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Where to stop for lunch/sightseeing Florence to Pienza?

Thank you in advance for your responses. My husband and I will be picking up a car around noon at FLR and driving to Pienza. We will be in Tuscany for a week and Florence/CT after than for another week. We will have a light picnic dinner at our agriturismo when we arrive. We are looking for a place to stop along the way to have a hearty lunch with some sightseeing. Nothing too intense with lots of crowds and/or difficult parking (i.e. Volterra). We will be coming from Rome and will want to unwind a bit. This is not our first trip to the area so there aren't any "must sees". Just looking for a leisurely drive and a relaxing afternoon on our way to Pienza. Any and all ideas welcome, including driving routes.

For those who will question why we are renting a car in Florence instead of elsewhere if we are coming from Rome, our flight into FLR was cancelled and we had to scramble to make other arrangements. We are staying in Rome the night we arrive (my husband doesn't want to drive after a red-eye) and the train to Florence seemed the easiest option w/o having to change other aspects of our itinerary. We've had issues with car rentals at smaller locations (i.e. Orvieto) and are choosing ease over convenience.

I lurk here often, post little, and appreciate all the wisdom and experience from the forum members. You have helped this infrequent traveler so much over the years with your passion and guidance.

Posted by
114 posts

A beautiful little village just a bit off your route would be Montisi. Lunch outside at Da Roberto’s is a real treat. Afterwards a stroll through the village. You will see very few if any fellow tourists. We have parked our car at Da Roberto’s with luggage and felt safe in doing so.

Posted by
133 posts

Hi Amy. I am still a bit curious as to why you are not getting your car in Rome the morning after you fly in. Is it because you already have the rental car reserved at the Florence airport and to change that to picking up a rental car in Rome would be too costly? You are now planning to fly into Rome, spend the night somewhere in Rome, get the train from Rome to Florence, and then get from the train station in Florence out to the airport to pick up your rental car? Do I have your plans correct?

Posted by
7236 posts

Hi Amy-

We picked up car at Florence airport and drove to Pienza last spring. We had planned a certain route that would take us past Buonconvento on our way, plan was to stop there for lunch. I had researched a bit and it seemed like parking right outside walls there was safe and easy. There were several restaurants to choose from, we ended up NOT going that route- not sure why now- I think because it was rainy so we decided to just nibble snacks in the car instead. Anyway- it looks like a cute quiet village and is on the way.
One thing you might want to check on hours the restaurants will be serving lunch, many will stop serving around 2. If you are coming from Rome then to car pick up make sure you can actually get somewhere for lunch on time.

A closer stop would be Greve in Chianti. I know parking is easy there and there would be several restaurants to choose from

Also curious if you have priced out picking up car in Rome instead- it would be less time/hassle then train/tram to FLR where you end up north of Florence. If you picked up in Rome after an overnight there a stopover in Orvieto would work.

Posted by
99 posts

@jconsol

Hi Amy. I am still a bit curious as to why you are not getting your
car in Rome the morning after you fly in. Is it because you already
have the rental car reserved at the Florence airport and to change
that to picking up a rental car in Rome would be too costly? You are
now planning to fly into Rome, spend the night somewhere in Rome, get
the train from Rome to Florence, and then get from the train station
in Florence out to the airport to pick up your rental car? Do I have
your plans correct?

When we rebooked our flights, we had to fly into Italy a day earlier than originally scheduled so we were staying "somewhere" overnight. My husband doesn't want to drive after a red-eye (we have a direct flight from JFK). We already had the rental car reserved in Florence. We decided to make a spoil in our plans an opportunity. A night in Rome is really appealing. And we enjoy train rides. I know efficiency experts would give this plan a D- minus but the romantics in us will treasure it as time well spent.

Posted by
7236 posts

We decided to make a spoil in our plans an opportunity. A night in
Rome is really appealing. And we enjoy train rides.

We probably would have done same. Rome is ALWAYS appealing to us!

Posted by
114 posts

Just thought of another option for you. If you follow the SR222 it will take you through the beautiful Chianti country. Castello Verrazzano, is just outside of Greve and that stop may be better suited for lunch given your time frame. Verrazzano offers tours and an amazing lunch. Must have reservations.

Posted by
194 posts

Greve is a good suggestion. They had a really nice market on the Saturday that we drove through there (on our way from Florence to Montepulciano). Would've liked to spend a bit more time in that area, and it's on the list to return to one day.

Posted by
133 posts

Amy…got it! My suggestion then would be Ristorante La Castellana located on the road into the small town of Montefioralle just above Greve. It should be no more than an hour’s drive from Peretola. You can park your car right along the road outside the restaurant or, if no spaces, up the road a bit farther as you enter into the tiny town of Montefioralle. No worries about luggage in your car, I would not think in this area. The food is fantastic and, if you are going during warmer weather, the outside patio across the narrow road from the restaurant offers spectacular views over the countryside. You can visit the lovely little town of Montefioralle after lunch before you head out again. It would then be about another 2 hours (or slightly less) on to Pienza.
http://www.ristorante-lacastellana.it/en/

Posted by
99 posts

Thank you all for your very thoughtful responses. We have a plan now and cannot wait.