Michal& Austin

Flying in

Florence is closer. Rome usually has more direct flights from the US, and often cheaper ones.

Getting around

• Take the train. For many guests it’s the easiest way in: take a train to Chiusi-Chianciano Terme. Chiusi is just a 20-minute taxi to Montepulciano that you can book ahead. Trains run about 20 times a day, tickets are usually €10 to €20, and you can book at trenitalia.com.
• Or rent a car. It gives you the most freedom to play the countryside, since the hill towns are spread out. Pick it up at the airport. Many rentals in Italy are manual, so reserve an automatic early or make sure you can drive stick.
• Maybe a shuttle. We’re looking into group transportation for the wedding weekend. Nothing is set yet—we’ll share an update if/when it comes together.

Where to stay

Podere La Rocca has only a handful of rooms, and we’ll reach out about those directly. Some of Tuscany’s loveliest towns are just minutes away. Here are our favorites:

• Montepulciano. Right in the act. Stay in the old town for cobblestones, wine cellars and dinner on foot.
• Pienza. About 20 minutes away. Small, beautiful, famous for its pecorino.
• Chianciano Terme. About 15 minutes away. More hotels, easy parking, thermal spas.

We’ll share specific hotel picks soon.

Between sets: things to do nearby

• In Montepulciano. Wander up to the Piazza Grande, duck into the wine cellars carved under the town, and walk down to the Tempio di San Biagio at golden hour.
• Taste the Vino Nobile. Montepulciano’s red is one of Italy’s oldest named wines. Wineries sit all around town. Our favorites are coming.
• Pienza and the Val d’Orcia. Cypress-lined roads, rolling hills and the views from every postcard of Tuscany. Pienza is a 20-minute drive.
• A day in Florence or Rome. Both make an easy day trip by car or train if you want a city fix.

Before you pack

• Passports. US passports need at least 3 months of validity after you leave Europe, and must have been issued within the last 10 years.
• Money. Italy runs on euros. Cards work almost everywhere, but carry a little cash for small shops and cafés.
• Tipping. It’s not expected.
• Weather. Early September is warm and dry, with days around 80°F and evenings sometimes dipping to the high 50s. Bring a layer for the night.
• Shoes. Hill towns mean cobblestones and slopes, and the vineyard means gravel. Pack something you can dance in on uneven ground.

Make a week of it

• Florence. The Duomo, the Uffizi and the best gelato debates in Italy. We were first through the Uffizi doors one morning and had the Birth of Venus all to ourselves before running for our train. Don’t miss sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo.
• Rome. Two hours south. Ancient ruins, long dinners and endless sights. It’s home to our favorite restaurant in the world, Osteria da Fortunata, where Italian grandmas make the pasta by hand.
• Lake Como. About an hour north of Milan by train. Lakeside villages, ferries between them and long lunches by the water. We rented a Vespa and circled the lake as the sun set.
• The coast. Head west to the Tuscan coast, or keep going south to the Amalfi Coast or north to the Cinque Terre, where we went snorkeling under the sun.
• Beyond Italy. Once you’ve crossed the ocean, the rest of Europe is close. Greece, France and Spain are each a short flight from Rome, so the Greek islands, Paris or Barcelona can easily join the tour.