Myself and 2 other couples are planning approx two weeks in Tuscany. A week in Tuscany and 6 days in Cinque Terre. 13th - 26th September 2015.
My research is leaving me more confused than ever.
For exploring Tuscany we would like to stay together in the country somewhere to explore the countryside by car
A villa perhaps that we could have the entire place on our own. Most places only book saturday to saturday which doesn't fit our dates. Any suggestions on what to see and where to stay. One couple will have a 1 year old child.
Thank you.
Gail Crouch.
Posted by
Boston
1817 posts
It is confusing because there are so many pleasures! Since your group don't seem to be hikers, I think 6 days in Cinque Terre is way too long - these are just little villages. Look at the small city of Sestri Levante in Liguria which is centrally located and has train service and a good autostrada connection. From there you can visit the CT easily, as well as the Portofino area attractions such as Camogli and Santa Margherita, and southward for Carrara, Lerici, and Portovenere.. Sestri also has a nice beach.
Posted by
1 posts
Hello,
I'd suggest you to sleep at Poggio Bonelli near Castelnuovo Berardenga, in the surroundings of Siena countryside.
Siena is not well linked (in terms of public transports and roads in general) to all the test of towns in Tuscany, so it'd be better to have a car to daytrip.
Cinque Terre is also fascinating with local trains that run along the coast and in the small villages and hamlets.
I do not know personally any place, but i can recommend one in Brugnato (20kms from Cinque Terre more or less) which is Casale del Ben Essere (you va find it on www.agriturismo.it).
Hope this helps a bit!
Posted by
Portland, OR
1136 posts
We stayed at Canalicchio di Sopra in Montalcino and loved it. They have individual apartments for couples, but also 2-3 bedroom apartments with kitchens.
Agriturismos are also a wonderful way to visit Tuscany.
Posted by
Wichita
831 posts
gail,
This may help http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/tuscany/hs_planning.htm
Posted by
30 posts
We will be in Italy around the same time and are staying in apartments in the CT (4 nights) and Cortona (4 nights) and Orvieto (5 nights). I found these apartments on VRBO. There were a number of places in Tuscany and Umbria that accepted guests on a less than 1 week stay.
Posted by
lexington, il
4105 posts
These 2 Tuscan accommodations are our favorites.
http://www.collelungo.com/EN/index.html very centrally located. Easy drive from CT
http://www.borgorapale.it/ Tuscany very close by also Umbria. Wonderful hosts.
For CT look 2 this site http://www.arbaspaa.com/booking/Apt_La_Terrazza/booking.aspx
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11852 posts
We stayed at Poggio Etrusco recently and look forward to a return in warm weather. Just outside of Montalcino, it has 3 2-bedroom apartments. Very quiet, great breakfast and lovely old Tuscan property. There's a pool, chickens cats and 2 dogs. Pam does cooking classes, if that is of interest, and no Sat-to-Sat restrictions.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Thank you so much for your suggestions. They have been very helpful.
Gail
Posted by
Dunedin, FL
21 posts
The best resource for apartments or villas is www.homeaway.com We have had great success and some only require a 3 night stay.
Posted by
Atlanta, GA, USA
70 posts
You might also try the town of Portovenere. It is a pretty seaside town and ferries run from the docks there on a regular basis to Cinque Terre.
We stayed at the Hotel Genio which was very picturesque with great views of the port.
Posted by
5 posts
The last time we travelled to Tuscany we chose the Siena Province. I think you really need to make a choice of which part of Tuscany yopu would like to visit, as there are so many amazing places to see, you rick to travel all that time from one place to the other.
I really had an amazing experience at Agriturismo il Molinello (www.molinello.com) south of Siena. They rent Saturday Saturday only in July and August. They also have a private villa with its own pool and garden, but we were only 2 people so we rented ana partment in the main farm. We could join at the farm to a wine tasting course and a cooking lesson, unfortunately we had to leave and we could not join to the oil tasting! We hired Alessandro (the owner, sommelier and authorized guide) for a daily bike tour and a daily wine tour!
Il Molinello is in the crete senesi region unique with its unique and picturesque scenery…a spectacular sea of undulating rolling hills like no other in Tuscany. Don't miss to visit the Monte Oliveto Maggiore Abbey
From Il Molinello it was very easy to reach Siena, the Val d'Orcia (that has been recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 2004) visiting Montalcino, San Quirico d'Orcia, Bagno Vignoni, Pienza and Montepulciano, the sienese Chianti region (where you can visit Catsellina in Chianti, Radda in Chianti and Gaiole in Chianti). Arezzo is not so far and you can easily reach Perugia and Assisi in Umbria.
Alessandro and Elisa can help you also to organize wine cellars visits with tastings in Montalcino, Montepulciano or in the Chianti.
I hope you'll have an unforgettable holiday
Molly from Finnland