Hello. I will be in Tuscany in late March for a few days. We will be arriving by train at Arezzo and meeting a tour guide, who will take us around Siena/Montiriggiano. We need to spend that night somewhere, ideally somewhere that we can easily access transit on our own to go to Bologna (or possibly Cinque Terre). That night, we could either spend in the same place or somewhere new. The third day we will again be with the guide in and around Pienza and Val d'Orca. Assuming train schedules work out, we will either go directly to Florence that night, or spend the night in Tuscany and leave in the morning for Florence. I want to start booking hotels, but first I need an idea of where to stay! The guide suggested staying in Arezzo because it has easy transit to Bologna, but wondering if there are other options?
Posted by
San Diego, California, USA
2124 posts
I think Arezzo is a good suggestion for your stay. You are moving around a lot and I think staying in one place long enough to try a few restaurants - of which Arezzo has many good ones - and get the feel for one place is a good idea. And if you haven't toured Arezzo then you can explore it on your own. If your tour has the possibility of ending in Siena then that is a good possibility as well but it sounds like the problem is luggage. Either stash your luggage in Arezzo and come back to it after the tour or take it with you - drop it off in Siena - and then come back to after the tour is over. It seems like logistics might answer this question for you.
CT is the outlier to your plan because it is not in Tuscany and be close to it you would need to travel closer to coast - someplace like Pisa has good access - 60 minutes by train to La Spezia. But then you are headed to southern Val d'Orca which is headed entirely the other way immediately after that. Also March weather on the coast makes CT a questionable choice and you could easily end up with cooler weather and off season potential in CT.
Just some things to consider, sounds like you have some great places lined up,
=Tod
Posted by
OP
233 posts
Hi -- yes, we are not even hikers, and with it being out of season and far away, Bologna is the more likely destination than Cinque Terre. Thanks for your advice!
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
9534 posts
Siena/Montiriggiano
Do you mean Monteriggioni?
Siena is more central to the locations you will be visiting than Arezzo is. I assume if guide is picking you up in Arezzo you can keep your luggage with you that day then be dropped in Siena for the night?
Train access in Tuscany is very limited (no train in Pienza for example). Guide would have to drop you back in Siena to get to Florence after your Pienza/Val D'Orcia day. (Florence is IN Tuscany)
CT is too far as a day trip and March (probably not worth it wise)
You are better off going to Bologna from Florence- direct fast train less than an hour.
From Arezzo or Siena to Bologna requires regional trains and transfers in Florence- both journeys will take closer to 2/2.5 hours.
I would base in 1 place- no sense changing hotels every day. Siena would be my choice just due to location. Then to Florence.
Siena has at least a full day's worth of sites in town to see- don't head off every day from there for other places!