Just returned from 3 days in San Gimignano and stayed at the La Cisterna Hotel-lovely-friendly and perfect location. The town is charming and quaint-some great museums and towers to climb. Went to Volterra for 1 day-also a wonderful hilltown-the Balze (cliffs) must be seen where the erosion is incredible. Not sure of any others in immediate area but those 2 have my vote. BTW-am getting rooms booked in Venice for Feb 2004 Carnevale-thanx for response.
I would go south to Montepulciano or Montalcino - whichever is easiest to get to. These are both beautiful towns with lots of restaurants and magnificent views (both are hill towns). From Montepulciano, you can visit the church San Baglio (just outside the walls). From Montalcino you could visit Sant'Antimo, but it is a bit of a ride (probably a bus).
A nice day might be to go to Monte Oliveto to see the Sodoma frescoes, then onto either Montepulciano or Montalcino for lunch. Remember, these small towns will close up during the afternoon.
And north into Chianti - Radda or Castellina or Greve. These are lively towns with restaurants, stores and views. You could do a countryside walk from any of them. From Radda you can walk by trails and white road to Volpaia.
Let me know if you are interested in any of these and I will look up in my guidebooks for transportation information.
I have to agree with Pauline. These are the best quick trips you can make around here and still to this day are my favorites, going around the Chianti, St. Antimo, Mt. Oliveto, S. Galgano, Montalcino.
Here is the link for the bus company here in Siena. TRAiN SPAJust clik on Orario then lista extraurbano. The bus station in Siena is now at Piazza Gramsci (in front of the Jolly Hotel). Tickets are for sale underground.
quote:Originally posted by Rar: .. which would be your favorite two? Each for a daytrip. Thanks
I would go east to Pienza on one day. Buy a pecorino di PIenza, but do not buy it in one of the many shops in Town. Right outside the town there is Consorzio agrario, buy it there: qality is the same but the prices are far lower (it is where the locals shop). Than I would go west to Volterra, wich is not actually in the Siena area, but it is still one of my favorite Tuscany villages.
Sciur capitan, questa che l’è la verità, adess ghe n’hoo piee i ball, Giovanni el turna a cà. Se te voret scriv te regali la mia pena, se te voret sparam questa l’è la mia schena.
Mr capitain, this is the truth Now I am sick of it, Giovanni goes back home If you want to write to me, I’ll give you my pencil If you want to shoot me, here’s my back.
Davide Van De Sfroos, Sciur capitan
[This message was edited by Pauline on 20 March 2003 at 08:26 AM.]
Pienza has the distinction of being a town with an architectural identity largely molded through the efforts of its most famous native son, Pope Pius II; Pienza is a derivation of his name. His goal was to design an ideal Renaissance town, and he enlisted Alberti's eminent protege, Bernardo Rossellino, to accomplish the task. The central Piazza Pio II is the dramatic crystallization of the urban design and always a reason to stop in Pienza.
Posts: 250 | Location: Santa Barbara, CA | Registered: 19 November 2002
RAR, we were in that particular hood last September, and we loved the days we spent in the little towns. Pienza is perfect, but in retrospect seemed a little stage-set-like. (Athought the dioscesan (sp) museum is a treat, as is the Palazzo Picolomini) I guess my personal favorite was Montepulciano, which is bigger than some of the others towns mentioned, is very beautiful, and has a great caffe frequented by d'Annunzio and Fellini, in their days: Caffe Politziano. Try to grab a table on one of the two minute balconies. Perfection. And San Biagio is magic, just outside the town walls. Yrs, Robert
Posts: 811 | Location: Santa Monica, California | Registered: 23 March 2002
I have just returned from three weeks in Italy and I would suggest Colle Val di Pesa if you want to get away from the touristy San Gimingano etc. It is a short bus ride from Siena and is divived into the old upper town and the "newer" lower town where the bus stops. The views are wonderful, there are a lot of food shops in the newer town and the older section is great to wander around in and see how the people still function daily.
Posts: 140 | Location: Calgary.Alberta | Registered: 19 November 2002
Thanks, Robert, you just made my day. We're renting an apartment in Montepulciano for a week in October, and it was difficult to decide whether to stay in the town itself or in the surrounding countryside. We picked Montepulciano because it seemed more "real" than several other lovely but more artificial places, and you just confirmed our decision!
Posts: 1473 | Location: Sunset Beach (Haleiwa), Hawaii, USA | Registered: 16 September 2001
Don't you mean Colle di Val d'Elsa or is this another town in the same area? Colle di Val d'Elsa is a nice town, but San Gimignano had two churches with fabulous frescoes.
Tell us about your trip Tim! Or are you busy writing your reviews and trip report right now?
The book "Walking and Eating in Tuscany and Umbria" by James Lasdun and Pia Davis has come good transportation information for Tuscany. The book is a few years old - so double check all this.
Siena to Radda Five TRA-IN buses leave Piazza S. Domenico for Radda on workdays (feriale), the first at 7:30am, the last at 7:15pm. No buses on Sunday. Length of journey: 3/4 hour
Radda to Siena Five return buses a day between 6:55am and 6:35pm. No buses on Sunday.
The hike from Radda to Volpaia is 2.5 hours and 2 hours back. You could hitchhike back.
They have no info for buses from Siena to Greve - but there must be some!
Siena to Monte Oliveto Maggiore TRA-IN bus to Chiusure - one per day!! 2pm. You get off at Chiusure and walk 2 km to the Monestary, but you can ask the driver to let you off closer. Length of journey: 45 minutes plus 15 minute walk.
Train (as opposed to TRA-IN which is the bus - how weird is that?) to Asciano/M.Oliveto Maggiore (this station is befor Asciano). Train runs every 2 hours. Length of journey: 25 minutes plus walking or hitching 10 kms to monestary.
It doesn't seem easy to get a train to Monte Oliveto. Any chance of renting a car for the day - that would make it easier!
Siena to Montalcino TRA-IN bus - 10 per day. Length of journey: 75 minutes
4 buses per day from Montalcino to Sant'Antimo.
Siena to Montepulciano Montepulciano is on the main bus route between Siena and Chiusi. Several TRA-IN buses per day go from Montepulciano to Pienza, San Quirico, Buonconvento. Two buses per day continue on back to Siena on this route, but you could take the train from Buonconvento.
Well, this information is not as good as I thought it might be. Have you found out more from those web sites?
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