Siena, Montepulciano, San Gimignano
Tuscany is one of those areas in Italy which paints an image of rolling hills, Cypress trees, impressive villas and never ending vineyards and to be honest, it didn’t disappoint. We picked up the rental car at the airport and off we went, sat nav in hand !
(Airports which serve the Tuscany region are Pisa, Florence, Perugia and even Bologna would be ok)
We chose Siena, Montepulciano and San Gimignano as they are probably lesser known than the likes of Pisa and Florence and we wanted to be right in the heart of Tuscany.
Siena was our first visit and B&B Relais Il Casato https://uk.hotels.com/ho454430/b-b-relais-il-casato-siena-italy/ was a gem with a great location. The building is very old with lots of character and the rooms are a good size and comfortable, a hidden garden makes for a fab photo opportunity too. Just minutes away along the narrow streets is Piazza del Campo which is a perfect spot to enjoy an Aperol with an aperitivo and watch the world go by. We found a very popular restaurant Sperone Nudo https://sperone-nudo.business.site/?utm_source=gmb&utm_medium=referral which had a buzzing atmosphere in the evening….recommend to book as it did get very busy.
Onward to Montepulciano and the surrounding area where we found an absolute amazing villa with a driveway surrounded by Cypress trees and views over the numerous vineyards in the adjacent rolling hills.
I Palazzi D’Arte (the Art Palace) https://www.ipalazziarte.com/en/ is truly a memorable destination and we have been back again since our first visit. The atmosphere is very relaxed and the grounds are beautiful with many places to take yourself off for some chill time, including hammocks. comfy outdoor sofas and when it gets too hot there is a lovely pool with sun loungers to take in the sunshine. We cannot stress enough how beautiful this place is and the hosts Antonella and her family are very accommodating. From breakfast in the morning looking out over the vineyards to an aperitivo on the villa tower, this is truly a memorable experience.
There is a small village a few minutes drive away where you can stock up on wine and food if you so wish but a must do is the local restaurant La Terra where for a minimal cost you will eat local produce and drink local wine. There is no menu, you eat what is served up during the 4 or 5 course dinner but I guarantee you will not be disappointed. You dine outside soaking up the sunset and looking out to I Palazzi. A fixed price includes all food and as much wine as you want, with a coffee or limoncello after your meal. https://www.agriturismolaterra.it/en/
Whilst in the area, take the opportunity to visit Cortona and Castiglione del Lago, both a lovely day out and great photo opportunities. Also we found a great place to have a picnic where you are provided with a picnic basket and you buy the contents, e.g. salami, prosciutto, bread, beer, wine, etc and eat it in the grounds overlooking Montepulciano.https://www.caseificiocugusi.it/pic-nic-in-azienda/
Our final stop on this trip was San Gimignano, the city of towers. Again after Lou’s research we found a lovely place to stay, B&B Podere Montese https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g187901-d1086413-Reviews-Podere_Montese-San_Gimignano_Tuscany.html?m=19905 up in the hills with amazing views, clean spacious rooms, a lovely big pool and a filling breakfast. Whilst there we booked a wine tasting experience at the Torciano winery https://www.torciano.com/en and we certainly had our monies worth, a “light lunch” with numerous wines was a fabulous way to spend an afternoon….time for a siesta after !! 🙂
Bristolians Abroad 