where to stay in Tuscany

We stayed in the Chianti region and found that very central for daytrips to Florence, Siena, San Giminiano and Volterra. A couple of good websites to look for accommodations:

www.tuscanyby.com

www.interchalet.com

Both have very good search functions where you can select your preferences (washer, pool ...). They do include some agriturismo as well.

Carole,
Tuscany is a big area so I don't believe there is a central place to see it all. Try to determine what you want to see then look for a place in the middle of most of your picks.
I like southern Tuscany the best. For ideas in this area see http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/tuscany/hs_planning.htm
You might want to search 'agriturismo' for places to stay.

we really enjoyed siena. took our day trips from there. good luck :):)

Stayed last summer just outside Pienza. It is in the Val d'Orcia (sp?) and it is just picture perfect. Close to Montalcino & Montepulciano. We stayed at Le Traverse a wonderful B&B with a great hostess who gave us lots of suggestions for sightseeing, restaurants, etc. I highly recommend it.

Casa Portagioia in Catiglion Fiorentino. Tuscanbreaks.com - Truly spectacular and from here we were able to visit Cortona for dinner, Assisi, Montepulciano ... great location, beautiful place.

Good suggestion - so..if we want to go to Bologna...should we do that on our way to Florence from Venice? And not try to make that part of our time in Tuscany? What about Assisi? Should we just forgo that? We are only going to spend 4 nights in the Tuscany hills - after 2 nights in Florence. What is reasonable? Thanks.

Carole,
Try to remember that the more you try to see the less you actually see. You don't want to spend all your time getting somewhere then getting back. Getting a base then exploring within a half or an hours drive will work very well.

hi carole, we stayed at www.forconi.net/ podere dell,anselmo two years ago, and love it, it was clean, nice little appartment, on a small winery,and they also cook some regional meal a few nights a week it also has a pool. we took day trips to pisa, lucca, vinci, San Gimignano. all we're not too far away.

Are you planning on venturing outside of Tuscany?

Yes - we start in Milan/Lake Como for 2 nights, 3 nights in Venice, 2 nights in Florence, 4 nights in Tuscany, 4 nights in S. Italy (TBD), 4 nights in Rome, then back to Seattle. Tuscany will be a little reprieve from cities - trying to balance city busy time and slower downtime so we don't come back home exhausted! Thanks for your help.