The city of Chiusi is not on anyone's vacation radar. It's a town on the border of Tuscany and…read moreUmbria. There's not much to see, a train station, a couple of caffes but not much else except for the Etruscan Museum. The museum is exceptional, it has Etruscan art from at least 700 b.c. It is absolutely amazing. There is so much to see. When you see what a civilization did in Tuscany 3000 years ago it's breathtaking. There are 2 different levels and you need to make sure you visit both. The only problem was there were three "Nonas" that were security and the followed us as if we were going to put a vase in our bag. If you get near there you should see it.

This was our second visit to Tufo on a three day trip to Siena. Simone took care of us both times…read moreand he was exceptional. Personable and professional. We had pasta the first night and pizza tonight. Both delicious but we preferred the pizza. Thank you Simone for a lovely experience.

If I could give this place 10 stars, I would. Truly the best…read morelocation to stay in Tuscany, with superior service, fabulous rooms and great food & drink. All in a setting that is equal parts awe inspiring (we're in a castle!), authentically Italian (wine, pasta, etc) and ridiculous relaxing (enjoy the sunset overlooking the forest while the birds fly overhead). The entire staff were so kind and helpful, accommodating early check in, and even going so far as to pack us breakfast bags when we needed to make an early start to get to Florence. Oh, and the ROOM. So gorgeous, well appointed two bedroom apartment with kitchen and two full baths--the primary with separate tub room and a double shower. All 1 hour(ish) from everywhere you want to visit in Tuscany. Special thanks to Deanna and Lucia for being amazing!

We stayed 3 days here but I wish it was longer. First off, if you like it very quiet this IS your…read moreplace. The buildings are very old, the walls thick- there isn't a sound at night at all - none! The staff is excellent and they are helpful in every way. The restaurant is outstanding with prices that are reasonable given the high quality. Add to that the history of the facility is just incredible. We hiked some of the trails - if you do that hiking boots are recommended. Trails are rough and at times steep. Things to do - We spent a day in Tuscany exploring numerous vineyards that are close by. We also spent a day exploring several villages, an underground wine cellar, enjoyed great wine and bought some excellent cheese. One caveat: you'll need to climb stairs and somewhat steep walkways if your going to stay here. Your legs will thank you afterwards. I'd highly recommend this place! It's just plain awesome! We loved it.

The palace is located in the center of Pienza, next to the Duomo. It dates back to the mid 1400's…read moreand is considered an early example of Renaissance architecture. It actually served as the home of the Piccolomini family until early 1960's, which is interesting to me! It still houses a large collection of furnishings, books, and family items dating back to when it was first built.The Palazzo has a gorgeous and enormous courtyard where concerts and special events are now held, in addition to stunning gardens and views. If Renaissance architecture interests you, it's worth a visit.

We took a day trip here while staying in San Casciano and enjoyed the restored palace of Popes Pius…read moreI & II. The is a very impressive collection of artwork and family items that date back nearly 1,000 years. It is quite interesting to see the rise of the family and its influence in Tuscany. The view of the Val d'Orcia from the gardens is unmatched. Worth visiting if you are in the area and the admission is reasonable.

Well documented and impressive displays of Etruscan artifacts from the Cortona area. Italian and…read moreEnglish placards. Everything pre-dates the Romans, with most of the artifacts dating back to 900 BC to 600 BC. This museum serves as a beautiful example of how civilization has grown and developed over the centuries. To see the works of art in the jewelry, or their skills at making metal helmets or the pottery which held wine, water and assorted other elements. The artifacts from their funeral discovery's are impressive as well. This is well worth a 2 hour visit.

Great discovery! We were absolutely blown away by this museum. Presented here is an outstanding…read morearray of artifacts with historical notations in Italian, most of them translated into English. We spent nearly three hours roaming this old historical building that was once a palace. You'll see amazing artifacts here from the 5th century BC, onward. Be prepared to soak up culture, history, and vast information as well as be inspired in the artistic visual curiosity that the place invokes.

When I told some of my coworkers that I was going to Siena as part of my trip to Italy, they all…read moretold me that I HAD to find the "candle lady" while I was there. Well low and behold, I stumbled across her shop while exploring the streets of Siena and I'm so glad that I did! 'La Fabbrica delle Candel" was an amazing shop with all sorts of unique hand crafted candles and wax dipped flowers. We ended up spending forever in there because I loved everything and couldn't decide what I wanted to bring home. In the front of the shop is a workshop area where you can view the candles being made. The girl that was working when we stopped in (not sure if she was the owner or not) was very sweet and spoke excellent english. She explained how the wax flowers were made and talked about how the shop got started. She did an excellent job of wrapping up our purchases so everything made it home in one piece. Definitely a place worth looking for if you're in town - I'm honestly disappointed we didn't end up buying more to bring home!

My husband and I are here for 8 days with a UNF group on a tour called, The Footsteps of St…read moreFrancis. The villa, privately owned, is used for educational workshops for business people. It also is used for traveling groups like ours. This villa has several large conference room for groups to have meetings and hear lectures. Some of the rooms have multiple beds for groups staying together; ours had just one king bed...thank goodness. We are headquartered here snd travel out each day. Tonight we had a cooking class on making fresh pasta by a known chef in Umbria. After a wonderful dinner we finished with lemon cello, recalling our wonderful day!

Santa Maria della Scala is far more than a museum.. It is located across from Siena Cathedral in…read morePiazza del Duomo, the former hospital has transformed into a sprawling cultural complex filled with art, architecture, and centuries of human stories. Rather than following a traditional museum layout, the space unfolds like a maze of grand halls, staircases, underground passages, and hidden chambers. The beautiful frescoed Pellegrinaio highlights the hospital's medieval role in caring for pilgrims and the sick, bringing scenes of compassion and community to life. Deeper below, the atmosphere shifts dramatically. Dimly lit tunnels, stone corridors, ancient cisterns, and crypt-like rooms create an immersive glimpse into the hospital's self-contained underground world. These subterranean spaces are among the museum's most fascinating features, revealing how the institution once functioned as a community. While the museum also houses Etruscan, Roman, and religious collections, the real attraction is the building itself. Its immense scale and maze-like layout can be interesting., More than viewing exhibits, visiting Santa Maria della Scala feels like walking through centuries of Siena's living memory.

An amazing example of form and function combined with art. The original hospital of Siena in use…read morefor hundreds of years and continually added to. Finally shuttered in 1995. Filled with art and galleries and churches and and and...amazing multi level complex that is a walk through the history of Siena. Don't miss out on this museum when you go to Siena.