Activities
What to Do, What to Do…..?
Once upon a time someone, considering coming to Villa Maddalena asked,
“But what is there to do? Is one week enough, or should we plan on two weeks?” Spurred by the question, I sat down and in 11 minutes put together the following list, which I have polished since.
Something for everyone. It is even possible to stay at home and enjoy just sitting in the garden, talking with your friends, sunning on the terrace by the pool, planning a menu, listening to music, the sounds of the village, enjoying the view, sipping wine….but read on for those who need to know there are lots of things close by…Rome, not mentioned here, is only a bit over 2 hours south……
A day in Siena, historic center, shopping and dining and catch dinner at Monte Olivetto Maggiore on the way home through the hills (45 minutes to Siena, north across the countryside)
A day in Florence, museums, sight-seeing, shopping, dining or just absorbing, or if you are here for two weeks, rent the little apartment owned by my friend and trade off among your friends going up for romantic over-night stays. (1.5 hours up on the A-1)
A ‘must’ for those who are fashion-conscious – an excursion to Incisa, 14 km south of Florence. This is THE outlet mall for all the Italian designers (Prada is elsewhere). Get there in the morning for the best selection. Exit Incisa from the A-1, follow signs for Leccio, until the signs for The Mall (subtle and hard-to-see) begin to appear. Opens 10 until 7 pm. Nice little café in the center of a very environment-friendly new mall.
A day trip to the Italian high-fashion mall at Incisa, near Florence with some wine tasting back through the Chianti region ending at dinner at Monte Olivetto Maggiore (Incisa 1 hour north – drive through Chianti and dinner at the monastery – priceless)
A day of Montalcino and brunello – market on Friday morning, brunello tasting, light meal - combined with the hot mineral baths of Bagno Vignoni in the afternoon (2 to 6 pm), maybe stopping for a simple dinner in Torrienieri on the way home. (Montalcino, half hour west)
A day to Perugia for chocolate with a bit of time in Deruta for ceramics, dinner on Lago Trasimeno on the way back? (Deruta 1 hour east, Perugia closer. Both on a freeway.)
A day to Orvieto, ending with a little wine tasting and a dinner in a fun osteria or an elegant restaurant in Montepulciano, home of vino nobile (Orvieto 1 hours south on A-1, Montepulciano 35 minutes southeast of Montisi)
A Saturday morning in Buonconvento for the market ( 9 am to 12.30) and some hot porchetta sandwiches, home to prepare a dinner with what you bought, or dinner at Conte Matto (Buonconvento 20 minutes west through the hills)
An afternoon in Pienza to see ‘the perfect Renaissance town’ built under the instruction of Pope Pio II, including the English language tour of the Palazzo Piccolomini, the most beautiful church in Italy (my opinion) next to the palace, have a delightful meal, buy some fantastic cheeses to enjoy in the garden…or go later in the day and make it dinner in one of the 5 restaurants. (Pienza 12 km south west)
A Friday evening concert at La Cuore in Montisi (beginning summer of 2008) (200 yards through the village – Baroque church lit only by candles with Baroque music from the new music school) followed by a slow food dinner at La Romita or a festive feast at Taverna da Roberto, with a fall wind-down of roasting chestnuts in the living room fireplace sipping grappa.
A morning or two of balloon flights for anyone is interested, reservations well in advance are a MUST (2 km, 7 am to noon) HYPERLINK “http://www.ballooningintuscany.com” http://www.ballooningintuscany.com
Walking tour through the countryside with picnic and wine or painting lessons HYPERLINK “http://www.ballooningintuscany.com” http://www.ballooningintuscany.com (much more on this website) Sometimes possible, a private afternoon wine tasting tour through the cantine of Montisi
Gregorian chants at Sant’ Antimo….near Montalcino in the vineyards of the brunello DOCG
Morning in Arezzo touring the famous antique stores (full city market the first weekend of every month known throughout Europe) (45 minutes from the Villa), with lunch or without lunch, on to Cortona and THEN lunch. Or some combination with dinner. I can get you a good recommendation for dinner in Cortona. OR you could wander and dine for lunch at will and come back in time to dine in Montisi, or at La Bandita in Bettolle, or Conte Matto in Trequanda or…..choices, choices, choices….
There are many, many more things to do, both active and picturesque and leisurely and relaxing…..