When clueless Opponaughts go to Tuscany, what should they do?

"duurtlang" (duurtlang) 01/19/2020 at 13:00 • Filed to: Tuscany, Europpomeet, oppo meet, oppomeet 2020, Italy

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Has anyone driven in Tuscany (Italy) before? I wonder if there is some advice on what we should do and where we should drive during our Tuscany Oppomeet . Any relevant advice is welcome. Additionally, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! !

We will have a group of 12-15 people, I presume based on preliminary polls. Our visit to Tuscany will take about 5-6 days. During those days we are looking for fun roads (regions) to drive, interesting places to visits and some activities. I believe it makes sense to stay away from the tourist traps as much as possible, but this is very much open to discussion.

Please let us know what you would do if you were to visit Tuscany.

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If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > duurtlang 01/19/2020 at 13:14

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My only experiences of Tuscany are of the tourist traps. That being said, you have to visit Florence and climb the duomo . You can see the w hole valley from the top. The central market is also worth visiting.

MultiplaOrgasms > duurtlang 01/19/2020 at 13:17

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We have got to find a way to incorporate  a Hyundai Tuscani into this

duurtlang > MultiplaOrgasms 01/19/2020 at 13:32

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Thank you for this obscure piece of information. I will find a way to include this.

MultiplaOrgasms > duurtlang 01/19/2020 at 13:44

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I was about to comment on that. Obvious bonus points if it has the correct bad ging.

facw > duurtlang 01/19/2020 at 13:50

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Sorry, all my Tuscany recommendations are cultural things that don’t necessarily blend well with driving.

duurtlang > facw 01/19/2020 at 13:57

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We do cultural things too, as long as it can be combined with a few hours of driving (on entertaining roads) that same day.

facw > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 01/19/2020 at 13:59

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I skipped that, the line was just too long (I should have done more research on the “skip the line” options, my guidebook didn’t mention the lines being bad like they did with the Uffizi or the Academy ) . You get a nice view from the Piazzale Michelangelo on the east side of the city south of the river though:

I did climb three buildings in Siena to make up for my lack of climbing in Florence .

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > duurtlang 01/19/2020 at 14:27

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Eat Food. Drive on secondary roads. So many good roads (watch for speed traps), so much good food. Just choose a direction, restraunt, or gelateria. San Gimingiano has a notably good gelateria, cool old buildings, and is surr ounded by good roads. I Also like Sienna over Florence. 

The Snowman > duurtlang 01/19/2020 at 14:30

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I had a great time driving through the hilltop villages due North of Lucca. After this we drove back down winding roads to the coast town of Viareggio which was great in the off-season. Also if you have the urge to do the top gear escape from Lucca scene a ZTL violation is required and is about $110  

Only Vespas... > duurtlang 01/19/2020 at 16:11

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Yes, same here. The town it teach in every Summer, Lucca, is a walled fortress city f ro m the 9th Century. Unless you are a local, with a windshield sticker, and a tiny car, it is impossible to drive in town. A Benz minivan looks like an aircraft carrier at the end of one of those streets. However, if you are on the autostrada,

do stop at an Au togrill, a coffeeshop-resturant-foodstore that will sell all the best local s pecialties from the surrounding countryside  unavailable in any store.

glemon > duurtlang 01/19/2020 at 17:00

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We went last summer to the Ferrari Museum in Mar anello, where there is also a place that will let you drive a Ferrari and you can buy museum and Ferrari drive as a package. I don’t think Maranello is in Tuscany, but just a little Northeast of the boarder, as in just a few miles I think.

So you spend half a day with the drive and museum, have lunch, then head Westish on the SS12, which takes you through the mountains and beautiful scenery towards the coast, great drive, stop when you see something interesting, which will be often.

Leaving the best pictures out as it is more fun to come around the next corner to a beautiful surprise.

A little farther north you can see the Cinque Terre region (less than half a day’s drive)

And of course San Gimi gnano.

Lots of great thing to do and great drives, give yourself extra time so you are not rushed, some of our best days were just out wandering around, like when we found a little bed and breakfast hotel overlooking the mountains, stopped and had lunch with a bottle of wine for about $30 euros, I told my wife Applebee's would never be the same again.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > duurtlang 01/19/2020 at 18:31

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I would say drink some Italian wine/beer , but that goes without saying

glemon > duurtlang 01/19/2020 at 22:38

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On the way to San Gimignano, beautiful views, local food and wine, farm to table, you will feel like you stepped back in time. Also very reasonable prices.  https://www.agriturismocolleverde.com/en/restaurant/

pip bip - choose Corrour > duurtlang 01/20/2020 at 02:29

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drink themselves unconscious

RPM esq. > duurtlang 01/20/2020 at 02:53

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I enjoyed driving in Tuscany very much. I can’t pretend to know all the best driving roads in the area but the classic route through Chianti makes a pretty fun loop out of Florence if you’re not there in the summer (i.e. more tourists and tractors): south on SR222 from Florence through Greve to Castellina, the super windy SR429 over the hills to Poggibonsi, and then bomb back up the autostrada to Florence. It’s about two-three hours of driving, plus a stop or two for exceptional pizza and wine... You can also add an hour or so and go farther south to Siena, or start there and do the loop the opposite direction.

ETA: if you want to do cultural stuff in Florence, get a FirenzeCard and skip all the lines. Extremely worth it.