Dario & Irina's Guide To Italy
Flying
It is recommended that you fly to Florence, with the second alternative being Rome or Pisa. Car rental it is advised that you reserve a car prior to arriving. Cars may be picked up at airports.
Reaching the Monastery – Difficult To Find
Do the following get on autostrata a -Going south from Florence or Pisa and north from Rome. exit at Val di Chiana exit. after paying toll turn immediately to the right and follow signs to Siena. Take 4 lane highway towards Siena. pass the Sinalunga exit and take the following exit at Rigomagno. Go 1 km. and cross the train tracks. You will see bar Trombetta ahead of you. stop there and telephone Massimo at 320 882 1599. He will meet you in front of the bar and lead you to the monastery. Make sure you pay close attention to the route so you don’t get lost when you do it yourself.
Arrival
Arriving at monastery Massimo or Irina will show you to your apartment and help with luggage.
You may fully use the grounds and pool area. there is table tennis, a small gym and 2 bicycles. There is also an outdoor kitchen & dining area available. Apartment is cleaned once a week. however, towels will be changed once during your stay (if staying a full week). Apartment kitchen water in stainless steel vessel is potable don’t consume water from faucets. Kitchen is equipped for making meals & coffee at home the bottle of wine on the dining room table is for your pleasure. Please wash your own dishes & leave kitchen clean.
Places & Wineries to Visit
Look at map of the area all villages marked in yellow are highly recommended as are roads marked in yellow. Several guide books can be found in the dining room. Please leave them upon departing or you must pay to repurchase them. They are everywhere. to taste one often needs a prior appointment. To buy stop at any winery
Castello delle Serre is a beautiful Castle partly owned by me 5 miles from the monastery in a beautiful medieval town of Serre di Rapolano.
Address: Piazza xx Settembre, 1, 53040 Serre di Rapolano si, Italy
Phone:+39 0577 705018
Castello di Modanella is a beautiful medieval Castle about 7 miles from the Monastery with beautiful frescoes on the dining room walls where you will have a dinner.
Address: Località Modanella, 53040 Rapolano Terme si, Italy
Phone:+39 0577 704604
Castello di Gabbiano just south of Florence near Greve 055 821053 for appointment, although probably not necessary
Castle at Montalcino for Brunellos. Beautiful Castle in which to taste a variety of Brunellos
Antinori Winery in Passignano – Great Castle There
Lucignano – One of the most beautiful villages in Tuscany only 6 miles away from the Monastery.
Local Restaurants
Scroccazucche in Rigomagno.
Address: Via della stazione, 22, 53048 Rigomagno SI, Italy
Phone:+39 0577 663021
Locanda dell’Amorosa just outside Sinalunga. very good dining and beautiful restaurant in a former castle.
Address: Località l’amorosa, Sinalunga si, Italy
Phone:+39 0577 677211
Ristorante Pizzeria La Sirena in Sinalunga. Good fish restaurant and very inexpensive. (Closed Monday)
Address: via Grosseto, 9, 53048 Sinalunga SI, Italy
Phone:+39 0577 631020
Santo Rotto in Sinalunga – Good Tuscan Food (Closed Wednesdays)
Address: Via Trento, 173, 53048 Sinalunga SI, Italy
Phone:+39 0577 678608
Ristorante Belvedere in The Hills above Monte San Savino
Address: Localita’ bano, 223, 52048 Monte San Savino ar, Italy
Phone:+39 0575 844262
La Taverna Di San Giuseppe in Siena – In a 2,500 year old Estrucan Toomb
Address: via Giovanni Dupre, 132 Siena
Phone:+39 0577 42256
Osteria Da Divo in Siena – Behind Duomo to Left 100 Yards Great Restaurant in an Underground Estrucan Toomb
Address: via Franciosa, 25/29, 53100 Siena SI, Italy
Phone:+39 0577 286054
Ristorante Medioevo is perhaps the most beautiful restaurant in Assisi and one of the most beautiful in the world. the restaurant itself is located in roman ruins. the bathrooms below are in Etruscan ruins.
Address: via Arco dei Priori, 4, 06081 Assisi pg, Italy
Phone:+39 075 813068
Transportation
When it comes to getting around Tuscany, renting a car is the way to go. With so many little towns and countryside villages, renting a car is the best way to see the countryside and on your own schedule. Public transportation (particularly the buses), is decent, but if you don’t speak Italian, it can be frustrating to get info and timetables. Many towns are linked to the train lines but some (the ones you will want to visit with your rental car) are not. With a car, you can do your own thing without worrying about your language skills. That said, you will not need a car to get around once you are already in any Tuscan town; cities like Florence, Pisa, Siena, Lucca etc are small and walkable and easy to get to by train or bus. Driving to cities can often be problematic for those not familiar with the unusual traffic laws. We do recommend that you do not drive in cities.
Rental car agency we use in Europe is Auto Europe, see link below:
http://www.autoeurope.ca/go/re…
Going for a Swim?
Take the 4 lane road going towards Perugia and get off at Tuoro. go to Lake Trasimeno Beach. There you will find a restaurant, boats, beach chairs, etc. Take a boat to Isola Maggiore on the lake. You eat lunch or dinner on the island. Restaurants will bring you back to mainland after dinner in their own boats.
Market Days
Sinalunga has open air market on Tuesdays. You can buy good food and produce in the local supermarket.
Address: via Trento, 173, 53048 Sinalunga
Hours: Open 8:30 am – 1:00 pm
Siena has much bigger market near the fortress on Wednesdays, same time. consider taking the train from Rigomagno to Siena and back. it is difficult to park in Siena. do not try to drive to center of Siena. you will be ticketed. Village spring festivals every weekend numerous villages celebrate the advent of spring with a festival, often with food, wine, dancing and even a parade. Don’t miss at least 1.
If all else fails call Irina at 510 432 3520 or email Irina at irina@castellodiamorosa.com.
Have Fun!
