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Tuscany for summer 2012


Guest JudgeMental

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Guest JudgeMental
Posted

We love Italy, end up every year at our favourite campsite, Fornella on Lake Garda. Last year we toured Croatia first, this year wife really wants to go to Tuscany....

 

A friend has just returned from San Giaginamo and it looks wonderful.......I have been looking around, and so far worth visiting is: Sienna - San Giaginamo - Montepulciano - Sarteano

 

Please other recommendations and campsites!

 

Especially somewhere on the coast, as I MUST have some sea swimming for 5 days at least, or else I dont feel like I have been away:-D

Posted

We went to Montepulchiano in 2009 and stayed at the "Aire" just ouside the walled part 10 euros for a glorified car park but very convenient. We also went to Civitella de Lago in Umbria, a most beautiful unspoiled village near Orvietto in Umbria and stayed at Camping Il Falcone, Umbria where the owner was very friendly and helpful.

http://www.campingilfalcone.com/english.htm. Also in Umbria was Lake Trasimeno another lovely place quite near the border with Tuscany.

Sienna is beautiful and much more compact than Florence. We stayed at Camping Siena Colleverde who say :-

" the ONLY CAMPSITE IN SIENA and is in a great location. We are 1km from the train station, and only 2.5km from the Historical Centre. Not only is it so close to the City Centre, but it also has a great view of the city, and just behind it are the Chianti hills, a great place to relax!" It is very convenient with a good bus service into the centre" Not cheap though but worth it.

Last year we went to Lake Iseo. Probably just as pretty as Garda but much less busy. Any of the lakeside sites near the village are OK (there are three) and we paid extra for a pitch on the Lakeside (bliss!) No trips this year for personal reasons and Van sold but we have ordered a new Fifer M for next year so your posts about downsizing have been followed with interest.

Have a great trip.

Posted

We stayed at 'Camping Listro' at Castiglione del Lago this year. Brilliant pitch 30ft from the edge of the lake, 10-15 minute walk into town - and quiet - could have been out of season not mid-August !

 

You can swim in the lake which is quite shallow. Facilities are quite basic but everything you need and it's not expensive.

 

http://www.listro-camping.co.uk/

 

David

Posted

You may know it already, but Fattore Amico ("Friendly Farmer") is the Italian version of France Passion.

 

They offer free stopovers for one night only at around 380 farms, vineyards and the like, all over Italy. In the 2011 edition of their guide 37 stopovers were in the Tuscany region.

 

Their site is in English as well as Italian: http://www.fattoreamico.it

 

One thing I found out when I met up this summer with Glauco Santagostino, the founder and president of Fattore Amico is that when they are away on holiday, they stop taking orders and sending guide books out! So if you're interested, place an order before the start of August!

 

Steve

 

 

Posted

Hi Judge

We stayed at camping Pappasole, on the coast, near Follonica last year. It's no 2058 in the ACSI book. Absolutely superb campsite with great facilities, shops and a very reasonably priced restaurant. They have protective netting over pitches to provide some shade if needed. The private beach is a very short walk away and is excellent. We stayed for 3 nights and could have stayed many more, an absolute gem

Bob

  • 3 months later...
Guest JudgeMental
Posted
Some more recommendations appreciated and beach side sites as well please...
Posted
Eh, you wanna go Toscania an you wanna da beach? You binna da philistinas or somet'in? Toscania isa da cultura, notta da beach! You go Firenze, Pistoia, Pisa, Prato, Poggibonsi, Lucca, Arezzo, Cortona, an you looka da cultura. You Hinglish, watta you no? You donta know nothing! :-D Deres a da campsites hall alonga da coast, but dere ainta da cultura ona da beach. Deres justa da bigga senioras. For you, isa da no good. Capiche?
Guest JudgeMental
Posted
Brian Kirby - 2012-01-04 7:29 PM

 

Eh, you wanna go Toscania an you wanna da beach? You binna da philistinas or somet'in? Toscania isa da cultura, notta da beach! You go Firenze, Pistoia, Pisa, Prato, Poggibonsi, Lucca, Arezzo, Cortona, an you looka da cultura. You Hinglish, watta you no? You donta know nothing! :-D Deres a da campsites hall alonga da coast, but dere ainta da cultura ona da beach. Deres justa da bigga senioras. For you, isa da no good. Capiche?

 

wata de matter with u! U knowa de me...High brow and dens of iniquity all in ze sames holidaz.. Mama mia! All culture bad for a man, even for Genralisimo Kirbys

Posted

Hi Judge

 

Pisa is a very very nice place indeed, lots to see.

Lucca is a very old walled town, steeped in history, few beautiful buildings.

This is where banking/money started hence moneys nickname "Filthy Lucca"

Just up the road is Vinci where the "Leonardo" came from, fasinating museum and nice town

 

Now be warned

Stay on the motorways, they are cheap and it saves you having to renew your entire suspension.

  • 4 months later...
Guest JudgeMental
Posted
Thougt I would bump this, to see if anymore info and advice around ........:-D
Posted
JudgeMental - 2012-05-27 11:40 AM

 

Thougt I would bump this, to see if anymore info and advice around ........:-D

 

Good idea. I was going to cut across Italy from Slovenia and Venice to Turin and then over the Alps into France but taking in Florence, Siena and Pisa only adds 200 miles so maybe its worth a peek?

 

Will Tuscany be busy in August or do most folk head for the lakes and coasts?

Guest JudgeMental
Posted
not much of a diversion for you so probably worth it......Being inland I am hoping no need to book sites in advance and a fair few aires around area. We may be crossing from Croatia (see other thread) which makes Umbria/Tuscany very convenient for route up to Lake Garda
Posted
Brian Kirby - 2012-05-27 5:21 PM

 

Barryd999 - 2012-05-27 1:36 PM......................Will Tuscany be busy in August or do most folk head for the lakes and coasts?

Er, is the Pope Catholic?

 

We found certain parts of southern France last year in August were never too busy and it was easy to escape the crowds. Somebody told me that the italians tend to head for the coast or the lakes or round to Croatia. I suppose the likes of Florence, Pisa and Siena are always going to be busy though. Im counting on Venice being actually quieter based on the fact that every guide you read tells you to go early or late summer. Well we have to be somewhere I suppose.

Guest JudgeMental
Posted

we always holiday high summer because wife works in education...so have no choice. we have never had a problem.

 

the Italians do invade Croatia in August, we did not find it intolerable but Islands in south in July far cleaner sea and more pleasant!.

 

In Venice last August also no problems either.....Or on our favourite lake Garda. Most who make a fuss about a "Summer" holiday dont actually seem to have experienced one for a while!

 

We plan well ahead normally for popular spots, and site at lake Garda gets booked up by Christmas *-) , For last year and a touring itinerary we booked nothing and had no problems. Recommend Brian's recommendation for site near Venice Camping Serenissima :-D

 

http://www.campingserenissima.com/

Posted
JudgeMental - 2012-05-27 6:31 PM

 

we always holiday high summer because wife works in education...so have no choice. we have never had a problem.

 

the Italians do invade Croatia in August, we did not find it intolerable but Islands in south in July far cleaner sea and more pleasant!.

 

In Venice last August also no problems either.....Or on our favourite lake Garda. Most who make a fuss about a "Summer" holiday dont actually seem to have experienced one for a while!

 

We plan well ahead normally for popular spots, and site at lake Garda gets booked up by Christmas *-) , For last year and a touring itinerary we booked nothing and had no problems. Recommend Brian's recommendation for site near Venice Camping Serenissima :-D

 

http://www.campingserenissima.com/

 

Not sure I will get as far south as Croatia but you never know we might meet up in ITaly!!! 8-)

 

Wont be staying on campsites though!

Guest JudgeMental
Posted

The wife has taken redundancy so that means we can head of early! So its Slovenia/Croatia for some Island hopping, and across on Zadar - Anacona ferry into Umbra and up through Tuscany...

 

Will not be visiting Tuscan coast, as will have enough beach time in Croatia. So any more recommendations for Tuscany welcome, towns, beauty spots, sites, Aires etc....

  • 4 weeks later...
Guest JudgeMental
Posted

OK the plan is now in reverse and all booked, tunnel amended etc... going august/September instead of our usual July/August

 

starting at lake Garda - down to Tuscany - Umbria - overnight ferry Anacona to Zadear in Croatia - Pitvick lakes - Island hopping our way up

 

For Tuscany its so far: Lake Garda - Florence - San Giaginamo - Sienna - Montepulciano - Sarteano - lake Trasimeno - Puglia - anacona (for ferry)

 

I have to fine tune this with some of the recommndations on this thread...Now not concerned re beach in Tuscany as we will have plenty of that in Crotia..

 

Barry, we are at Lake Garda for 10 days and heading down to Tuscany 15th August, for about 10 days before we cross to Croatia

 

  • 2 months later...
Guest JudgeMental
Posted

So far so good! :-D

 

We are at Assisi in Umbria and catching ferry to Split Croatia tomorrow evening. About at the half way point and it has been a wonderful trip so far. Tuscany is stunning, lots of hills to walk up when visiting sites but well worth it..every corner another photo opportunity. The heat wave has been pushing the temps up over 40 not so welcome, so sightseeing/cycling either morning or evening and afternoons spent reading by the pool..Temps coming back down the early 30's which are perfect....

 

The idea was to use Aires to save money until ACSI card kicks in, but it has been far to hot for that! you really need a proper site in these temps with all the facilities.

 

Anyway thats it for now TTFN :D

Posted
JudgeMental - 2012-08-25 8:43 AM

 

So far so good! :-D

 

We are at Assisi in Umbria and catching ferry to Split Croatia tomorrow evening. About at the half way point and it has been a wonderful trip so far.

The idea was to use Aires to save money until ACSI card kicks in, but it has been far to hot for that! you really need a proper site in these temps with all the facilities.

 

Anyway thats it for now TTFN :D

Hi there; how much longer are you away? in Croatia?

 

We were planning to set off to Croatia in mid to late August, for a 6 week trip with about 4 weeks split between several beach locations.

We've changed our plans slightly to accomodate our daughter who is writing up her phd, and being pampered a little whilst doing it, at home, Now setting of in about 10 days time.

So very interested in how you fare in the next 10 days or so.

 

Weather, as far as 10 day forecasts go is getting a bit wetter and cooler in Croatia it seems.

 

Still reckon it's worthwhile for a pre-Christmas break, and a few sea swims.

 

Have a good stay, hope to hear more,

regards

alan b

 

Guest JudgeMental
Posted
Brian Kirby - 2012-08-25 11:22 AM

 

Are you at Camping Fontemaggio, with the stunning view over the valley?

 

 

No we were in camping Assisi three clicks south of town, lovely bike ride in. Found the whole place very moving.......in the presence of real goodness.

 

Spent a night on a free sosta on beach, north of Ancona. Water so warm! Crossing last night good, VIP accommodation fine....Arrived Split seven thirty and parked right outside Diacleatians? Palace in car park, would not do that in a CB! So spent the morning looking around. Now in camping Rojec on tiny Trogir island. Temps around 29 which is fine but I prefer early 30's. Sea water crystal clear but much colder then

Italy!!!

 

Will hire boat for a day and spend 4 days here cycling and sightseeing.....then trundle up coast island hopping. Have a few weeks here then heading for home.......

 

Adios amigos :D

Guest JudgeMental
Posted
Syd - 2012-08-27 5:28 PM

 

 

On your way home call around into Spain as we will be there from 12 September, would like to meet up again

 

 

Hi Syd

 

Need to get home but might come down beginning of October......how long you staying for ?

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