This will be our first trip ever to Italy for our 25th anniversary. I feel like a babe in the woods compared to everyone I read here. Anyway, I would really not want to mess this up since we probably will not be able to return for a number of years.

We will be spending a few days in Rome...and then four nights in Tuscany.We are almost settled on a stay at the "Castello di Lamole". Does anyone know it? Any thoughts or opinions? There is also a restaurant there named "Aia dei Canti". We would like to take day trips to Florence, Siena and through the Chianti Classico area. Does anyone have more specific or better intineraries?

I've learned a lot through this web site and would love some personalized advice. Thank you all.

I wish I were a Tuscany man John since I haven't been here; but my gut tells me it's going to be a good experience. The menu is authentic, and the 20-30 euro meal price sounds like a very good deal (don't get your hopes too high up, of course wine and liqueur are separate charges).

Welcome to Slow Talk. It sounds like you have a nice anniversary planned. I don't think anyone has mentioned staying at the Castello di Lamole or the restaurant. But several people have mentioned eating at Ristoro Di Lamole. Have you also checked out our Slow Traveler website? Searching on Lamole will bring up a couple of interesting pages as does searching on this web site.

Lamole should be a nice central location for visiting Chianti. I stayed a week in Castellina and it was very convenient for day trips. The hard decision will be narrowing it down to your list of must-sees given the 4 days. The towns of Greve, Panzano, Radda and Castellina are all within easy drive.

Do you have any particular special interests? That might help us with recommendations.

Thanks to both Bill and Marta for replies...

Yes, I have studied the Slow Trav website...at length . It's by far the best site I've found (and I've looked at a lot). For a first time, semi-anxious Italy traveler, this site has given me first hand experience, photos, examples, etc. that have put me much more at ease.

As for interests, we would like to spend a day in Florence and then soak up the experience of Tuscany ie. eating the local food in a small family trattoria , visting a classic small hill town and sipping wine in it's piazza; visit a winery; drive the countryside. And all in a short time - typical American, I know, but it's how we have to do it. It will be a special way, though, to celebrate, I know that.

Thanks again, for your kind help. It's great to find a message board with heart.

You might consider a lunch at the restaurant in San Felice. We had an excellent meal there a few years ago. This is a small Hamlet that has be restored and is now a luxury hotel with a restaurant and the San Felice winery. You can taste the wines there and then eat lunch. I particularly like the Viorello (a super tuscan) and they also make some very good chiantis. We also had an excellent meal at Vignale in Radda and I would highly recommend them.

Hey John, it sounds like a lovely trip and a memorable way to celebrate your anniversary. Don't worry about the length of your stay, as time in Italy tends to meander by. I always feel as though I've been gone for a month, after just a week. Enjoy, savor and have a wonderful time-out. Ciao, Cheryl

Lamole is a charming small village - BUT - it is down a long very narrow road. Probably only a 10 minute drive, but I remember driving it on one of our early trips and we were nervous - waiting for oncoming traffic, but it never came. The road is paved. The town is very small. More fun might be to stay in Castellina or Greve - larger towns (but still pretty small) where you can walk out in the evening for dinner and not have to drive.

Is it possible to spend a few nights in Florence instead of day trip in? It is always a bit overwhelming feeling doing a day trip in - just because you are in the city with all the crowds and don't have your hotel to escape to for a break.

We were all babes in the woods at one time with Italy and that first trip there is always so exciting - when everything just seems so different!! Have you read through our trip reports?
www.slowtrav.com/tr/ - they are great for getting a feel for things.

Thanks for the thoughts, Pauline...We usually like being in an "out of the way place"...but as I said before, never have in a foreign land.

As for staying in Florence...there will be no breaks! Just kidding. Another good thought to consider.

And, yes, I have been through many of the trip reports. I have really spent a lot of time with this site. It's the little things that concern us babes. When I first found this site I saw menu interpretations, itineraries, minutiae...exactly what I needed to make me feel like I've been to Italy before. Less babe-like and more toddler. That's a great and greatly appreciated service. Thanks to all.

I would second Paulines comments. It is a charming spot - the views are terrific. The downside is that you are really quite isolated and the road is pretty narrow. We rented a house not very far from there 2 years ago. The house was about 3 Kms. from the turnoff to Lamole - so we were in an isolated location, however, the access to Greve was much less arduous than getting into town from Lamole.
The drive into Florence is not to bad although it will take you about an hour.

I agree with Pauline--Lamole is too isolated to suit me. Look at my trip report from last Oct. and check out Borgo Argenina if you want a Chianti location. Good luck !

I haven't been into the Castello di Lamole but have walked by it.

Friends spoke with an owner there and found that person very hospitable. I don't think of that location as being so isolated. I think the drive into Greve is no more than five miles on a paved road - granted a narrow paved road. The little center of Lamole is an easy walk and it has the wonderful Ristorante di Lamole. Walking or driving down the hill a mile or less, you come to Villa Vignamaggio. If you do stay in that area, I highly recommend reserving for a wine tour there, which includes a garden tour. Incidentally, the Ristorante di Lamole serves Villa Vignamggio wines as their house wines and the red is superb.

Greve is a great town with many excellent restaurants to choose from. One of my favorites there is Mangiando, Mangiando, which is recognized by the Slow Food movement (probably in their book). Greve also has a beautiful little hilltown, Montefioralle, about a mile uphill. I love the area.

You likely have done this already but if you haven't, I recommend checking out Divina Cucina's descriptions of the Ristorante di Lamole and all the food places in Greve. Her website is http://www.divinacucina.com.

Also, Panzano is less than five miles from Greve and Judy has some great writeups on places in that town. I adore Il Vinaio at the top of the street.

One other thing about the area. Greve has excellent bus service to Florence via the SITA line - at least 6-8 a day with the last one departing from Florence by about 7:30 pm. You arrive close to the main attractions of Florence. The bus stop in Florence is right by the main train station so it's convenient for sightseeing. You can park your car in the lot in Greve and be in the center of Florence in less than an hour - 50-55 minutes depending on traffic. It's a wonderfully scenic ride and the buses are very comfortable. A one-way ticket is less than 3.5 euros. Some of those buses even go to and from Lamole, but Lamole's service is much less frequent Greve's.

Hi,
We adore most of Tuscany. We celebrated our 25th anniversary at Il Falconiere
www.ilfalconiere.com
Congratulations.
We are coming up to our 30th this September but have not yet decided where to celebrate.
Wendy

Happy Anniversary. And, you've come to the right spot for all sorts of different ideas on where to stay.

Lamole is about ten minutes off the Via Chiantigiana. The town itself has a post office, a community building and the local bar/restaurant. The setting is farmland and there are two restaurants reviewed on this site.

But, I agree with Pauline that you might want to consider Greve or Castellina as a more lively base.

Day trip to Florence? In an effort to control smog, the city council has recently set up alternate license plate days for driving into the city. One day for even numbered plates, next day for odd. But, you can use public transport.

We have a SITA bus: www.sita-on-line.it which gives you the schedules. Go to page 345 and follow the arrows for Firenze and returns. You can park your car for free behind the SITA stop in P.zza Trento. The trip takes approximately 55 minutes from Greve. As you'll see on the schedule, there are several early morning departures starting from Panzano via Greve, Strada in Chianti, etc. We have no high-schools in these small towns, so the students have to commute to Firenze. They take the early bus. At least my teenagers do. Might be interesting for you to experience the lively exchanges. It will certainly wake you up.

You could drive from Greve on the Via Chiantigiana to the town of Grassina. Park in the Church parking lot and hop on the city bus, either the No. 31 or 32. Takes about 30 minutes into Firenze. One day in the city is not enough, you need a month. But it shouldn't be missed.

You could do Siena on a day trip by driving from Greve. Takes about 50 minutes. Lots of interesting restaurants on this site.

You will fall hopelessly in love with Tuscany. I'm sure you'll be back again. But leave Lamole for your 50th wedding anniversary. Regards, Ritao'c

Hi John C.: we loved visiting Volterra. Great Etruscan stuff, Roman ruins, etc. Also, a small fortified hill town,Monteriggione, near Siena. Great spot and we had a wonderful lunch at a restaurant in the plaza, I think it was called El Pozo. San Gimignano is great also.Just outside Montalcino is Sant' Antimo, wonderful spot to see. You won't run out of things to see and do!

John,

I forgot to say how beautiful the Castello di Lamole is. Its website does not exaggerate that. The reason I know the location is that some friends and I walked from the center of Lamole to Mont Michele, a great walk described in "Walking and Eating in Tuscany and Umbria." On our return, we took a wrong turn and instead of ending up back where we started, we came out about 3/4 of a mile down the road at the bend in the road facing the Castello di Lamole. We were struck by its beauty and its setting. In fact, one of my friends said that on her next trip, that is exactly where she would stay.

As many of the posters have said, you will love Tuscany and, as you have read, there are many wonderful places to stay in Tuscany.

A vote here from someone who loves being in the countryside in Italy, all the better if where I'm staying feels 'isolated!' That just makes it all the more special feeling for me.