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Tuscany and Umbria towns
Posted on 11/29/25 at 9:42 pm
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.)
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.)
7
Posted on 11/30/25 at 6:02 am to GOP_Tiger
Orvieto is a great small town in Umbria to visit for a few hours.
Posted on 11/30/25 at 7:24 am to deltafarmer
I loved Orvieto. Spent 10 days there a few years ago for the Umbria Winter Jazz Festival between Christmas and New Years.
Posted on 11/30/25 at 10:49 am to GOP_Tiger
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.
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 on 11/30/25 at 7:31 pm to geauxpurple
The combo of Montalcino, Pienza, and Montepulciano in Tuscany
Posted on 11/30/25 at 9:01 pm to PassGassed
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.
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 on 12/1/25 at 7:26 am to GOP_Tiger
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
A few of the spots we liked:
Piensa
Montepulciano
Cortona
Abbey of Sant'Antimo
Capella Vitaleta
Posted on 12/1/25 at 12:11 pm to slinger1317
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.
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 on 12/1/25 at 7:44 pm to CoolHand
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 on 12/3/25 at 3:42 pm to GOP_Tiger
Greve is nice.
Posted on 12/3/25 at 9:39 pm to TheBoo
The big attraction in Greve is an incredible wine store. This will not interest the OP.
Posted on 12/4/25 at 3:26 am to GOP_Tiger
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.
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 on 12/4/25 at 7:05 am to GOP_Tiger
Lucca is pretty cool and not that far away if u do the touristy visit to Pisa. Walking Cinque Terre towns very scenic
Posted on 12/4/25 at 8:21 am to geauxpurple
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 on 12/4/25 at 8:14 pm to fontell
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 on 12/5/25 at 8:59 am to LsuTool
quote:
Assisi in Umbria was awesome, maybe our favorite.
Mine too. I've visited four times and every time has been fantastic.
Posted on 12/6/25 at 9:31 am to GOP_Tiger
I spent a few days in Pettino in Umbria and really enjoyed it. I was there to hunt boar and pheasant, which was awesome, but stayed at an agriturismo in Pettino. The family that lives there and runs the agriturismo has lived in that valley for five hundred years, raises sheep, cows, makes cheese, runs the hunting operation, and a restaurant in the town. If you stay there it has great walks and they will do a black truffle hunt with you, which is a ball. You basically go up into the hills with dogs who root out the truffles, then you go to the top of one of the hills and have breakfast: scrambled eggs, truffles, prosecco, etc. Also had dinner at the town restaurant with the family which was amazing, huge family style meal with wonderful local food. It's a beautiful, quiet place and it's one of the best trips my wife and I have ever taken.
LINK
LINK
Posted on 12/6/25 at 2:45 pm to TheBoo
quote:
The attraction to us was the quiet, peaceful, non-touristy "small town" vibe.
Definitely looks like it's worth a stop on the way from Siena to Florence. Thanks.
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