Hello! I have purchased plane tickets and putting together an itinerary to go to Italy between October 19th and November 9th, 2024, arriving in Milan, Verona, a quick two-day trip through the Dolomites just to get an overview, Venice, a day tour in Bologna on the way to Florence , a few days in the Tuscany region, and finally Rome.
In the current itinerary, Florence and the Tuscan countryside (Siena, Val D'Orcia, Pienza, Montepulciano, Moterrigioni and San Giminiano) are after Bologna (28th), between October 29th and November 4th.
I know there is the November 1st public holiday, which will be on a Friday, causing an influx of locals on vacation. I've read that after the holidays, the Tuscan countryside becomes more “dead” with closed shops, almost no people, etc.
On the other hand, I'm afraid that during the holidays and weekends the city of Florence or Pisa will have compromised tours or that I won't have contact with the “live” city.I didn’t want my stay in Florence to feel like a place “blacked out” by the holiday, nor for the Tuscan countryside to have closed or “ghost” towns after the holiday or on the weekend from November 1st onwards.
Also, I feel like the earlier I go to the coutryside, the better chances I have to get good climate and some sunny/dry days.Anyway, my question is which of the alternatives below would be “better”:
(1) Florence/Pisa first, from 10/29 to 10/31. On November 1st (Friday, public holiday), take the Via Chiantigiana to Siena. On 02/11 and 03/11 (Saturday and Sunday after holiday), tour in Siena and Val D'Ocia. On Monday, November 4th, post-holiday, pass through Monterrigioni and San Giminiano and return to Florence, just to stay overnight and then go to Rome by train.
(2) Siena/Coutryside first, leaving on 10/29 via Via Chiantigiana, 10/30 and 10/31 visiting Siena and Val D'Orcia going to Montepulciano; the other day, the trip to Monterrigioni and San Giminiano on November 1st (Friday holiday), returning to Florence to stay in the city and get to know Pisa, from Saturday until November 4th.
(3) small change, also doing Siena/Countryside first, but leaving on 10/29 via Via Chantigiana and going that same day to Monterrigioni and San Giminiano, staying overnight in Siena. Then Siena city tour at 10/30. On 10/31, visit Val D’Orcia and go to Motepulciano. Return to Florence on November 1st (holiday) morning, and do Florence and Pisa between November 1st and November 4th, to go to Rome on November 5th. In this case, I get a day in Florence or Rome, or I can add another part of the Tuscan countryside, since I unite San Giminiano and Monterrigioni on the first day.
(4) change the travel itinerary so that the Tuscan countryside is not on November 1st.
Thanks, and sorry for the long message.
In the current itinerary, Florence and the Tuscan countryside (Siena, Val D'Orcia, Pienza, Montepulciano, Moterrigioni and San Giminiano) are after Bologna (28th), between October 29th and November 4th.
I know there is the November 1st public holiday, which will be on a Friday, causing an influx of locals on vacation. I've read that after the holidays, the Tuscan countryside becomes more “dead” with closed shops, almost no people, etc.
On the other hand, I'm afraid that during the holidays and weekends the city of Florence or Pisa will have compromised tours or that I won't have contact with the “live” city.I didn’t want my stay in Florence to feel like a place “blacked out” by the holiday, nor for the Tuscan countryside to have closed or “ghost” towns after the holiday or on the weekend from November 1st onwards.
Also, I feel like the earlier I go to the coutryside, the better chances I have to get good climate and some sunny/dry days.Anyway, my question is which of the alternatives below would be “better”:
(1) Florence/Pisa first, from 10/29 to 10/31. On November 1st (Friday, public holiday), take the Via Chiantigiana to Siena. On 02/11 and 03/11 (Saturday and Sunday after holiday), tour in Siena and Val D'Ocia. On Monday, November 4th, post-holiday, pass through Monterrigioni and San Giminiano and return to Florence, just to stay overnight and then go to Rome by train.
(2) Siena/Coutryside first, leaving on 10/29 via Via Chiantigiana, 10/30 and 10/31 visiting Siena and Val D'Orcia going to Montepulciano; the other day, the trip to Monterrigioni and San Giminiano on November 1st (Friday holiday), returning to Florence to stay in the city and get to know Pisa, from Saturday until November 4th.
(3) small change, also doing Siena/Countryside first, but leaving on 10/29 via Via Chantigiana and going that same day to Monterrigioni and San Giminiano, staying overnight in Siena. Then Siena city tour at 10/30. On 10/31, visit Val D’Orcia and go to Motepulciano. Return to Florence on November 1st (holiday) morning, and do Florence and Pisa between November 1st and November 4th, to go to Rome on November 5th. In this case, I get a day in Florence or Rome, or I can add another part of the Tuscan countryside, since I unite San Giminiano and Monterrigioni on the first day.
(4) change the travel itinerary so that the Tuscan countryside is not on November 1st.
Thanks, and sorry for the long message.