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Tuscany and Umbria towns

Posted on 11/29/25 at 9:42 pm
Posted by GOP_Tiger
Baton Rouge
Member since Jan 2005
20667 posts
Posted on 11/29/25 at 9:42 pm
Planning an Italy trip next May/June with my daughter and son-in-law. I was in Rome in 2016, but haven't been to Florence or Venice since 1992. Daughter and son-in-law have never been.

We are flying into Rome, have four nights there, and the trip will end with two days in Florence and two in Venice. We have four days in between to spend driving around Lazio/Umbria/Tuscany. I'm pretty committed to spending one of those in Siena, but I'm undecided about the other three. Which places would you prioritize? (Note that we don't drink and aren't interested in wine.)
Posted by deltafarmer
Member since Dec 2019
905 posts
Posted on 11/30/25 at 6:02 am to
Orvieto is a great small town in Umbria to visit for a few hours.
Posted by TigerAlum1982
Member since Sep 2011
1552 posts
Posted on 11/30/25 at 7:24 am to
I loved Orvieto. Spent 10 days there a few years ago for the Umbria Winter Jazz Festival between Christmas and New Years.
Posted by geauxpurple
New Orleans
Member since Jul 2014
16475 posts
Posted on 11/30/25 at 10:49 am to
When I think of towns in Tuscany where the emphasis is not on wine, San Gimignano comes to mind. It is an old medieval hill town where many of the original towers are still standing.

Volterra is another ancient and historic town with excavations and a Roman amphitheater.

Both of these are a short drive from Siena.

We like to stay in villas in the countryside, but if you are staying in Siena, base there and take day trips.
Posted by PassGassed
Member since Mar 2021
671 posts
Posted on 11/30/25 at 7:31 pm to
The combo of Montalcino, Pienza, and Montepulciano in Tuscany
Posted by geauxpurple
New Orleans
Member since Jul 2014
16475 posts
Posted on 11/30/25 at 9:01 pm to
Yes. I have been to all three of those towns and Montalcino (Brunello) and Montepulciano (Vino Nobile) are two of my favorites.
The only reason I didn’t recommend them was because he will be the only person there not drinking wine.
In Montalcino, go up the hill to the Abbey of St Antimo and listen to the monks sing Gregorian chants in the 1000 year old church.
Posted by slinger1317
Northshore
Member since Sep 2005
6832 posts
Posted on 12/1/25 at 7:26 am to
Went a few years ago and did exactly what you are planning. In Tuscany we stayed in Monticchiello as our base. We criss-crossed the Val d'Orsia and hit many of the small towns. We spent a few hours in Orvieto on our way out of Rome. Beautiful medieval city with an amazing cathedral.

A few of the spots we liked:
Piensa
Montepulciano
Cortona
Abbey of Sant'Antimo
Capella Vitaleta

Posted by CoolHand
Member since Dec 2011
2107 posts
Posted on 12/1/25 at 12:11 pm to
If you go to Orvieto, you could also visit Civita di Bagnoregio. We visited both on a day trip from Rome.

Siena was cool. We also went to San Gimignano and a local winery for lunch on a day trip out of Florence.
This post was edited on 12/1/25 at 12:13 pm
Posted by GOP_Tiger
Baton Rouge
Member since Jan 2005
20667 posts
Posted on 12/1/25 at 7:44 pm to


OK, this is how I want to drive from Rome to Siena. LOL, there's no way that I actually have time to see things in all of these places. I will have to make adjustments, or maybe cut a day from Rome.
Posted by Yeti_Chaser
Member since Nov 2017
11598 posts
Posted on 12/1/25 at 8:56 pm to
Spoleto was nice. I'll post a dinner recommendation there if I can find it tomorrow

Found it
LINK
This post was edited on 12/2/25 at 6:05 am
Posted by TheBoo
South to Louisiana
Member since Aug 2012
5372 posts
Posted on 12/3/25 at 3:42 pm to
Greve is nice.
Posted by geauxpurple
New Orleans
Member since Jul 2014
16475 posts
Posted on 12/3/25 at 9:39 pm to
The big attraction in Greve is an incredible wine store. This will not interest the OP.
Posted by LsuTool
Member since Oct 2009
35815 posts
Posted on 12/4/25 at 3:26 am to
Drove through Umbria and Tuscany 2 years ago.

We stayed in Siena, it was decent, but wouldn’t go back.
We enjoyed a day trip to San Gimignano.
Stayed in Lucca in Tuscany and it was great, it’s close to Pisa so can do a day trip.

Stayed in Castello di Petroia in Umbria.
Assisi in Umbria was awesome, maybe our favorite.
Posted by fontell
Montgomery
Member since Sep 2006
4562 posts
Posted on 12/4/25 at 7:05 am to
Lucca is pretty cool and not that far away if u do the touristy visit to Pisa. Walking Cinque Terre towns very scenic
Posted by TheBoo
South to Louisiana
Member since Aug 2012
5372 posts
Posted on 12/4/25 at 8:21 am to
quote:

The big attraction in Greve is an incredible wine store. This will not interest the OP.


The attraction to us was the quiet, peaceful, non-touristy "small town" vibe. I guess Falorni would be the highlight of the square.
Posted by GOP_Tiger
Baton Rouge
Member since Jan 2005
20667 posts
Posted on 12/4/25 at 8:14 pm to
quote:

Lucca is pretty cool and not that far away if u do the touristy visit to Pisa.


Not going to make it that far on this trip. We'll go west to San Gimignano and Volterra, but that'll be as far as we go.

I did end up cutting a night in Rome. We now will have three there, then we rent a car and drive Tuscany and Umbria for five, and then we'll have two each in Florence and Venice. I think that this will be a great introduction to Italy for my daughter and son-in-law.

I have my hotels booked now: a night in Orvieto, a night in Perugia, and then three nights in Siena. I'm really only planning to spend one day actually in Siena, and then to base myself there to explore.
Posted by MikeyFL
Member since Sep 2010
10110 posts
Posted on 12/5/25 at 8:59 am to
quote:

Assisi in Umbria was awesome, maybe our favorite.


Mine too. I've visited four times and every time has been fantastic.
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