Two romantic weeks in Tuscany (Delayed Honeymoon)
April 13, 2015 5:16 AM Subscribe
My wife and I are planning a two week trip through Tuscany the first couple of weeks of June, and I'd love to get some tips.
We'll arrive in Florence just before 7AM on the morning of Saturday, May 30 (taking the night train from Vienna). I thought we'd stay one day / night in Florence, then pick up a rental car the next morning and head out to the countryside. We'll return the rental car in Milan on June 14. We'll be meeting my mother-in-law (who'll have her car) in Milan, where we'll spend a few days enjoying the city and checking out the 2015 World Expo before making our way, over several days, back up to southern Austria.
My wife and I have both been to Florence before, so I figure a day will be enough time for us to bum around there before going to the countryside. I had considered booking 4 or 5 nights each in 3 different places, using each as a base to get around and see various sights. Pisa and Siena are on our list of places to see. We'd also like to spend at least 4 or 5 days at the beach.
I had considered maybe 5 nights in Chianti, 5 nights near the coast close to Maremma and 4 nights in the countryside around Lucca / Pisa (moving roughly northwards), then driving up to Milan on the last day (June 14). Would love some tips on things to see and do as well as places to stay. Am also open to advice on other places to stay - we'd be fine with going to the beach a little farther north, on the way to Milan, for instance. I spent a week in Sestri Levante (closer to Genoa) in the summer of 2000 and really enjoyed the small town and sparkling clear water.
For places to stay, I'm currently considering a place in the vineyards near Radda (Chianti), as well as a place in the hills outside of Pisa, both in old, restored buildings. I'm less certain on the beach location.
Also, would love to hear about the likely air and water temperature around that time, since we'd like to do some swimming.
We'll arrive in Florence just before 7AM on the morning of Saturday, May 30 (taking the night train from Vienna). I thought we'd stay one day / night in Florence, then pick up a rental car the next morning and head out to the countryside. We'll return the rental car in Milan on June 14. We'll be meeting my mother-in-law (who'll have her car) in Milan, where we'll spend a few days enjoying the city and checking out the 2015 World Expo before making our way, over several days, back up to southern Austria.
My wife and I have both been to Florence before, so I figure a day will be enough time for us to bum around there before going to the countryside. I had considered booking 4 or 5 nights each in 3 different places, using each as a base to get around and see various sights. Pisa and Siena are on our list of places to see. We'd also like to spend at least 4 or 5 days at the beach.
I had considered maybe 5 nights in Chianti, 5 nights near the coast close to Maremma and 4 nights in the countryside around Lucca / Pisa (moving roughly northwards), then driving up to Milan on the last day (June 14). Would love some tips on things to see and do as well as places to stay. Am also open to advice on other places to stay - we'd be fine with going to the beach a little farther north, on the way to Milan, for instance. I spent a week in Sestri Levante (closer to Genoa) in the summer of 2000 and really enjoyed the small town and sparkling clear water.
For places to stay, I'm currently considering a place in the vineyards near Radda (Chianti), as well as a place in the hills outside of Pisa, both in old, restored buildings. I'm less certain on the beach location.
Also, would love to hear about the likely air and water temperature around that time, since we'd like to do some swimming.
Definitely drop by Vinci while you're in Tuscany. It's between Firenze and Pisa, and set in the hills; beautiful countryside. It's of Leonardo da Vinci fame, so there's a museum there, and nice restaurants with good local wines. I stayed there for 3 days as a base when visiting Tuscany, and loved it.
There are plenty of gorgeous places along the coast north of Genoa, it is called the Italian Riviera after all :) Torino is worth a visit as well, if you have the time/would like to visit the area. I enjoyed Torino more than Milano. Great museums, charming old town, and in general a more down-to-earth atmosphere.
posted by fraula at 7:02 AM on April 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
There are plenty of gorgeous places along the coast north of Genoa, it is called the Italian Riviera after all :) Torino is worth a visit as well, if you have the time/would like to visit the area. I enjoyed Torino more than Milano. Great museums, charming old town, and in general a more down-to-earth atmosphere.
posted by fraula at 7:02 AM on April 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
Oh and regarding water temperature: at the end of May you won't have anything to worry about. The Mediterranean is swimming pool temperature roundabout by now (mid-April).
Air temperature's going to be in the 30s (centigrade) during the day; 75-80 Fahrenheit on average, though there can easily be days that hit 90 end of May-start of June. It can get muggy along the coast, so flowy, breathable clothes are more comfortable.
posted by fraula at 7:05 AM on April 13, 2015
Air temperature's going to be in the 30s (centigrade) during the day; 75-80 Fahrenheit on average, though there can easily be days that hit 90 end of May-start of June. It can get muggy along the coast, so flowy, breathable clothes are more comfortable.
posted by fraula at 7:05 AM on April 13, 2015
Seconding Lucca. One of my favorite places in the world, there.
posted by the phlegmatic king at 7:29 AM on April 13, 2015
posted by the phlegmatic king at 7:29 AM on April 13, 2015
A few years ago we stayed at this goat farm in Radda and it was such good fun. Even if you don't stay there, Radda is quite delightful. Cuckoos in the morning, church bells in the evening, fireflies at night....
I'm jealous!
posted by potsmokinghippieoverlord at 5:10 PM on April 13, 2015
I'm jealous!
posted by potsmokinghippieoverlord at 5:10 PM on April 13, 2015
My wife and I spent some time during our honeymoon this past September in Tuscany and absolutely loved it. We stayed at an agritourismo called L'Antica Fornace, which I can't say enough good things about. The woman who ran it, Lucia, was very helpful in setting us up with plans each day. L'Antica Fornace is close to Peccioli, which was a lovely small Tuscan hill town.
We also took a cooking class with an outfit called Ariana & Friends, and that too is highly recommended. Frankly, I thought it would be a bit awkward, but we had a really great time cooking and then enjoying dinner with the other folks who took the class.
We really enjoyed Lucca, and also had a great time in San Gimignano. But more than anything, I can't say enough about Lucia and L'Antica Fornace, which was a fantastic place to spend some time.
posted by JakeWalker at 6:27 PM on April 13, 2015
We also took a cooking class with an outfit called Ariana & Friends, and that too is highly recommended. Frankly, I thought it would be a bit awkward, but we had a really great time cooking and then enjoying dinner with the other folks who took the class.
We really enjoyed Lucca, and also had a great time in San Gimignano. But more than anything, I can't say enough about Lucia and L'Antica Fornace, which was a fantastic place to spend some time.
posted by JakeWalker at 6:27 PM on April 13, 2015
Response by poster: Thanks all. I have booked 14 nights (all in what appear to be super cool, renovated old places) and left one free at the end to stay somewhere near Cinque Terre. Will report back afterwards.
posted by syzygy at 9:07 AM on April 16, 2015
posted by syzygy at 9:07 AM on April 16, 2015
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posted by Segundus at 5:34 AM on April 13, 2015 [1 favorite]