Tuscany Region?

[sheridee]

Hey there! My friend and I are currently planning our trip to Europe, and we would like to make a stop in the Tuscany region. We've both been to Florence before, so we're opting to skip it. But other than that, we honestly have no clue about Tuscany (other than Pisa, of course).

So, I'm hoping that you'll be able to suggest places to go, how long to stay...the works! Thanks!

[madamtrashheap]

Hi sheridee and welcome to the boards!

You might deduct from my avitar that Tuscany (particularly Florence) is a favourite and there are many on these boards who also love the area and will no doubt offer suggestions for you too.

As you've been to Florence and Pisa, here are some other places to research/visit:

Siena - warrants a few days stay, around 2 but if you want to use it as a base then obivously spend more.San Miniato - town halfway between Florence and Pisa (not the church above Piazzale Michelangelo in Florence); great little town with fortress that looks over it (Barbarossa spend a bit of time here, hence the walls and towers) and has a great truffle festival in November every year. You coudl do a day trip easily.
San Gimignano - busses (or a hire car) are the best way to get here; great medieval hilltop town and good for a day trip or overnight stay to appreciate the quite
Lucca - near to Pisa, another medieval town with v interesting sights; one day/overnight should do you
Montepulciano - another smaller town that is a good exaple of Tuscan architecture; also home to good food and wine (although not the wine Montepulciano di Abbruzzo which is made in the south)
Cortona - another hilltop town, but a little smaller than others; great restaurants, good for an overnight (or two) stay and you could do a day trip to Assisi from here.
Montecatini Terme - a spa town on a hill! Not far from Florence and very pretty little town
Arezzo - great town that has streets that wind down the hill it sits on, kind of like a larger San Gimignano but without the towers; would also be a good base but is a little further east than Siena
Greve in Chianti - a town in Chianti Classico territory, look for agriturismo accommodation or B&B in a palazzo if possible; getting there will require a car (easiest) or transfers from the closest bus/train link
Prato- just outside Florence, was a very important silk and textile trading town (and used to war with Florence, but who didn't?!!), famous as the home of Cantucci, the biscotti dipped in Vin Santo and coffee. Fortress is interesting, but not necessary to stay overnight
Carrara - depending on your direction (if you were going to Cinque Terre I'd suggest a quick visit) this might be of interest as a marble quarry town and home to the best marble in Italy
Maremma - if you stay in the town on the coast it gives you a different aspect of Tuscany (ie, not all rolling hills)
Livorno - if you fancy a bit of a beach then you could spend a day here (depending on the time of year), but it's not the best beach in Italy, good seafood restaurants though.

Not sure of how much time you have to play with, but would suggest basing yourselves in Siena and picking a few day trips to make (San Gimignano, Assisi, Cortona...) as it has the best access to the places that would probably interest you.

Happy planning and let us know what you decide.

[sheridee]

Thank you so much madamtrashheap! I really appreciate all this insight! I guess I didn't make it very clear, but we actually haven't been to Pisa. I was just implying that everyone knows about Pisa just because of the Leaning Tower!

I will definitely look into basing ourselves in Siena...it seems like a good plan. I'll be talking to her about it and will definitely let you know how the plan is going!

[madamtrashheap]

sheridee said:

we actually haven't been to Pisa.

Whoops, must get my eyes checked! Well, if you've not been to Pisa, then perhaps a half-day trip (for the Tower and gelati) with a stop in San Miniato would be an idea.

Good luck with the planning!

[lia]

Tuscany's just wonderful - and I don't say it because I live there, 'cause, unfortunately, I don't! see the cities, but have a ride though the countryside, too, through the sunflower fields..just marvellous! it's a region full of wonderful ladscapes, and with a very good food and wine tradition!