teddrews

I'm planning a trip to Tuscany during the last week of July. I want to rent a car in Florence and make my way through the Chianti region to Siena. I am planning on spending two nights in Florence, two nights in Siena (jazz festival) and I'm looking for a place to stay between the two. I was thinking either Panzano or Greve. Any suggestions??? We are basically looking to eat good food and drink good wine. Any festivals going on at that time? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

2Italy

Take SR 222, the Chianti Road south. We stayed in Castellina once and enjoyed that. There is a wine coop there and plenty of wineries in the area. You might want to visit Baron Ricasoli for a tour and tasting while in Tuscany. If you make it further south, be sure to taste some Brunello around Montalcino.
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Weadles

You might want to check out RELAIS FATTORIA VIGNALE in Radda, which is about 40 min. from Florence, the same from Siena. We had a lovely stay there about two summers ago.

The hotel is on the main street in Radda, which is a tiny place, but there is beautiful rolling countryside all around it. Also, there's a gorgeous pool set in an olive grove behind the hotel.

The rooms were simply decorated but extremely comfortable ( good beds, excellent AC) and some of them offer astounding views of the valley below the hotel.

Food at the hotel was quite good, but expensive, and they do offer tastings of their own wine during certain days of the week.

From Radda, it's very easy to day trip to some of the vineyards like Castello Meleto ( spelling?). Greve is about a 20 minute drive.

Have a great time!

wlzmatilida

Hi Teddrews,

We stayed in Greve for a week, renting an apartment, and it was a great base for exploring Tuscany. (I swear, I'm gonna post a trip report soon...honest).

2Italy mentioned Castellina which was one of our day trip from Greve and we enjoyed that very much as well. We went to a wine festival in Panzano which was fun, but personally, I prefer Greve to stay in.

Hope this is helpful!

Melodie

italy06

We're planning a trip to the chianti region in June. We've rented a place in June in Greve, but before we can get into our farmhouse on a Saturday, we are spending one night in Castellina at a place called Tenuta di Ricavo. (www.ricavo.com) It looks pretty cool and we picked it so we could get to the market in Greve early on Saturday. wizmatilda, looking forward to your trip report before I go or at least some good tips about the region. We can't wait to go!

NYerr

They are both so close to one another, why are you looking for a place in between. Just curious.
But if you are doing it Greve is a good choice.

Traveler2

I think Greve is a good choice. We have stayed both in Castellina in Chianti and Greve and enjoyed walking through the town of Castellina but our choice is Greve for both shopping, eating, and choices of places to stay which we thought were superior. (IMO)

wlzmatilida

Italy06...

don't pressure me!

No, I will have it done by June....in fact, I should have it done by the end of the month!

Stay tuned!

Melodie

Alajan

There is a fantastic restaurant in Castellina - Al Gallopapa. I would spend the night in Castellina just to eat there.
The Palazzo Squarcialupi is a very nice hotel and it's in town.

eurogals

There is a fantastic restaurant in Castellina - Al Gallopapa

This is a Michelin star restaurant. Yes the food and ambience is wonderful, but FYI the prices are also 5-star.

italy06

Thanks Melodie! No pressure - I'm just so anxious to get there. The nice thing about this site is that it makes your two or three week vacation into a 6 month vacation because doing the research is part of the fun.

beachysis

We stayed one night in an apartment at an old castle with a winery just outside of Greve & I would love to go back some day and spend more time! We were not lucky enough to be there when they were doing the wine dinner and cellar tour, but we did taste their wines, 2 of which I loved & can't find back here at home, and we went in to town for a good dinner at a place that seemed to have as many locals for patrons as tourists (I think it was called 'the Black Rooster' (but in Italian).
Here is the website for the place to stay: http://www.vicchiomaggio.it/en/index.shtml

teddrews

Thank you everyone for all of the great feedback. You have all definitely helped me with the planning of my trip. The reason I wanted to stop between Florence and Siena is because we planned on doing a day of wine tasting. I just assume stay the night and have a nice dinner in that town rather than have to drive to Siena that same evening. How far is Florence-Greve-Siena by the way?

constant

There is good accommodation and also good food in and especially around Greve, and they have a summer music programme. Just about all you need to know is given on their web site www.greve-in-chianti.com. Florence Greve Siena is about 2 hours by car without stopping - that's along the Chiantigiana SS 222.

jcar839

We stayed in the Chianti Classico region for 4 days in May 2004. I highly recommend Fagiolari, just outside Panzano, in a valley called the Conca d'Oro, at the end of a gravel road among the vineyards. It is a classic Tuscan farmhouse in an amazing setting. Here is the website. http://www.fagiolari.it/eng_index.htm
You can check out the world famous butcher shop, the Antica Macelleria Cecchini. Free food and wine on Saturday. Also, be sure to eat at Oltre il Giardino. Paolo, the owner, played music for us (Pavarotti and Elvis) and danced with a lady in our party. The food was classic Tuscan. Perfect.

NYerr

If you went from Florence straight to Sienna it would be highway and not be long. The ride from Florence to Greve takes many secondary and lesser roads and could take even longer than the trip to Sienna. You may want to stray and stop in San Gimiano (sp?).
When we were staying in Sienna the hotel directed us to a fabulous local winery. When I got back to NY, I located the importer and traveled far to replace what I had brought back. I am pretty sure it was Dievole.

nospam

For wine tasting, try Greve. For a really neat, historical experience, stay in San Gimignano. ABSOLUTELY amazing (in my opinion)...

JWard

I would also recommend Relais Fatoria Vignale in Radda, great hotel with a pool overlooking a field of olive trees. When we saw the pool and the view we cancelled the rest of our plans for the day, opened a bottle of wine and laid by the pool enjoying the great view. If you prefer San G as some suggested, it is great to, expecially at night. We are headed back to Tuscany in April and have rented a house right outside of San G.

tower

Ted:
While in Greve, experience a family setting on the main square, eastside of the oval-shaped piazza, upstairs at the Ristorante Giussepe Verazzano...wonderful "local" experience for lunch. Truly an Italian Mom and Pop establishment...they'll get to know you and you them..when lunch is over, you've made friends with the owner and his whole family of "helpers"..
bon apetito!

Stu T.

drbb

I highly recommend the Borgo San Felice which is a Relais & Chateaux property - at http://www.borgosanfelice.com/index.html. About 35 minutes from Siena. Take the 222 through the Chianti country from Florence. Stop at Badia a Coltibuono, an ancient abbey overlooking the Arno valley There is an excellent restaurant there.