Our tentative plan for one day is to visit Sant'Antimo in the morning, and Ciacci Piccolomini D'Aragona Winery in Castelvuovo Abate in the afternoon.

I have noted three possible choices for lunch in the area:

Antica Osteria del Bassomondo
Locanda Sant'Antimo
Ristorante La Torre

Which would you choose, and why?

Any other recommendations or comments on our plans for the day?

I'd head to il Grappolo Blu in Montalcino. Good food at good prices.

Yes we do plan to have a meal at Grappolo Blu. We have eaten there before and you are right, it is good food at good prices - but for this day I am looking for something out in the country.

Hi Sheena. I found a recommendation for Il Leccio in Sant'Angelo in Colle in a SlowTrav trip report. Il Pozzo in the same town has also been recommended. We'll be there in early May, staying at Sant'Antonio 5-12 May, so I'll let you know about our experience -- wherever it is!

Hi Ann, we are reading the same trip reports!

An alternative plan would be to go to Sant'Antimo early, then straight to Ciacci Piccolomini D'Aragona before lunch that way we could continue on to Sant'Angelo in Colle for lunch at Il Leccio.

Let me know if you come up with any recommendations!

By the way I agree with Bob (writer of the above trip report). We ate at La Grotta last year and although we enjoyed the food we felt the service was lacking.

Sheena, do you want to hear the chanting at Sant'Antonio? According to Pauline's notes, it's possible at both 12:45 and 2:45pm.

quote:

Antica Osteria del Bassomondo

Sheena, we ate there two years ago, after hiking from Montalcino to Sant Antimo and while our food was good (especially after traveling 12k), I'm not sure it's something I'd go out of my way for but since I have no experience with the other choices, it's hard for me to say - just an observation. Since you have a car, and I remember that trip report too, I'd probably opt to try Il Leccio.

If we do the Abbey, lunch, winery plan then we will probably time it to be at Sant'Antimo for 12:45 - do you have any idea how long the service is?

One Sunday last year at Abbazia di Monte Oliveto Maggiore we attended a service that lasted almost two hours. It was not possible to leave without being disrespectful, but it was a day when I was not feeling well so it felt like four hours.

If you are planning to go to Mt Oliveto Maggiore time it so that you can have a meal at Conte Matto in Trequanda (we had a great Sunday brunch there on the terrace) or La Locanda Del Castello in San Giovanni D'Asso - we didn't eat here last year but it is on this year's list if we happen to be in the area!

Thanks Kim, I'll cross that one off the list!

Not one of your choices, but absolutely my first choice, would be the restaurant at Castello Banfi. Incredible. They also have a less-expensive 'taverna' as well.

www.castellobanfi.com

Of the three you mention I have only ever eaten lunch at Bassomondo after a visit to Sant'Antimo. My wife and I enjoy it as much for the atmosphere - the bikers, hikers, an occasional bus tour, but the owners are true Italians. Try the Ravioli alla Salvia - they are always reliably good. The cinghiale is excellent if you are so inclined.

I am surprised no one has mentioned the Taverna at Fattoria Barbi. Seems to be an excellent option if they are still serving lunch.

I love Il Pozzo in Sant'Angelo in Colle. It takes about 15 minuted by the white road from Castelnuova dlell"abbate. Much better than Il Leccio in my opinion and much cheaper. Go for the pinci, any of their soups, their fried veggies (neverlisted on the menu) and then have the best bistecca in the area. They ahve a good list of rosso di Montalcino as well.

So, I have checked back on reviews and Il Pozzo it is (How could I ignore a recommendation by Dean?)

What do you think, Sant'Antimo in the morning, then the winery, then lunch in Sant'Angelo in Colle OR lunch then winery then ending at Sant'Antimo in the late afternoon light?

Either of these options will take us on a circular route - although the distances are not great so we could alter the order and backtrack.

I'm thinking Sant Antimo first, only b/c if it were me, and I had a nice lunch and visited a winery, I may not make it to Sant Antimo .

We ate at Il Pozzo before our visit to Sant'Antimo. This is a very simple place, but the food and views are very good. We sat inside, but had a wonderful view from the windows. I had the pinci ragu, which was wonderful, but my sister had tortelli with butter and sage and this rocked!! I think they might have seating outside when the weather is warmer.

Sant'Angelo in Colle is a tiny, cute village and it was only about 10-15 minutes from Sant'Antimo. And I highly recommend timing your visit with the chanting... it's magical.

I don't know, the colors in that valley are amazing in the afternoon light and if you are into photography at all it is worth going in the later afternoon.

Off the white road to Sant'Angelo is our favorite winery in the area Collosorbo - great wines and at pretty decent prices. They may look closed but just drive up and ring the bell, they also live there and will come right out to let you taste, which is free.

The last time we were there we planned a picnic and took our food and wine with us.

I would do lunch, winery and then evening service with chanting at St Antimo.

Yes Dean that is pretty much the way I was thinking, for exactly the reason Tania stated - that amazing late afternoon light.

We will then drive back to Montepulciano having had good food, good wine and, after listening to the chanting, at peace with the world.

Tania I don't think we can (or want to) fit two winery visits into this day, and I really want to visit Ciacci Piccolomini D'Aragona, however I am filing the Collosorbo information for future reference. Their website isn't terribly clear about their location. Can you give me more details?

Am I correct in thinking that our choices for chanting would be 2:45 (too early) or Vespers at 7:00?

Thanks everyone for your input.

There is a main road (the SP14?) that runs from Montalcino to Sant'Angelo, before Sant'Angelo there is a strada bianca (dirt road) that you can take to cut across to Castelnuovo dell'Abate. At about midway, around "La Sesta" you will find Collosorbo in a beautiful old castle/palazzo style building. (if you search on Michilen Maps it will pinpoint it immediately)

quote:

Locanda Sant'Antimo

If this is the place just down the street from the abby, I'd go somewhere else. We ate there a few (4?) years ago (was recommended in a guide book if I recall correctly). The food was eatable but not very good.
---Marlene

quote:

Their website isn't terribly clear about their location.

Yeah isn't that the most ridiculous map--they have a "download the pdf" link and then the map is useless!

Sounds like we might do the exact same day out of Montalcino. We are also planning to visit Ciacci. I will add lunch at Il Pozzo to the list--although I need to check its closing day, as we may have to do this on a Monday (or Sunday, but I doubt that we'd be able to get into Ciacci on a Sunday.) Have you made a reservation with them yet?

Hi Janet, I haven't made any reservations yet. I'll email Jena Patterson at Ciacci today to see what they have available. We emailed back and forth last year but couldn't connect - some people report that they have just walked in, but it sems to be a busy winery so I would rather make an appointment. Once we have a date there then I'll make the reso at Il Pozzo. (the only info I have found states that Il Pozzo is closed on Tuesday).

We will be doing this before the end of June which I think is before you, so I will report back!

hi Sheena, yes you will be there first--we'll be there in mid-July. So I look forward to your reviews and experiences!

So I assume that the contact at Ciacci (Jena Patterson?) speaks/writes english...we were wondering whether we should have our hotel help us make our winery reservations, but perhaps that isn't necessary. Do you have an email that reaches her directly, or should I just use the one on their website?