Last part: Italian trip

This is the last post of our Oct. 2010 visit to Italian hill towns. Montepulciano, Pienza, Castiglione del Lago and Orvieto are covered below:



Montepulciano occupies a strategic hilltop and offers
great views of the countryside. The duomo’s unfinished façade casts a pall over the central piazza. The nearby Vino Nobile winery tour does raise the stature of the town noted for its red wine production.







Pienza lies only a few miles from Montepulciano,
and its small size is compensated by an attractive duomo
and adjacent papal palace. Easy-to-stroll streets make
for a pleasant visitor experience.








Castiglione del Lago, on Lago Trasimeno just inside Umbria
and almost touching Tuscany, provided an unexpected treat. The lakeside amenities, nearby ancient walled city and adjoining ramshackle fortress don’t make it into most major tour guidebooks. The lakeside amenities are geared to summer activities, so most establishments were closed by the time of our autumn visit. The small, walled town offers tempting shops, and accessible church, and luncheon spots overlooking the lake.





Orvieto is just a short diversion off the A-1 toll way between
Cortona and Rome. The side trip is highly recommended,
as the duomo’s exterior is simply magnificent. Shops and eateries abound along the streets.









How to get to the Italian hill towns:
Options abound for international flights to Rome, and most of our party took direct return flights between Chicago and Rome. Of course, you have options of flying to nearby Italian cities such as Florence and Milan.
Once in Italy it is easy to travel to major cities by train. If you don’t like the idea of driving in Rome, you can take the train to Arezzo and rent a car there for local trips. Rental cars are available at the airports, and U.S. companies such as Hertz offer their services in Italy.
A number of companies offer villa rentals, and their offerings can be viewed on the internet. We used a British-based company, Italian View Ltd., to secure our rental. You will have to pay a deposit to reserve the villa, and full payment is normally required prior to arrival. The company does have a local representative to help you with any questions, requests or assistance.