camera won't have any room left after that drive! i've travel to quite a few places in my lifetime, but the S-222 drive on a bright, sunny day is honestly one of, if not the most naturally beautiful thing i've ever experienced.
Posted by
Atlanta, Ga
211 posts
Tuscany is meant to be seen by car or on foot. Many many wineries to visit in Chianti area. Also recommend younger Montalcino area for great wines and interesting wine tours. Chianti--vicchiomaggio, verrazzano, rampolla, castello di ama (unique), villa vignamaggio just to name a few Montalcino-- another endless list to include barbi, banfi, Argiano, il Poggione,
Altesino, poggio antico, mate, dargana piccolomini, Have fun
Posted by
Atlanta, Ga
211 posts
Driving. Not as stressful as many think. Can be stressful leaving Florence but easy after that. Kinda like leaving Chicago if you have never been there, but then you are driving in the Illinois and Wisconsin countryside. pretty easy.
Posted by
Ann Arbor, Mi
3696 posts
I am a professional photographer and would have to give up my camera if I had to whiz by all the beautiful sights of the Tuscan countryside on a bus or a train....there is nothing more stressful than not being able to stop when I want to take a photo and its hard to beat being able to stop the car and turn around and wait for the light to be right. You can explore on your own and at your own pace. While I have gotten 'lost' a few times I found it to be easy to get around without a gps.... and I'm not great with maps, but somehow always end up finding my way...oftentimes to someplace completely unexpected and wonderful.
Posted by
lexington, il
4105 posts
A good site to look at and maybe print out is in-tuscany.com I agree with the other posters
you can't go wrong by renting a car...the area is beautiful!
Posted by
Flat Rock, NC
15 posts
Recently spent a week in Tuscany. Drove thru the Chianti Valley one day. Castellini de Chianti is a lovely tiny town. Ate lunch in Panzano at restaurant above the famous butcher, Dario's. Not to be missed. Favorite towns in Tuscany were Volterra, Montalcino and Montepulciano. Followed Rick Steves restaurant recommendations much of trip. San Gimignano was way too crowded, but had a fabulous lunch with a gorgeous view at Bel Soggiorno Hotel Restaurant. Siena also packed with tourists. Check out www.untours.com. We used them for accommodations which included rental car. Fabulous experience staying at a farmhouse.