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Tuscany - Three Night Stay in September (help!)

Posted by on

Hi all! After getting a lot of help here about a three night stay I have coming up with my wife in Florence, I figured I'd post here for help/suggestions about the next part of our trip - Tuscany.

We will be renting a car in Florence when we leave on a Monday afternoon and driving to Siena - we are staying at the Aia Mattonata Relais.

FIrst thing we're doing when we get there - the Nonna Ciana cooking class nearby. That will be our first evening there - we're doing the dinner class. Wife and I looking forward to it.

So - that leaves the next two full days free to explore Tuscany. We are both big wine fans - but we also want to take in the beauty of the towns of Tuscany.

SO, with two full days (only two days unfortunately) free to explore, what would all of you recommend? I was thinking Siena (obviously) - but should i dedicate one full day to just there?

Where else? Can't go everywhere - was thinking Chianti valley and visit some vineyards. would that take up a whole other day?

I assume I wont have time to visit San Gimignano or Lucca, which is a shame, because I hear they are both beautiful.

If anyone has any good itineraries utilizing both full days available and my rental car, hit me up.

thanks!

Posted by
1955 posts

I would allow one full day to explore Siena. It's got a lot of wonderful sights worth spending time to see.

So that allows you one day to do a day trip. You could easily go to Volterra and San Gimignano; or you could head south and hit Montalcino, Pienza, and Montepulciano, plus some of the other smaller and less well-known towns in between. I wouldn't do Lucca, though you certainly could if you want to. If you're serious about wine, head south, as Montalcino and Montepulciano are both famous for their excellent wines. (Though any wine shop in Siena will have good wines for you to taste and purchase or ship home.)

Check a map and look at the alternative routes and read up on what each town has to offer, and you will figure out what suits you best. The good news is there's no wrong answer to this question. Wherever you go will be great.

Posted by
1832 posts

Yeah, similar to Lane's advise.
One day dedicate to Siena itself.

Next day get in the car, head out early and go south to see Montalcino, San Quirico, Pienza, and Montepulciano.
Great wine in Montalcino and Montepulciano and the most famous Tuscan landscapes of all reside in the approx. area around and between San Quirico and Pienza. Take some of the back roads between San Quirico both east to Pienza but also a little South and explore.
I think this would be better than Chianti but the wine experience is more in towns than at vineyards/wineries.

If you really wanted to be rushed on the first full day, you could squeeze in a few hours in San Gimignano and do both San Gim and Siena that day but don't think that is a great idea. The second day you will not have time for it. Lucca is definitely out, too far.

Posted by
1825 posts

I'd spend a day in Siena and you should check out a wine class at the Tuscan Wine School. The next day follow the previous posters advice for Montalcino, San Quirico, Pienza, and Montepulciano.

Florence to Siena is a short drive, I'd include a stop at Monteriggioni and/or Casa Emma, a winery recommended to me on this forum that was perfect.

Posted by
8702 posts

Siena is definitely worth a day. Climb the Torre Mangia, visit the town hall and see the mural of good and bad government from the middle ages. Spend a couple of hours in the Cathedral. Consider a wander through some of the Contradi near the center looking for their totem fountains and symbols. Wonderful town.

Then pick a hill town, an abbey, maybe a garden. So many choices. I'd stick to the Val d'Orcia, the prettiest part of Tuscany. WE did this for a week over 30 years ago; and then did another week about 15 years ago and then when I retired 3 years ago we did 2 weeks in Montepulciano and explored the region. All fabulous. I'd do it again. Here are a few snapshots from the last trip:
https://janettravels.wordpress.com/category/tuscany/

We are less is more people. One hill town, one abbey, one Cathedral is enough for a day. Or maybe two hill towns and an abbey -- but enjoy the views and take your time.

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