My friend and I will be in Tuscany for only one day on a cruise. We need to stay in/near the Chianti region. Can someone give us their opinion on the following? Verrazzano, Querceto Castle , Castellina in Chianti , Brolio Castle, Meleto Castle, Badia a Coltibuono, Badia a Passignano, and Fattoria Casaloste. Also are interested in any others that you can recommend.

Thanks

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kim,

Jill-- Welcome to SlowTrav. Although a daytrip isn't exactly the focus of this site, I'm sure we can help you out to enjoy your day. Firstly though-- how will you be getting around, where are you docked, and are you returning to the ship on the same day? It's a quite a haul from the coast to Chianti, and driving around the small roads is slower than you'd expect. Many wineries will only accept visitors during limited hours. Do a Google search to get their websites, look at maps, and see the hours for visits. Here's Badia de Coltibuono-
http://www.coltibuono.com/0index.asp?lingua=ing
A bit more information on the logistics will help determine if this is workable.
Amy in MA
"Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us, or we find it not." --Ralph Waldo Emerson

[This message was edited by Amy on 27 May 2003 at 04:13 AM.]

If you are coming into Livorno, it is quite a way into Chianti...Are you planning on a car and driver?
What time do you need to be back in?
Most people do Lucca...or Florence..
But there are other fabulous wine regions on the coast or is your heart set on Chianti.
Of the ones you chose I would say Castello di Verrazano, it is one of the first wineries as you enter into Chianti, has a great tour, and great wines. and then you can also see the village of Greve which is great for shopping.
Fattoria Casaloste is my friend, although fabulous wines.. it is a B&B.

Cooking in Florence
www.divinacucina.com

I have been in contact with a few tour companies for a car and driver. (I had been

We will be arriving in Livorno from 7am-7pm. We would like to plan our day from 8-4:30 to allow some extra time to get back to the port.

I have seen Sassicaia tours available, will the scenery be similar to Chianti? (Since we will be cruising the Mediterranean for 12 days, we were looking to sit back and relax, enjoy the countryside,castles and sip wine.) plus we will be in Rome the day before and have a full day the day before that in Pompeii/Naples/ Capri....

How does Lucca compare to Chianti as far as Castles, scenery, and wine tasting?

We will have limited shopping in our other Italian ports, so would like to fit some time in to meander through the shops in a small town(s). We is looking for gold jewelry, ceramics, and local food products.

Which area closest to Livorno would satisfy us?
(We are also interested in gardens, we focused on Meleto, Verrazzano, and Brolio, because I had seen descriptions of tours highlighting these)

I notice S. Casciano in Val Di Pesa is in the northwest corner. Any recommendations here for castles, wine tasting, and shopping?

We realize we will have to come back another time to visit.

I think you need to allow about 2 hours to get from Livorno to Chianti.. so you would get there about 10am, do a tour
(usually and hour) the shops close at 1pm you could have lunch and head back.
Verrazzno has gardens..and a winery tour...it is the shopping time that is missing I think.

Sassicaia is one of the most famous wines... sounds nice
but for shopping.. I would say Florence or Lucca..


I will see what the nearby areas can offer you for the Castle sipping part!

Cooking in Florence
www.divinacucina.com