My husband and I will be completing the “heart of Italy” 9 day tour i early October. It will be my husbands first trip to Italy. We have 3-4 days open at the end to plan more. Any suggestions on what to do in Tuscany to further enjoy the experience?
Pamelao-
I’d suggest staying in Siena and possibly getting in a day trip - there’s an excellent bus network. I stayed in Siena 5 nights and day-tripped by bus to Monteriggioni.
Siena by all means! Enough said. :)
I was thinking about Siena. Do you have any hotel recommendations?
Pamela
I'd spend at least one more night in Florence.
Although not in Tuscany, this tour does not go to Venice and would be a good add -on. Pretty easy to get between the 2 by train.
Are you flying out of Florence or have you not made flight reservations yet? IF you choose Venice you might plan to fly out of there to your European hub and spend the night there (Paris? Amsterdam?) before getting a flight back to the US.
If you currently live in Spokane, you are invited to the RS Spokane/CdA Meet ups we have each month! We usually meet the 1st Saturday at Woops Bakery in downtown CdA at 10A. Jean, who is the organizer, usually posts a reminder on the forum the week before. (Well, and even if you don't currently live in Spokane you'd be invited if you were in the area, lol!!)
Siena’s worth at least a couple of days. We visited this past October, but only had one night and one day - not enough time. We also arrived by train and had a tough time trying to get into the center. No taxis, and the line of people waiting for a taxi was looooooong and not moving. We finally found the unmarked elevator in the shopping mall across from the train station that led down to the subterranean bus stop, and caught a bus into the old town. No seats available, and our wheeled suitcases rolled and crashed as we stood at the back of the bus and it swung around tight hairpin curves on steep streets. Take a taxi if you can get one, or be prepared to try to hold onto your bag and onto something to stabilize you on the bus at the same time.
Your tour goes from Volterra up to the Cinque Terre, bypassing Lucca (worth a stay of 2 nights or more) and Pisa (very close). Consider going west from Florence to Lucca.
If you’re flying home from Rome, and need to get back there for your flight, you could stay in (or visit) Orvieto on your way. It’s a hill town that’s technically in Umbria, but very close to Tuscany, and an easy train away from Rome.
"Your tour goes from Volterra up to the Cinque Terre, bypassing Lucca"
When I did this tour long ago and far away, lol, we stopped in Lucca for a city walk, lunch on our own and a bike ride around the walls. A quick visit to be sure but a stop nonetheless.
We stayed in Siena at a wonderful B&B recommended by Rick Steves - Antica Residenza Cicogna. Excellent room, outstanding location, pretty good breakfast. It’s in a historic building so no elevator. https://www.anticaresidenzacicogna.it/en/
I will second Cyn's recommendation.
When I did this tour long ago and far away, lol, we stopped in Lucca for a city walk
OK, Pam’s got direct tour experience … I haven’t done the Heart of Italy tour with Rick, and just looked at the itinerary described on this Website. There’s obviously a lot more to the tour than what you see on a quick glance at the description. If you have a stop in Lucca (or anyplace else) and want more, maybe you’ll want to go back for more. Finding a room might or might not be tough, if you wait until a few days beforehand to go back somewhere.
I stayed at the Hotel Alma Domus in Siena - excellent location, and I was lucky enough to get a room on the side with a fantastic view.
Alma Domus was my home base a few times and I will definitely return there. Definitely get a room with a balcony - the view of the Duomo and the city (above and below) is really beautiful any time of the day or night. The breakfast is ok. The location is very convenient.
Wanted to clarify transportation from Florence to Siena - you can go on the bus or the train. Bus is faster and more convenient. It drops you off in the Piazza Antonio Gramsci, in the middle of town, whereas the train stops at the bottom of the hill (as trains do). However, across the way from the train station there’s a series of escalators to take you up the hill. It was still a somewhat substantial walk to the Hotel Alma Domus, but doable.
Thank you for such great suggestions! Unfortunately no longer live in Spokane.
Pamela
