Tone asked 10 anni ago
elena nacci Staff answered 10 anni ago
Roberto, owner of Locanda Viani, is an old friend…the Locanda is a lovely place and has amazing views over the famous towers of San Gimignano. As you’re staying in San Gimignano for 3 days, here are my tips on what to visit from there, including the wonderful Siena.
La Saracina is another very charming place to stay, I love the location, the views and the beautiful surrounding countryside. Also Casa Fabbri is very nice and enjoys a splendid location, but I’d stay at la Saracina, where 4 days would be great to visit all the beautiful sights in the area, from fairytale villages and abbeys, to spectacular landscape and excellent food and wines. Val d’Orcia is a dream!
I also recommend Relais Campo Regio on the blog among the best places to stay in the center of Siena…it’s lovely and offers stunning views over this beautiful medieval town.
Staying in Siena or at la Saracina?
The choice much depends on what you prefer, if staying in the old and atmospheric historic center of Siena or instead be immersed in the wonderful Tuscan countryside near Pienza. Siena is a major art tonw but retains all the charm of a small and ancient medieval village, it offers a lot to see and do! If I were you I’d stay 2 nights in Siena and 2 at La Saracina, but in case you’re not willing to change location one more time, just choose on the bases of what it’s most inspiring for you Both will work great.
Here are some of the best day trips you can enjoy from Siena, that are recommend also if you stay at la Saracina. I second your plan to stay 2 days in Lucca, from where you could go visit Pisa and Florence, while Lucca itself is a real jewel all to explore.
For any further suggestion, just ask, I’ll be happy to help, elena
ToneHi Elena, Just wanted to let you know that I followed your recommendations and instead of having 4 days at La Saracina, I changed for two nights and then added two nights at Relais Campo Regio in Siena. I am looking forward to my holiday in the wonderful Toscana.
elena nacci Staff answered 10 anni ago
thanks a lot for letting me know You will really enjoy your stay in the heart of Siena.
Please let me know how everything will go and for any other advice I’m here!
Enjoy your Tuscan stay,
elena
Dear Elena, It is getting close to our holiday in Tuscany, and as I get closer I am wondering if I have a good plan. Please check my trip itinerary. We will arrive Milan airport (unfortunately) so I think we will take the fast train in to Florence. From there I will need a good place to rent a car ….preferrable not in the city center if it is hard to drive ….we will then drive to the Locanda and stay there from 17 to 20 June. We have already spoken about Siena and Pienza …… but our flight home from Milan is on the 26th in the morning so I have to depart from Lucca already on the 25th. What shall I do, have only three days in the siena area and have 2 days in Lucca ? or only one day in Lucca ? if I am staying only three days in Siena area it would perhaps be better just to stay one place ? also I am a bit concerned if we stay in Siena center that we can’t find any parking ? and then, do you think it will be too busy ? we don’t like it to be 🙂 have I chosen the wrong place ….would be better to turn it upside down and concentrate on the north instead ..like Garda and Como lakes ??? Sorry for all questions. Looking forward to your answer.
Dear Elena,For your information I have booked one night in Firenze from 17 to 18 June since we are arriving from Milan with the fast train and would like to rest and enjoy the city that day. We are ready to leave to the south on the 18th and were thinking of driving trough the Chianti area down to La Saracina. Since I have that night in Florence I had to cancel my booking at the Locanda in San G (I could not do changes on the dates) I can perhaps book other dates if you think it is significally that I stay there. My plan is 18-20 June at La Saracina, 20 to 22 June Relais Campo Regio in Siena, 22 to 24 either San Gimignano or Lucca or more days in La Saracina or Siena. Then finally one night in Florence again from 24 to 25 June. Then fast train to Milan on 25th and departing Milian airport at 1050 hrs on the 26th. I was looking at fast train in the morning of the 26th out of Florenze but think it will be better to go the day before ….or what do you think. Please let me know your suggestion on the route.
elena nacciDear Tone, Here I am <br>I second your decision to spend the first night in Florence and then pass through Chianti to reach La Saracina. Skip San Gimignano for now while visit it at the end of your trip on the journey back to Florence. <br>In order to not change place at anytime you might opt to spend more nights at La Saracina, where you will not have problems with parking in comparison with Siena. Lucca is lovely but in order to fit it in, you may spend one additional night in Florence at the beginning or at the end of your trip and visit it on a day trip from Florence (by train). Considering the time of your flight home, I think it's better if you go to Milan the day before, you may visit the lively center of Milano and enjoy dinner there. <br>Feel free to ask again!<br>Your trip is coming soon! Enjoy it 🙂
Thank you for your recommendations Elena 🙂 much appreciated. One question….. we are leaving Florence around 1400 hrs on the 18th so we can enjoy the city in the morning also. Will it be better to stay one night in either Chianti or San G that night ? then we can visit Greve and Montefioralle and some wine estates. Then we can drive to La Saracina in the morning of the 19th so we could have the whole day there instead of arriving in the evening of the 18…..just a thought ….but perhaps not a good one …. perhaps it will be better to go straight to La Saracine on the 18th ? What is your though ?
Dear Tone,
as you’re enjoying Florence also in the morning, your idea to pass the afternoon exploring Chianti and its wineries is a good one! You could reach San Gimignano by the evening when tourists’ crowds are gone, so you will really enjoy this extraordinary medieval hamlet.
You will then direct towards la Saracina calmly on the following day and visit some more sights during your route.
Have a nice day,
elena
Thank you again for recommendation. I added one night in San Gimignano. Now we are almost done ! I am still considering whether to skip Lucca and spend all the days in Siena and Pienza area. I could drive up to Lucca on 24 June and stay one night before moving back to Florence and catch the train to Milan or I could add one more day down in the south …. any recommendation ? Also for Siena, I also have an offer to stay at Aia Mattonata for two days, 23-25 June, so city center or country side ?
If I had to choose between one more day in the south or visit Lucca, I would probably stay more in the south. The Aia Mattonata Relais is a great accommodation and is very near Siena, so you may stay there and avoid any problems and costs with parking in Siena. The Aia Mattonata also offers lovely views over Siena.
Elena
Hi again 🙂 we will rent a car in Florence, do you have a car company you can recommend outside of the city ….we do not want to drive in Florence city ? also how far will it be to drive from Pienza to the sea, thinking of either Castiglion della Pescaia or Baia del Quercetano ?
elena nacci Staff answered 10 anni ago
Arval is a car rental company located outside the city center in Scandicci, that you can easily reach by bus.
The beautiful Castiglione della Pescaia is at about 1 hour and half, while the Baia del Quercetano is too far, at over 2 hours and 20 minutes distance. Definitely enjoy Castiglione
elena
Ciao and Thank you once again 🙂 can you be so kind and recommend some small hotel in Castiglione
elena nacci Staff answered 10 anni ago
Here I am
A good hotel in Castiglione della Pescaia is the elegant Hotel Roccamare located right by the sea. Have a look and for further suggestions just let me know,
elena
Thank you. One last question, you said that Baia del Quercetano is too far, but if we decide to go two days to the sea before we leave with the train from Florence to Milan will it be better to be up there by Baia del Quercetano ? or will you anyway go down to Castiglion della Pescaia ? Which beach is the nicest of them ? Than you once again for all you help and your great travel blog…very helpful 🙂 Ciao
elena nacci Staff answered 10 anni ago
As you’re going to stay to the seaside for 2 days before departing for Florence, you can then also consider the beautiful Baia del Quercetano. Both beaches are very nice, the one in Castiglione is very long and sandy, while the Quercetano is a bay and probably more characteristic,
ciao
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