Siena House in Torrita di Siena: anyone stayed here as a base?
Dec 3rd, 2010, 03:18 PM
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Siena House in Torrita di Siena: anyone stayed here as a base?
Thanks to all of you, I've gathered tons of info for our trip of 3 wk next Oct 16-Nov 6,2011.
We've been to Italy 2 years ago ,but only had rental car to drive fr Rome to Florence for an overnight before dropping it before hitting FLorence
So, this time we are SO excited to take longer time to just explore Tuscany, a little of Umbria and Amalfi Coast.
Thinking of renting car from Siena and driving south, keeping car for a week to explore the towns in depth and enjoy the ambiance. We saw Montalcino,Orvieto,Montepulciano,Pienza,San Gimignano(slept there), Siena and drove S222.
So, big question after scouring reviews of everyone for a few years....
Siena House looks gorgeous in Torrita di Siena area and a good central spot.
Anyone there recently? A new place, only opened a year, and #1 on Tripadvisor and in top of all Tuscany.
Would love feedback !
We've been to Italy 2 years ago ,but only had rental car to drive fr Rome to Florence for an overnight before dropping it before hitting FLorence
So, this time we are SO excited to take longer time to just explore Tuscany, a little of Umbria and Amalfi Coast.
Thinking of renting car from Siena and driving south, keeping car for a week to explore the towns in depth and enjoy the ambiance. We saw Montalcino,Orvieto,Montepulciano,Pienza,San Gimignano(slept there), Siena and drove S222.
So, big question after scouring reviews of everyone for a few years....
Siena House looks gorgeous in Torrita di Siena area and a good central spot.
Anyone there recently? A new place, only opened a year, and #1 on Tripadvisor and in top of all Tuscany.
Would love feedback !
Dec 3rd, 2010, 06:20 PM
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Torrita di Siena is a very convenient location, esp for dipping into Umbria.
If you haven't visited Perugia you should: Impossible city driving but what a stunning location and what architecture!
And of course, you are near the mini-freeway to Siena.
Really a nice spot.
Check out little Lucignano, a nearby town -- my ideal of the perfect Tuscan community.
If you haven't visited Perugia you should: Impossible city driving but what a stunning location and what architecture!
And of course, you are near the mini-freeway to Siena.
Really a nice spot.
Check out little Lucignano, a nearby town -- my ideal of the perfect Tuscan community.
Dec 4th, 2010, 02:38 AM
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I second tedgale's recommendation of exploring Lucignano, which mass tourism has scarcely scratched.
As for visiting Perugia, to avoid the frustrating city driving, pick a nearby small town with a train station, park there, and take the train in.
As for visiting Perugia, to avoid the frustrating city driving, pick a nearby small town with a train station, park there, and take the train in.
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Dec 4th, 2010, 05:47 AM
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thanks SO much BOb,tedgale,zeppole!!! Your posts are ones I've been using as guides to plan my trip.... anyway to contact you via email to ask a more detailed question, not on the Wall or is that not ok? if ok, my gmail is [email protected]
DO you think it's too far to just stay in TOrrita di Siena to visit Perugia and the other spots? GUbbio seemed too far for daytrip fr there, so thought we'd relocate to Spello for a couple of days to visit Perugia (great tip abt dropping car outside town and train in!), Todi,Spoleto,Gubbio,Spello.
Truffle season is when we're there I think.
Great tip abt Lucignano: will do!
Tedgale: had thought to rent the apts you liked in Rome and FLorence... last time in Florence, we stayed in Oltrarno and it was quite a hike into town (1/2 hr) and no way to drop purchases w/o returning to hotel (thought better to stay in city center this time). What do you think?
General question: renting an apt sounds great, but we're concerned abt lack of flexibility if we needed to cancel for some reason (the trip tht is). Does anyone have suggestions? a 25-35% total deposit is a lot to lose and trip insurance of 7% also seemed a waste. So, we are only choosing refundable places (less than 30 dy policy).
Advice?
DO you think it's too far to just stay in TOrrita di Siena to visit Perugia and the other spots? GUbbio seemed too far for daytrip fr there, so thought we'd relocate to Spello for a couple of days to visit Perugia (great tip abt dropping car outside town and train in!), Todi,Spoleto,Gubbio,Spello.
Truffle season is when we're there I think.
Great tip abt Lucignano: will do!
Tedgale: had thought to rent the apts you liked in Rome and FLorence... last time in Florence, we stayed in Oltrarno and it was quite a hike into town (1/2 hr) and no way to drop purchases w/o returning to hotel (thought better to stay in city center this time). What do you think?
General question: renting an apt sounds great, but we're concerned abt lack of flexibility if we needed to cancel for some reason (the trip tht is). Does anyone have suggestions? a 25-35% total deposit is a lot to lose and trip insurance of 7% also seemed a waste. So, we are only choosing refundable places (less than 30 dy policy).
Advice?
Dec 4th, 2010, 12:26 PM
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Thinking of renting car from Siena and driving south, keeping car for a week to explore the towns in depth and enjoy the ambiance. We saw Montalcino,Orvieto,Montepulciano,Pienza,San Gimignano(slept there), Siena and drove S222
Were will you flight into and how will you get to Siena?
We had not been to the Torrita di Siena area until October, and we both loved all of these small town. Very Very beautiful. We purchase a 60 tins of Bardi olive oil and brought it back for friends and family. I believe the olive oil festival is in Montisi the last weekend or so of October and the truffle festival is in S. Giovanni right after that.
Were will you flight into and how will you get to Siena?
We had not been to the Torrita di Siena area until October, and we both loved all of these small town. Very Very beautiful. We purchase a 60 tins of Bardi olive oil and brought it back for friends and family. I believe the olive oil festival is in Montisi the last weekend or so of October and the truffle festival is in S. Giovanni right after that.
Dec 4th, 2010, 03:34 PM
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thanks jnjfraz! we fly into Pisa and will stay in Florence a few days (having been there a week 2 yrs ago) and visit the CT for a day.
Then bus to Siena and spend 1/2 day or so to then pick up car when leave and drive to Volterra to spend the night (and avoid daytrippers). Visit it in the AM and then drive south and keep car a week
thanks for tip abt olive oil festival: will see if we are there then; same w/ truffles
Did you stay in 1 place and also visit Umbria fr the T. di Siena? or move around?
Then bus to Siena and spend 1/2 day or so to then pick up car when leave and drive to Volterra to spend the night (and avoid daytrippers). Visit it in the AM and then drive south and keep car a week
thanks for tip abt olive oil festival: will see if we are there then; same w/ truffles
Did you stay in 1 place and also visit Umbria fr the T. di Siena? or move around?
Dec 4th, 2010, 11:43 PM
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Haven't come across this hotel but there again we haven't been to Tuscany for 3 years. We nearly bought a Leopoldo farmhouse about a mile from this hotel some years ago.
The hotel is very well placed to visit Umbria, we always stay in this area for this reason. The hotel does have a very different landscape to those of the Crete Senesi which is 15 miles to the North West. The chalk downs of Le Crete change to clay in Montisi and the landscapes in Torrita are more green agriculture than the classical chalk wheat fields of the Crete.
I would be careful of how close the hotel is to working farms. Some of them dairy farm and this can be very intrusive to your experience. That was the reason we pulled pulled out of the house purchase. The reviews on TA do seem to categorically good and the B & B does seem to mix contemporary with classical design very well. Although I am always a bit concerned when small hotels charge top rate and use Ikea furniture.
We are planning another visit for next May, anyone know of a 4 star small hotel actually in Le Crete (Asciano)? We could never find one as most of the farmhouses were "aparthotels" or agriturismos.
The hotel is very well placed to visit Umbria, we always stay in this area for this reason. The hotel does have a very different landscape to those of the Crete Senesi which is 15 miles to the North West. The chalk downs of Le Crete change to clay in Montisi and the landscapes in Torrita are more green agriculture than the classical chalk wheat fields of the Crete.
I would be careful of how close the hotel is to working farms. Some of them dairy farm and this can be very intrusive to your experience. That was the reason we pulled pulled out of the house purchase. The reviews on TA do seem to categorically good and the B & B does seem to mix contemporary with classical design very well. Although I am always a bit concerned when small hotels charge top rate and use Ikea furniture.
We are planning another visit for next May, anyone know of a 4 star small hotel actually in Le Crete (Asciano)? We could never find one as most of the farmhouses were "aparthotels" or agriturismos.
Dec 5th, 2010, 02:44 AM
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izzofan,
Be sure when you head out to Lucignano that you don't go to Lucignano d'Arbia, which is pretty close to your target lodging but in the opposite direction of the town of Lucignano whcih tedgale and I are raving about. I enjoyed eating at Da Toto there, which is to the left of the town Duomo. If you go on a weekend, you will need to make a reservation.
http://www.trattoriatoto.it/
Regarding "how far is too far for day trips?" Depends on when you get up in the morning, or what time of year you are traveling. If you get up very early, you can drive 90 minutes or more and not run the risk of everything you came to see and do closing in your face for the long lunch break -- which will mean you have to hang around until 4pm to have things open up again (and some churches don't). This matters a lot if you are daytripping to take sights of specific cultural interest (or shopping), rather than just to stroll around to "enjoy the ambience" or photo snap.
If you are traveling during the time of year the sun doesn't set until 8, you can linger into the afternoons at some daytrip destination, when stores and sights re-open, and still not be driving back in the dark. It is tiring to drive in the Italian countryside in the dark because signage is so hard to spot.
One comment about Ikea furniture: One of the reasons it has become so popular in Italy is that it comes disassembled. It is just plain murder to try to maneuver a sofa or armoire through the narrow stairs and doors of a centuries old building. If user reviews report comfortable sleeping, sitting and enough places to hang things, I'd overlook the provenance of the furniture.
Be sure when you head out to Lucignano that you don't go to Lucignano d'Arbia, which is pretty close to your target lodging but in the opposite direction of the town of Lucignano whcih tedgale and I are raving about. I enjoyed eating at Da Toto there, which is to the left of the town Duomo. If you go on a weekend, you will need to make a reservation.
http://www.trattoriatoto.it/
Regarding "how far is too far for day trips?" Depends on when you get up in the morning, or what time of year you are traveling. If you get up very early, you can drive 90 minutes or more and not run the risk of everything you came to see and do closing in your face for the long lunch break -- which will mean you have to hang around until 4pm to have things open up again (and some churches don't). This matters a lot if you are daytripping to take sights of specific cultural interest (or shopping), rather than just to stroll around to "enjoy the ambience" or photo snap.
If you are traveling during the time of year the sun doesn't set until 8, you can linger into the afternoons at some daytrip destination, when stores and sights re-open, and still not be driving back in the dark. It is tiring to drive in the Italian countryside in the dark because signage is so hard to spot.
One comment about Ikea furniture: One of the reasons it has become so popular in Italy is that it comes disassembled. It is just plain murder to try to maneuver a sofa or armoire through the narrow stairs and doors of a centuries old building. If user reviews report comfortable sleeping, sitting and enough places to hang things, I'd overlook the provenance of the furniture.
Dec 5th, 2010, 02:52 AM
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yanumpty,
Do you know this place? I've never been so you'd need to track down reviews. (No ikea furniture!)
http://www.palazzaccio.it/eng/
Do you know this place? I've never been so you'd need to track down reviews. (No ikea furniture!)
http://www.palazzaccio.it/eng/
Dec 5th, 2010, 07:54 AM
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Not too far from Torrita is the Umbrian town of Citta della Pieve. It is still on my to-do list -- I've never yet succeeded in getting there. This slow-trav write up makes it sound great:
http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/umbria...ella_pieve.htm
http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/umbria...ella_pieve.htm
Dec 5th, 2010, 08:48 AM
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zeppole
That hotel has passed me by in 8 visits! It seems perfect (as long as they are not anti-children (or dog). It is a nice feeling to spend what we are saving on trans-atlantic flights on posher hotels in Europe (long live Easyjet).
Thanks for the suggestion.
Ikea : I know, I know! but one of my businesses is property development and to our company (higher end work) Ikea is very transparent. Still, great design just really poor quality.
I do like Siena House's contemporary/classic/natural materials. Not sure our dog would appreciate the cat though.
That hotel has passed me by in 8 visits! It seems perfect (as long as they are not anti-children (or dog). It is a nice feeling to spend what we are saving on trans-atlantic flights on posher hotels in Europe (long live Easyjet).
Thanks for the suggestion.
Ikea : I know, I know! but one of my businesses is property development and to our company (higher end work) Ikea is very transparent. Still, great design just really poor quality.
I do like Siena House's contemporary/classic/natural materials. Not sure our dog would appreciate the cat though.
Dec 5th, 2010, 11:35 AM
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yanumpty,
The Palazzaccio's website says:
"Children 0 to 3 years old are free, children 3 to 6 years old pay € 15,00 euro per night, over 6 years old pay € 20,00 euro per night." Doens't sound discriminatory!
This other website indicates pets are allowed at the Palazzaccio, but of course it is best to check before showing up with Marmaduke the Cat Killer.
http://www.alberghieturismo.it/ascia...utapalazzaccio
I agree with you about quality from Ikea, were I the owner of a large b&b, I might opt for replacing less expensive items as needed than watching high quality furnishings get dinged, broken and ruined by a constantly changing round of guests.
But me? I'd rather skip Easy Jet, pay more for a flight and stay on a farm in Tuscan farm country. I especially like ones with farm animals and farm cooking (and cats!)
The Palazzaccio's website says:
"Children 0 to 3 years old are free, children 3 to 6 years old pay € 15,00 euro per night, over 6 years old pay € 20,00 euro per night." Doens't sound discriminatory!
This other website indicates pets are allowed at the Palazzaccio, but of course it is best to check before showing up with Marmaduke the Cat Killer.
http://www.alberghieturismo.it/ascia...utapalazzaccio
I agree with you about quality from Ikea, were I the owner of a large b&b, I might opt for replacing less expensive items as needed than watching high quality furnishings get dinged, broken and ruined by a constantly changing round of guests.
But me? I'd rather skip Easy Jet, pay more for a flight and stay on a farm in Tuscan farm country. I especially like ones with farm animals and farm cooking (and cats!)
