Article - 10 most romantic small towns in Italy

[Mom83]

Oh, Pauline - I love Pienza! It is on my list for this Fall's trip. I love that it is smaller and relatively flat. And the view over the countryside as you walk along the outer wall is amazing. One of my favorite restaurants is there - Latte di Luna. We have not been there since 2011 so I wonder if it is still there and still good? I will have to check unless someone here knows.
I also love Positano, but would have to pick another apartment if we go again. 93 steps straight up to where we stayed. The views were amazing from our terrace, but woe be to you if you left for the day and forgot something!

 

[Sharon J]

Oh, Pauline - I love Pienza! It is on my list for this Fall's trip. I love that it is smaller and relatively flat. And the view over the countryside as you walk along the outer wall is amazing. One of my favorite restaurants is there - Latte di Luna. We have not been there since 2011 so I wonder if it is still there and still good? I will have to check unless someone here knows.

We had lunch at Latte di Luna last May. Also one of our favorites. Excellent lunch, and two Italian couples were sitting next to us. We asked them a question about one of their cheese choices, and they sweetly shared them with us. One of those special moments. Love, love Pienza.

 

[Mom83]

Sharon - thank you so much for your reply! So glad you also like Pienza and Latte di Luna, too. I cannot wait to return in the Fall!
I see that you live in Beaufort. We spent part of the winter in Hilton Head and love the Beaufort area.

 

[Sharon J]

Yes, we love Beaufort. Slow and quiet here. You know, there is a large Ohio contingency here!! We will be heading back to Tuscany, June, 2018. We always stay in Montepulciano, at Sant'Antonio. Do you know where you will be staying?

 

[Mom83]

We head down to Hilton Head 2/17 after a quick trip to NYC and stay until early April. I am sure we will make a trip into Beaufort - we usually do. Yes, Ohioans love that part of SC!
In previous visits to Tuscany, we have stayed once in an apartment on Piazza Santa Croce in Florence and twice in an apartment at Terre di Nano in Monticchiello. We are returning 9/29 for a week at Villa L'Oliveto at Casale Montecchio just east of San
Gusme (about 20 minutes ENE of Siena). I have often considered staying at Sant'Antonio, but never have. I know it gets wonderful reviews.
I spent my sophomore year of college in Florence - Italian was my minor. Our daughter ended up spending her junior year going to school in Rome. So our whole family tries to go back to Italy as often as possible. Do you go every year?

 

[Sharon J]

We try and go every year, although we went to Varenna on Lake Como, and Venice last year as well as Sant'Antonio. The owner, Nico is simply the best, and it's a beautiful property.
We are going to Beynac, France this coming September. We rent a lovely old stone house in the little town that was once owned by a Knight. It sits below the Castle. Our two little dogs are getting older, and it's harder and harder to leave them. At some point, we would like to stay a month or longer, but as long as they are still with us, that's not possible. They are our babies.

 

[Mom83]

We must try Sant'Antonio next time we visit Tuscany. Do you stay at the country resort or the apartments in Montepulciano?
I was trying to stay up closer to Florence this Fall as our friends have never been and I want it to be an easy day trip.
I have never heard of Beynac France - it sounds lovely! I must research it and see where it is located. We spent 3 weeks in France 2 years ago - a week in Aix, a week in Beaune, and a week in Paris. I cannot wait to go back and explore more areas.
So many places to see....

 

[Sharon J]

We stay in the country resort, and always try and get the stand alone cottage, although I don't think any of the apartments are bad. We also stayed with friends in the lower two bedroom, and it was perfect for two couples.
Beynac is in The Dordogne area of France. The little town is on The Dordogne River, and the house is stunning, overlooking the river. It has two Full master bedrooms, each with its own bathroom, and there is also a small bedroom for children if needed.

 

[Mom83]

Yes, I looked up the town and area and have now added it our list of places to visit! Thank you for telling me about it. As I said, so many places to see...

 

[Pati]

My favorite memory of Pienza was entering the town via one of the small roads leading in and seeing a roadside shop selling Pecorino in its various ages and stages and realizing that it was made from the sheep grazing just next to the store. I don't know if the visuals colored my appreciation, but it was incredibly tasty and obviously has remained in my memory. Don't know if it's still there. This was 2003.

 

[Pauline]

We stay in the country resort, and always try and get the stand alone cottage, although I don't think any of the apartments are bad.

We stayed in one of the apartments in the country resort and it was very nice.

 

[Mom83]

Thanks Pauline! I think Jeff and I will have to try Sant'Antonio the next time we go to Italy by ourselves. How far outside Montepulciano is the country resort? We love the Val d'Orcia area and I would like to stay closer to Pienza/Montepulciano next visit so that we could make another visit to La Foce.
We are staying up near Siena this time so that we can take our friends into Florence for the day - they have not been to Italy before.

 

[Pauline]

It is only a mile or two from Montepulciano. I wrote a review.

 

[Mom83]

Thanks Pauline! It sounds wonderful!

 

[Rome Addict]

Definitely Montepulciano. Ancient beyond belief, incredible views.

 

[Ian Sutton]

Definitely Montepulciano. Ancient beyond belief, incredible views.

and steep hills (the closest emoticon I could get to us, on foot with fullish full-length backpacks, taking on the ascent of Montepulciano by one of the steeper routes). There was some cussing of my travel planning that day!

I'd certainly recommend the place.