Side Trips Updated12/20/2018

Near / Location / Sights / Comments / Directions
Arezzo / Arezzo / An EtruscanMuseum with extensive collection - Museo Archeologico
Church of San Francesco / Center of gold jewelry mfg.
First weekend of month is famous antique market.
Piero della Francesco was a famous painter of the area - his great frescos are in the church. / North of Cortona on train route to Florence
Arezzo / Gropina / La Pieve di San Pietro
Fattoria di Gropina – wine and oil. / Middle ages church featured in “Hidden Tuscany”.
Great restaurant at Terranuova Bracciolini / Exit Montevarchi off A1, near Loro Ciuffenna on the road to Settiponti and St Giustino
Arezzo / Monterchi / Claim to fame is a rare pregnant Madonna by Piero.
Arezzo / Bibbeina / La Verna Monastery
(Sactuario) / Monastery where St. Francis received the stigmata - sits on top of a mountain with great views. Good one day trip. Excellent picnic spot, nice drive with great scenery. / 27 miles north of Arezzo. Follow SS 71 from Cortona thru Arezzo toward Bibbiena. Turn at Rassina.
Arezzo /

Sansepolero

/ Pinacoteca (museum)
Not that interesting / Museum houses famous works by Piero,. Also pieces by Luca Signorelli, a student of Piero. / 24 miles northeast of Arezzo
on SS 73
Arezzo /

Anghiari

/ Museum
Linen Factory (Bussati) / Birthplace of Michelangelo nearby.
Very charming, worth a stop / Near Sansepolero
Cortona / Cortona / LaCelle / Fantastic monastery just outsidethe walls / Follow road below apt. to right up the hill. Turn left at sharp curve.
Cortona / Il Sodo / Etruscan Tombs / Tummulus I and II as well as Phythagarus’ Taverna / Call Musuem for tour guide 0575-630415. Carol is American or Laura speaks English, her cell is
380-3327572.
Cortona / Gorgonza / Entire town privately owned. Has castle turned into a hotel with 5 star restaurant. / Enclosed wall town with well restored buildings - must park outside wall. In summer a chamber music series.
Some good antique shops on the road to Monte San Savino. / West beyond Monte San Savino
Florence /

San Miniato

/ Church of San Miniato
November Truffle fair – famous for white truffles / Featured in Hidden Tuscany, one of the finest examples of pure Florentine Romanesque architecture / On Monte delle Croci, WSW of Florence, WNW of Castelfiorentino
Florence /

Castello

/ Villa di Castellogardens / Featured in Hidden Tuscany, one of the most ancient Medical suburban residences of the Medici Family. Currently the villa is not open the public, but you can visit the decorated garden of ancient and rinascimentali sculptures. Of extraordinary fascination it is the grotto. / Exit A1 atFirenze Nord, take direction Sesto Fiorentino. In via R. Giuliani following the tourist signs for the villa.
Florence /

Sesto Fiorentino

/ Villa Corsi Salviati / Featured in Hidden Tuscany. / Exit A1 atFirenze Nord, take direction Sesto Fiorentino
Florence /

Pratolino

/ Parco Demidoff / Only a few elements, including the gigantic statue of Appenine, survive from what was once the most celebrated garden in Europe. / 12 km north of Florence on S65
All year Sundays only
Florence /

Prato, Artimino

/ Villa La Ferdinanda / Featured in Hidden Tuscany, a Medici villa of one hundred chimneys / NW of Florence
Florence /

Reggello

/ Castello di Sammezzano / The castle was founded by the Romans, developed by the Carolingians, later became a Medicean residence, and is now characterized by a Moorish silhouette which was applied at the end of the 19th century. Featured in Hidden Tuscany. / 30 km S of Florence between Rignano Sull’arno and Incisa (near the Mall)
Florence /

Florence

/ StibbertMuseum
055/4755520
Featured in Hidden Tuscany / People with a passion for knights in shining armor as well as almost anything else will love the StibbertMuseum. It comprises over sixty rooms of the historic villa. Located at the edge of Florence, is surrounded by one of the few original unspoiled Italianate gardens, with exotic plants and a small lake. / Easily reached by taxi or taking the No. 4 city bus from the train station.
Via F. Stibbert,26 in Rifredi zone of Florence
Open 10-2 (Mon to Wed). 10-6 (Fri to Sun)
Florence /

Brolio

/ Castello Brolio
VisitCastle as well as Barone Ricasoli vineyard.
Tel 577-730220 / A baronial palace with bastions (fort) and gardens. It began to be important in the XII° century, when the powerful family of Ricasoli took control. / From Siena drive toward Castelnuovo Berardenga or from the A1 exit “Valdarno” and follow SS408 until intersects with SS484 and follow signs.
La Spezia /

Cinque Terra

/ Hotel Porto Roca

Monterosso al Mare

A great place to stay. Good restaurant. Tel.
0187 817502 or fax 817692. Email is / The five villages perched above the MediterranianSea. Superb hiking trails (take strong comfortable shoes). Easiest hike and best path begins in Riomaggiore. Most difficult sections are from Corniglia to Monterosso al Mare. Path is next to hotel. Boats and trains run between all villages. A good restaurant is Miki – try Sea Bass baked in salt. / Take train from Cortona to Florence thru La Spezia to Monterosso al Mare. Drive via A1 to A11 to A12, exit Corrondono/Levanto. Must use central parking at port. Taxi to hotel is covered in room charge.
Maremma /

Roselle

/ The Archaeological Park of Roselle / Very interesting Etruscan and Roma ruins / About two hours SW toward the sea.
Montepulciano / Montepulciano / Main Piazza
Church of Madonna di San Biagio / Picturesque hilltown with impressive main square with a palace, duomo and city hall. Center of wine production - try the Classico in the many cantinas (sampling rooms) / Across the valley to the west of Cortona
Montepulciano /

Pienza

/ Palace - furniture, library and garden / Designed during the renaissance in honor of the Piccolormini Pope. A nice housewares store with larger outlet just outside town – Biagiotti.
Great area for pecorino and ricotta. / SW of Montepulciano.
Funicular access to town.
Montepulciano / Chuisi / EtruscanMuseum
Duomo / Do lunch at Osteria La Solita Zuppa – can be expensive but worth it. Other excellent is Zaira – great wine cellar to tour. / Worth a stop on the way to Montepulciano.
Orvieto /

Orvieto

/ Duomo & Old Quarter.
Gelato at Pasqualetti in Piazza Duomo
Lunch at Trattoria Etrusca / Picturesque hilltown with impressive main square and DuomoTownhas Etruscan origins and was a Papal stronghold.
Be sure to see Michaelangeli’s store and Evodecor’s store. / Half way to Rome from Cortona off Autostrada. About 1 hour +.
Perugia /

Assisi

/ St. Francis Basilica, Duomo, Church of St.Clara, Roman Temple in the main square / Once you have done the upper and lower church, exit lower church into a small piazza and take a taxi back to your car.
Many sites currently closed for renovation as a result of earthquake damage. / To park car, continue right at main gate and follow wall for 1 mile to escalator - your walk will then be downhill
Perugia / Deruta / Famous ceramic center / Florentine patterns sold by expensive U.S. stores - will ship to U.S. See Shopping and Dining Guide / On same road from Perugia to Todi. Take Duruta Sud exit and factory stores are next to highway. Stores in town carry same items.
Perugia /

Gubbio

/ Palazzo dei Consoli
(EtruscanMuseum) / Very charming town. Great day trip.
TryBosoneGardens or Taverna del Lupo for lunch. / Nice drive thru Pergo, Montanare and Mercantale thru on thru Umbertide and Gubbio. Or take superstrada to Perugia then E45 to Umbertide exit.
Perugia / Perugia / NationalMuseum of Umbria, Piazza 4 Novembre, Fontana Maggiore, Palazzo dei Priori / Heart of city is main square with Duomo, Palace Publico and Paisano fountain. Try IL Sole restaurant. / Park mid way up the mountain and then take escalator to center
Perugia / Spello / Number of attractive sights / Has superb restaurant - La BASTIGLIA($$$) / South of Assisi
Perugia /

Spoleto

/ Ruins of a Roman theater and fortress / Home of an International Music Festival. Behind fortress is an interesting aqueduct and foot bridge with a great view.
Trevi has a cashmere factory outlet on SS 75. / East of Todi. Follow signs from Perugia towards Foligno, Spoleto and Terne. SS75. On the way from Perugia, you can stop in Spello and Trevi.
Perugia / Todi / Santa Maria della Consolazione (an important church)
Piazza del Popolo
San Fortunato (Church) / Chic hilltown with spacious square and historic palaces and churches / East of Orvieto. But can also take road to Acquasparta from Spoleto then take SS 3 towards Perugia.
Lago Trasimeno / Casteleone Del Lago / Nice walking street at top of town. / Try La Cantina for lunch – outdoor garden with a view of the lake. Has some seafood dishes. / Also saw a small seafood restaurant in Borghetto on the lake.
Lago Trasimeno / Torgiano / Museum of the History of Wine / On way from Perugia to Deruta
Lago Trasimeno / Tuoro / Sculpture park on the lake / Art by contemporaries using local stone / East around shore of Lake Trasimeno toward Perugia
Lucca / Collodi / Villa Garzoni / An ornamented baroque spectacle in a bucolic valley. The garden rises from a semi-circular parterre, through terraced flights of steps to a water cascade, thrusting into the woods. / Collodi, 17km north east of Lucca, off S435
Open February 1 to November 30, Daily 9am to sunset
Lucca / Montecatini / Terme Tettuccio / Very elaborate spa
Pisa / Carrara / Marble art studios in upper city and quarries / Source of marble for Italy’s great sculpturers / Twisting road up the mountain
Pisa / Pisa / Duomo, tower, Baptistery, Camposanto / Piazza del Duomo / NW from Cortona - several hour drive
Siena /

Siena

/ Piazza del Campo, Palazzo Pubblico, Duomo / Main square is site of famous horse race called the “Palio”. / West of Cortona - 1 hour by car. Can get there by train via Chuisi.
Siena - North / San Gimignano / The towers and Piazza del Duomo. Local white wine is well respected. / A hilltown renown for the many towers built during the 12th and 13th Century by noblemen - few remain in Tuscany. / North of Siena
Siena - North /

Volterra

/ Museo Etrusco Guarnacci - one of the best Etruscan museums in Italy. / Etruscan hilltown with ancient walls, impressive square beside the Roman theater. Interesting carvings of alabaster.
Local restaurants specialize in wild game. / NW of Siena, West of San Gimignano
Siena - South / Montalcino / Town of Montalcino
Castle of Villa Banfi / Picturesque hilltown with narrow streets, palaces, churches and dominating fortress.
Center of Brunello wine production.
Villa Banfi is a premier vineyard . / 29 miles SE of Siena
Siena - South / Monte Oliveto Maggiore / Abbey - cloisters and church. All set in Cypress grove. Has an attractive outdoor restaurant. Long steep walk from parking to cathedral. / One of most beautiful and interesting Benedictine Monasteries in Tuscany - the cloister has frescos by Sodoma and Luca Signorelli. Large cathedral is special, on Sundays (11am) and weekday evenings (6 or 6:30pm), he mass is chanted in the Gregorian form.
/ 22 miles SE of Siena. Take Aciena exit from Siena-Perugia freeway.
Go thru Aciena to Chisure (10km). Abbey is approx 2km past Chisure. Open 9am to noon3:15pm sunset.
Siena - South / Sant’Antimo / Abbazia di Sant’Antimo
Gregorian mass at 11am on Sundays. Prayer chants daily at 9am, 12:45 and 2:45. / An unforgettable gem - 10th Century Benedictine Abbey that reflects the spirit of the times. Very impressive. Grounds have 1,000 yr old olive trees.
/ 6 miles south of Montalcino
Siena - South / Sovicille / Villa Chigi Cetinale / Featured in Hidden Tuscany , a restored and well-tended seventeenth century garden on a dramatic site. / 14km south west of Sienna
Open by appointment only
Viterbo / Caprarola / Villa Farnese - summer res. of Pres. of the Republic. / Superb renaissance palace (vignolo) with wonderful gardens, pools and sculpture. / 11 southeast of Viterbo
Viterbo / Civita / Island village surrounded by strange hills / Mysterious dying village with only 20 inhabitants / 23 miles southeast of Viterbo. Connected by bridge to the town of Bagnoregio
Viterbo / Villa Orsini / Bomarzzo / Playful park and gardens famous for fantastic sculptured monsters and water tricks / 13 northeast of Viterbo
Viterbo / Viterbo / Villa Lante / Superb renaissance palace with gardens and extensive park / 3 miles from Viterbo to Bagnaia. Viterbo is southeast of Orvieto.

Festivals of Interest:

Easter Processions (throughout Italy)Sagra Della Bistecca (Mid August - 2 days - Cortona)

Maggio Musicale Fiorentino (Music, in Il Palio (famous horse race) two weekends (early July, mid August - Siena)

April and May in Florence)Umbria Jazz Festival (late July)

S. Margherita (May/June - Cortona) Sagra dei Fungo Porcino (late August - Cortona)

Giostra Dell’archidado (May/June -Cortona)National Antique Mkt (1st half Sept - Cortona)

Sagra della Lumaca (Snails – June -Cortona) Festa dell’Uva (wine - late Oct - Cortona)

Eurochocolate Festival (last weekends in Oct - Perugia)Sagra della Ciaccia Frita (Natl. holiday Dec 8)