Day Trips around Villa Sant'Andrea
Renting an automobile makes life fun around Villa Sant'Andrea. Directions are marked well, and with a GPS you can go anywhere.
Rome-2 hours Florence-1 hour and 30 minutes Siena-1 hour Montepulciano-40 minutes Wine Region of Montalcino- 1hour Assisi-30 minutes Arezzo-30 minutes The Prada Outlet store (yes!)-1 hour The Outlet Mall of Gucci, Armani, Zegna, and more-1 hour, 20 minutes
A great place to enter Italy. Stay a few days or commute by train within 2 hours.
With two days to spend in
The other day visiting the Colosseum, The Roman Forum, the Pantheon, the Fountain of Trevi, Piazza Navonna, Piazza del Popolo, Spanish Steps, and if time allows, the Catacombs and Villa Borghese. For a strange and special place, see the Cimiterio dei Capuccini on Via Veneto across the entrance to the subway stop. A private tour for these areas could be very useful and save you lots of time trying to find the places yourself.
Vantage World Travel can arrange this for you. 800 826 8268. Or send me the request and I will be very happy to arrange it for you.
e mail santandreacortona@yahoo.com
Free Audio download for your I pod (also for other cities).
Treasures of
Villa Sant'Andrea Recommended Restaurants
Enoteca Corsi (area of Largo
Settimio al Pantheon (near the Pantheon) Via delle Colonnelle 14 Telephone 06 678 9651 Closed Sunday and Monday
If you overnight near the
Orvieto
If driving from
Villa Sant'Andrea Recommended Restaurants in Orvieto
La Volpe e L’Uva Via Ripa Corsica 1 Telephone 0763 341612 Closed Mondays, October-March also closed Tuesdays.
Arrive by train. Train Schedules Departure city from or to Villa Sant'Andrea is Terontola di Cortona, arrival station in the center of Florence is "
When checking the train schedules remember: Dates are written day first, then month, then year. Hours are written in military time, example 1:00 pm is 13:00.
Download audio guides for Florence for your I Pod
Recommended in Florence:
Florence Cathedral, the Duomo and the Baptistry Ponte Vecchio Piazza della Signoria Church of
Galleria dell’Academia (Michelangelo's "David") Tickets
Villa Sant'Andrea Recommended Restaurants in
Il Cibreo Via de’Macci 114 Tel. 055 2341100 Closed Sunday and Monday No credit cards accepted
Trattoria Mario Via della Rosina, 2 r Tel. 055 218 550 Closed Sundays and August. Near the
Del Fagioli Trattoria Corso de' Tintori 47 R Near Piazza Santa Croce Tel. 055 244285 Closed Saturday and Sunday Open: lunch and dinner Closed the month of August Prices: 22-25 euros, wine excluded No credit cards
Da Burde Trattoria Via Pistoiese 6 R-154 N Tel. 055 317206 Closed Sunday Open: lunch, dinner if you reserve Prices: 25-30 euros, wine excluded All credit cards, Bancomat
Tre Soldi Trattoria Via D'Annunzio 4 R-A Tel. 055 679366 Closed Friday evening and Saturday Open: lunch and dinner Holidays: August Prices: 30-35 euros, wine excluded All credit cards
Antinori Wine Bar Marchesi Antinori
Piazza degli Antinori, 3
50123
Tel. +39.055.23595
E-mail antinori@antinori.it
Siena
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, arrive by car. Visit the Duomo, begun in the 12th c. and designed in black and white marble, and the Piazza del Campo, the shell shaped square famous for hosting the Palio horse races in the summer. Save time for exploring the city on your own with lunch at a typical restaurant.
Villa Sant'Andrea Recommended Restaurants in Siena:
Osteria le Logge
Via del Porrione, 33
53100 Siena
Tel. 0577 48013
Fax 0577 224797
E-mail:
lelogge@osterialelogge.it
Castelvecchio Via Castelvecchio, 65 Tel. 0577 495 586, closed Tuesdays.
Hosteria il Cassoccio Via
La Taverna del Capitano Via del Capitano, 8 Tel. 0577 288 094 Closed Tuesdays.
Assisi
Arrive by car, easy 40 min. drive. Follow the highway to
See the
Villa Sant'Andrea Recommended Restaurants in Assisi:
La Piazetta dell’Erba Via San Gabriele dell’Addolorata, 15 b, Tel. 075 815352, Closed Mondays.
Pallotta, Via San Rufino 4 Tel. 075 812307 or 812649, Closed Tuesdays. Specialties are Faraona (Guinea Fowl) and Piccione (Dove).
On the way to or from the Villa Sant'Andrea driving to
Lo Spedilicchio, (Hotel and Restaurant), Piazza Bruno Buozzi, 3 Ospedalicchio di Bastia Umbra (PG) Tel. & Fax: 075.8010323 - info@lospedalicchio.it S.S. 75 « Centrale Umbra » direction Assisi – exit Ospedalicchio SS 147 Assisana (km 1,5).
Scenic Drive to the Wine Country
Pienza, Bagno Vignoni, Sant’Antimo, Montalcino, Montepulciano
Follow a good map and the street signs to the various cities for an easy and beautiful day in
Arrive by car and drive through the Val d’Orcia towards the wine region of Montalcino, famous for the “Brunello” red wines, and visit a winery for a tour and a wine tasting. There are hundreds of wineries, but we find Poggio Antico small and intimate. Make reservations with Paola before hand.
Depart the villa and bear left on to the paved road and pass the soccer field. Turn right again at stop sign (SS75) and again right at the next stop sign (SS71). At the next left turn between the two high walls towards the sign directing you towards the A-1 autostrade and to Pietraia. Continue on this road until you arrive to the entrance to the highway and go in the direction of
Pienza
Pienza is famous for it’s Pecorino Cheeses, some are freshly made and others aged. They also are famous for their almond cantucci and Vin Santo (a dessert wine and biscuit that is dipped in the Vin Santo). The city center of Pienza has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There is an amazing view of the valley behind the main church in the city center. Many of the iron works in the villa were hand made by the artisan Biagiotti, a shop you will find in Pienza.
After Pienza continue towards Montalcino, but if time allows make a 15 min. detour at the crossroads of the Via Cassia to Bagno Vignoni where the thermal waters were frequented by the Romans, a very picturesque small town with easy parking. The Via Cassia originally was one of the eight main ancient Roman Roads still in use today. Return to the Via Cassia and follow the signs to Montalcino.
Then drive past Montalcino (better before the winery visit) and turn to the left just at the city of
After the spiritual visit, return towards Montalcino. At the top of the hill of Montalcino you will see the fortress of the city on the right and you will find yourself in an intersection. Take the road which is marked for
Depart Montalcino and return by the same road as you arrived going towards Pienza. Pass Pienza and continue on the road S 146 but instead of returning past Torrita di Siena bear to the right at the crossroad and go towards Montepulciano. As you approach the city you will turn to the left towards the city center. Just before the city center is a small road to take on the left towards the church San Biagio. One of our favorite restaurants is located just across the street from this picturesque church, La Grotta. Try the wine of this region called the Nobile di Montepulciano as recommended by your server, and compare it to the wines of Montalcino which you tried earlier in the day.
Villa Sant'Andrea Recommended Restaurants:
Ristorante La Grotta One of my favorite places, located across the street from the
If closed try the Osteria Borgo Buio, Via di Borgo Buio, 10, telephone 0578 717497, closed Thursdays. One of their specialties is roast pork with wild fennel.
On the return to the villa stop at the city center of Montepulciano, a medieval and renaissance hill town of exceptional beauty. Continue from Montepulciano towards Valiano and then bear right towards Pietraia. Pass Pietraia and cross over the highway until you come to the stop sign at the end of the road. Turn right (SS71) and then left at the next street on the road towards Tuoro (SS 75) and next left towards Farinaio and Villa Sant'Andrea.
Arezzo
Arrive by car or train, 30-45 min. Train Schedules Departure city from the villa Terontola di Cortona, arrival city
There is an antique fair held every first weekend of the month which is worth a visit.
The Main sites in
Villa Sant'Andrea Restaurant Recommendations:
Antica Trattoria Da Guido Via Madonna del Prato, 85 Tel. 0575 23760 Closed Sunday, except the first Sunday of the month Open lunch and dinner Holidays: second and third week of August Prices: 25-30 euros, wine excluded All credit cards. Once you have admired the frescoes by Piero della Francesca inside the
Cassa Volpi Via Simone Martini Tel. 0575 354 364 Closed Wed. and Sat. at lunch Near the Stadio Communale and under the Castelsecco on the walls of the acropolis. Recommended the Bistecca Fiorentina of Chianina beef.
La Torre di Gnicche Wine Bar and restaurant, Piaggia San Martino, 8, Tel 0575 352035, Closed Wed. Located under the vaults of an ancient palace facing the piazza Vasari a short distance from the
A Day at the Spa
Spa
Fonteverde, a Spa of wellbeing amidst the Sienese hills, with rich thermal spring waters full of therapeutic gifts for the body discovered by the ancient Etruscans. Bathe in warm, restoring pools, and feel the massage of water jets that generate both tone and energy.
Or choose from among the wide range of exclusive treatments created by our team of specialists and designed to unite the precious properties of thermal spa waters with manual techniques, physiotherapy and science. Complete health and beauty spa experiences for face and body: whether the aesthetic touch or entire strategies for balance and wellbeing.
Drive from Villa Sant'Andrea about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Designer Outlet Malls
Designer Outlet Malls
Prada, Miu Miu and more.
Directions from Villa Sant’Andrea to the “Prada Outlet,” or the "Space Outlet" (more or less). Tel. 055 919 6528
Exit the villa on the gravel road and after passing the soccer field on the right, at the stop sign turn to the right. At next intersection merge to the left on to the road SS 71. Very shortly, you will see a sign to Pietraia and turn a sharp left in between the narrow stone walls. There is also a sign here to the A-1. Follow this road about 1-2 miles and exit on to the highway towards Firenze (
Gucci, Armani, Zegna, Emanuel Ungaro, Fendi, Salvatore Ferragamo, Yves St. Laurent, Loro Piano, and much more.
Directions:Exit the villa on the gravel road and after passing the soccer field on the right, at the stop sign turn to the right. At next intersection, merge to the left on to the road SS 71. Very shortly, you will see a sign to Pietraia and turn a sharp left in between the narrow stone walls. There is also a sign here to the A-1. Follow this road about 1-2 miles and exit on to the highway towards Firenze (