Day Trips from Cinque Sorelle
Day Trip Planning
What to Do, What to Do…..?
Once upon a time someone, considering coming to Cinque Sorelle asked,
“But what is there to do? Is one week enough, or should we plan on two weeks?”
Spurred by the question, this author sat down and in 11 minutes put together the following list, polished a bit ever since. Most can be enjoyed, allowing time for late rising and a relaxed pace….
Something for everyone ~ from adventures, to art to culture to food and wine. It is even possible to stay at home and enjoy just sitting in your garden, talking with your friends, sunning on the terrace by the pool, planning a menu, listening to music, the sounds of the village, enjoying the view, sipping wine….but read on for those who need to know there are lots of things close by…
Here, to help you get busy planning, a few ideas. Local guides are available to assist you, if you’d like. Also help is available with transportation, to ease enjoyment for larger groups, or people who don’t want to worry about the driving and parking. See listings for both under “Services”….
Siena is a day trip. Drive about 45 minutes on one of the most beautiful roads in all of Tuscany. Proceed to any one of the 8 large, modern parking garages under the city. Wander the city being sure to see the Duomo and Il Campo, described by many as the most beautiful piazza in all of Italy. If it’s a great day climb the tower to really see the views. Have a drink or a lunch at any one of the little cafes that line the piazza. The people-watching is great!! There are a couple of main streets known for their shopping, including some great ceramics shops. One the way back take the scenic route through Asciano and then stop at Monte Oliveto Maggiore to tour the world’s largest continuously operating monastery, see the famous frescos, the Della Robbia ceramics and finally have a nice meal, either inside the Torre or outside on the terrace.
Florence is also a day trip. Drive about an hour and a half north to Florence on the autostrada, being careful not to drive your car inside the zona traffico limitato – high prices on those tickets. I park near the Piazza Independenza and take a €6 cab ride into the center, or wherever I want to start my day. Things to see and do include the Uffizi Art Museum (second largest collection to the Louvre), the Piti Palace (many difference sections of the palace have different collections – precious metals, costumes, art, the living apartments), Bobolli Gardens behind the Piti Palace, seeing David at the Accademia, the Florence market, visiting or better yet, climbing Brunelleschi’s famous dome, the Baptistery with Ghibertti’s bronze doors, the tower…. Or there are many lovely restaurants of all kinds, great shopping, great shoe shopping and really good shopping for gold jewelry near Santa Croce at Peruzzi. The Ponte Vecchio shops can be more expensive. (Fashionistas, see the notes below on The Mall, designer outlet shops.)
Rome is a bit over 2 ½ hours south. It is possible to drive down for the day and take in an amazing range of the sights and still get home that evening. Park near the Vatican (which can be a whole day in itself!) and then explore into the center. Very walker-friendly and there are plenty of taxis to save you the longer legs or just the leg back to your car at the end of your day. Piazza Navona and the Pantheon shouldn’t be missed. Try Antonio’s restaurant a half block from the Pantheon. However, you can’t top a few dedicated days staying in Rome.
Montalcino, famous for Brunello wines is only a half hour away from any of the Cinque Sorelle and can be either a half day of wandering the town, tasting wine, dining, etc. or you can make it part of a full day, wandering and tasting in the morning, pausing for lunch then leave Montalcino about 1.30 and drive about 15 minutes to Bagno Vignoni for a few hours of soaking in the hot pools. It’s modern and attached to a 4* hotel, so it’s very citified. Great fun, as the waters, in the various swimming-style pools are great, the sun terrace, with umbrellas and lounges is comfortable and the view out across the valley to one of the mediaeval fortifications is so beautiful. Not too highly mineral, either.
Pienza is a half day, 10 to 15 km away through beautiful countryside – Pienza is known as ‘the perfect Renaissance town’ built under the instruction of Pope Pio II, demolishing the core of his hometown to build as an example for other towns. Pienza has a lovely main street to wander and shop (world famous for the pecorino cheese, soft and mild, or varying stages of aging, some flavored with truffles, peppers, etc.). Pienza has what is, in this author’s opinion, the most beautiful church in all of Italy, luminous with white light. Right next to it is the Palazzo Piccolomini, and the afternoon English language tour of this, takes about half an hour and is well worth it to see they way that life was lived in mediaeval times. There are several very good restaurants here, so you can come to Pienza for the morning and end in lunch or come in the afternoon (2.30pm most kitchens close for the afternoon, til 7.30) and have dinner. Reservations are a good idea. See restaurant list. Read “Vanilla Beans and Brodo” to really appreciate this wonderful town.
Arezzo, famous throughout Europe for its antique fair, is about 45 minutes away to the northeast. It is a wonderful town for antique shops even if you don’t happen to be there on the first weekend of the month for the antique fair. Well worth a good walking tour. Add a detour to Cortona, (famous in “Under the Tuscan Sun”) which is also beautiful and you have a full day. Stop in Bettolle for dinner and there’s a lovely way to end the day. La Bandita in Bettolle. See master restaurant list.
Montepulciano is famous for Vino Nobile and, like Pienza, is close enough to be a half day or a leisurely full day. There is an interesting museum, several wineries throughout the town. There are also a couple of notable restaurants. Views from this famous hill town are beautiful. You reach Montepulciano, about 35 minutes away, southeast through the beautiful, rolling countryside. Read Ferenc Mate’s book “The Hills of Tuscany” before you go!! Dell’ Acquacheta Osteria serves lunch til 2 and has two dinner seatings, 7.30 and 9. Reservations are a good idea. For other suggestions, see the master restaurant list.
Perugia, Deruta, Assisi
About 45 minutes away by freeway is Perugia, famous for chocolate, and about 20 minutes further is Deruta which is famous for ceramics. This is a full day, again with dinner options on the return leg. You can go further south and begin your day in Assisi and then return via Deruta and Perugia. A day full of delights.
Venice, is, believe it or not, just 4 ½ hours north on the autostrada. It is possible to leave Cinque Sorelle at 8 am and been standing on the deck of a vaporetto (water taxi) in the Grand Canal a little after noon.
Still more ideas…..
A ‘must’ for those who are fashion-conscious – an excursion to Incisa, 14 km south of Florence. This is THE outlet mall for all the Italian designers (Prada is elsewhere). Get there in the morning for the best selection. 10 to 2 might be sufficient. Exit Incisa from the A-1, follow signs for Leccio, until the signs for The Mall (subtle and hard-to-see) begin to appear. Opens 10 until 7 pm. Nice little café in the center of a very environment-friendly new mall. Or make it a full day trip by adding with some wine tasting back through the Chianti region ending at dinner at La Torre at Monte Oliveto Maggiore, near Chiusure (Incisa 1 hour north. Italian designer mall, great fun….drive through Chianti and dinner at the monastery – priceless)
Or plan a visit to Sant’Antimo and the Abbey, southeast from Montalcino, in the vineyards. Time your visit to hear the Gregorian chants and then wend your way up to Montalcino or to the baths at Bagno Vignoni. See above.
A day to Orvieto, a spectacular hill town perched on the flat top of a soaring rock outcropping. Plan a visit to the duomo and Patrick’s Well and a little white wine tasting and ending with a dinner in a fun osteria or an elegant restaurant in Orvieto or, closer to Cinque Sorelle in Montepulciano, (Orvieto 1 hour south on A-1, Montepulciano 35 minutes southeast of Cinque Sorelle).
A Saturday morning in Buonconvento for the weekly market ( 9 am to 12.30) and some hot porchetta sandwiches and fresh-bought fruit and cheese eaten out of hand in the park, home to prepare a dinner with other fresh foods you bought. Freshly roasted meats and poultry, fruit vegetables, mushrooms, plants and flowers, kitchen tools, fabrics, tablecloths, clothes (leather in the fall)…… (Buonconvento 20 minutes west through the hills) (Also Montalcino market Friday morning, Sinalunga alta (top of the hill) Tuesday morning.) (Montisi has a tiny market Monday afternoons, 4 to 7.)
Perhaps find a simple Friday evening concert at La Cura in Montisi (students at the Piccola Accademia di Montisi may hold free concerts during July) (200 yards west through the village – Baroque church lit only by candles with harpsichord music from the new music school). Follow this with a slow food dinner at La Romita or a festive feast at Taverna da Roberto. Plan ahead and make reservations. Remember La Romita seats only 16. Stop by and see the new chalk board reservation system on the restaurant door at La Romita. All restaurants’ contact information on the restaurant list.
A morning of hot air balloon flights for anyone is interested, reservations well in advance for a specific date, or the new last minute reservations (2 km from most anywhere within Cinque Sorelle, 7 am to noon) Launches from Montisi. One or two balloons available.
www.ballooningintuscany.com
See the back countryside on a quad bike, excursions lead by one of the most experienced local landowners in the area. Exhilarating and you will see parts of the Tuscan countryside you won’t see any other way.
www.laromita.com
Walking tours through the countryside with picnic and wine or painting and sketching lessons.
www.sketchesfromtuscany.com
Sometimes possible, a private afternoon wine tasting tour through the cantine of Montisi.
www.montisi.com
There are many, many more things to do, both active and picturesque and leisurely and relaxing…..cultural or not.