Hey everyone, I know there are a number of topics about everyone's favorite Tuscan town. I am going to be in this region for about 2-3 days after spending 3 days in Rome and 3 in the Cinque Terre.
I am specifically interested in which towns have the best scenery. I'm not particularly interested in the wine itself. I realize that you could throw darts at a map of Tuscany and not go wrong, but feel free to entertain me with stories of your favorite town for exploring.
Posts: 10 | Location: Raleigh, NC, USA | Registered: 08 November 2003
Gee Dave - I'm shocked you haven't received any replies but I imagine an avalanche awaits you.
For me, I wonder what do you consider a town? I think Siena would be a great place to explore and would love to spend some time there but my friend feels a little "closed in" there. She loved Pienza but I don't think I could spend 2-3 days in Pienza alone (sure it would be a great base for exploring though).
For scenery you can't beat the views from Montalcino especially from that wine bar who's name escapes me but I'm sure Dean will know (Dean not the Fortezza, the one w/ the big glass windows were you can do 3 glass or 5 glass tastings).
quote:Originally posted by Kim: Gee Dave - I'm shocked you haven't received any replies but I imagine an avalanche awaits you.
I am not surprised, mainly because Dave-H did not explain what kind of scenary he wants to see. Tuscany is a quite large gergion and has lots of scenaries: the white marble mountains of Carrara; the Appennini mountains in Lucca and Pistoia areas; the woodlands of northeastern Casentino; the rolling hills of Chianti; the more densely wooded hills of Colline metallifere; the coastal kills of Pisa, almost discolored by the sun; the coastal woods of northern Maremma; the more rugged scenary of Amiata mountain, the tufaceous outcrops at the border with Lazio and Umbria... And than there are the islands of Tuscany, each with its own character (Elba, Giglio, Monte Argentario etc.). Each of these areas have several villages with great scenaries, though very different one from the other. If Dave-H told us what does he expect, which area of Tuscany he wopuld like to visit (three days are a far too short time for actual exploration: two half.days will be taken by moving to and from Tuscany, which leaves but a couple of days for touring the area), it would be easier to direct him towards the right spot.
Alice Twain -- I don’t want to take what you can’t give / I would rather starve than eat your bread I would rather run but I can’t walk / Guess I’ll lie alone just like before Pearl Jam, Corduroy
Indeed a very tough question....but Pienza is a good candidate. For me, it is a small but lively town, with enough restaurants and shops to keep one busy in the evenings. And it's location gives easy access to walking and/or biking excursions through what is--in my opinion--the most beautiful scenery in Tuscany....gentle, rolling hills for the most part (with some challenging grades) dotted with picturesque towns.
For something even smaller but in even closer proximity to the rural scenery, try to find lodging in Monticchiello--a charming little village not far from Pienza and Montepulciano. Another "small" option would be Castelmuzio, just to the north and west of Pienza.
This are just suggestions...the options in Tuscany are almost limitless.
I agree with Jim that the Pienza area is hard to beat for biking routes. I would add a trek up to Montefollinico and Santa Anna in Camprena on the road to Castelmuzio. The spa hotel in Bagno Vignoni--the Posta Marcucci--is also a good base and lets you soak your weary bones in the mineral waters after a tough day.
BOB THE NAVIGATOR rplittle@bellsouth.net
Posts: 1852 | Location: Chapel Hill NC | Registered: 25 October 2001
Alice you're right - I automatically jumped to south-central Tuscany but the other area I've visited, western (near lucca) is beautiful too (as I'm sure all the other areas I haven't visited). I guess I jumped to the Montalcino-Siena-Pienza triangle b/c the scenery near Lucca was similar to scenery I'd see at home while the former area not so much...but that's just my own bias .
Anyway - Jim I like your suggestion for Montechiello and castelmuzio (to which I'm partial) but man I'd hate to ride those hills on a bike
Thanks for the information everyone. I am sorry I couldn't be more specific about what I wanted to see Alice, I haven't been there and have only seen scattered photographs. For example, I didn't even know white marble mountains were an option. I have done some research, but that is nothing compared to being there.
Pearl Jam rules.
Posts: 10 | Location: Raleigh, NC, USA | Registered: 08 November 2003
quote:Originally posted by Dave_H: For example, I didn't even know white marble mountains were an option.
Yes, and they are placed close to one area of Tuscany that is extremely fascinating from the trekking POW but so far still largely unexplored by foreign tourists: Garfagnana. So it would be impotrnat to understand what you are expecting to see. If you have seen but "a few scattered pictures", you probably have seen pics of the Chianti hills, though 8which is the most famous area of Tuscany abroad: so famous as to have become known as "Chiantishire" amongst the locals). Yet if you are biking/trekking fans, you may consider the option of trekking along Via Francigena. This used to be one of the main medieval pilgrimage routs, connecting (England and) France to Rome. Just like Camino de Compostela in Spain, now Via Francigena is both a religious and a turistic resource, with rest areas, restaurants and small hotels all along the trail. You may consider renting bycicles and travelling one "stage" of the via Francigena for one day, sleeping en route, and than back to your starting point the next day, before heading down to Rome.
quote:Pearl Jam rules.
^_______^
Alice Twain -- I don’t want to take what you can’t give / I would rather starve than eat your bread I would rather run but I can’t walk / Guess I’ll lie alone just like before Pearl Jam, Corduroy
[This message was edited by Alice Twain on 09 January 2004 at 09:45 AM.]
quote:but man I'd hate to ride those hills on a bike
I'm not a biker, but from my seat behind the wheel of a rental car, I would judge that the hills in the Val d'Orcia area--while considerable--are less challenging than the terrain in other areas of Tuscany, like the Garfagnana and Chianti.
I like Jim's suggestion of Bagno Vignoni. It is a lovely little town and there are trails that can be walked to Pienza or up the Orcia valley. We had a pleasant hike there from Castello Ripa d'Orcia where we stayed several years ago. Jeanne
Posts: 419 | Location: Pennsylvania, USA | Registered: 07 March 2003
my friend Marco of Ciclopossewould be a good guy to contact. He brings you the bikes, gives you maps and you are on your way.. he is based in Pienza and has some great rides..and also hikes I think!
Hmmm ! I remember now--I did map out some biking routes from Bagno Vignoni for some clients of mine from Pittsburgh several years ago. They were serious cyclists and rode 50km per day in the area. One was south via Mt. Amiata, St. Antimo, Montalcino and back home. Another was north via Mt. Oliveto Maggiore, and the 3rd was via Monticchielo, Montepulciano, and back thru Pienza. I enjoy driving those routes, but will leave the cycling to younger ones.
BOB THE NAVIGATOR rplittle@bellsouth.net
Posts: 1852 | Location: Chapel Hill NC | Registered: 25 October 2001
Tuscany is very varied: in addition to the postcard area of Chianti that everyone thinks of right off, a long coastline of mostly sand beaches, some industrial areas, a few Mediterranean islands (I like the only one I've been to -- Elba -- although Napoleon, whose house may still be visited, did not), some fairly high and almost remote mountains, nature parks, and other areas harder to describe. Odd though that no one has mentioned the brooding, rather sinister Etruscan triplet of Pitigliano, Sovana, Sorano.
You didn't mention when you was going to be there; with any luck, it'll be after the Giro d'Italia, 8-30 May. This bike race is covered in the US by OLN-TV (the Outdoor Life Network); this year it'll be doing a middle route thru Tuscany from Porretta Terme thru Civitella in Val di Chiana to Spoleto in Umbria. Most years I watch it on TV and learn lots of things. (This year I'll be in Italy, so will miss it!) The Giro's website is here.
Topic Closed
Alice you're right - I automatically jumped to south-central Tuscany but the other area I've visited, western (near lucca) is beautiful too (as I'm sure all the other areas I haven't visited). I guess I jumped to the Montalcino-Siena-Pienza triangle b/c the scenery near Lucca was similar to scenery I'd see at home while the former area not so much...but that's just my own bias 
.
