ITALY Readers's Tips - We had a short 2night stay in Taormina in early June 2005.We chose a hotel in the center of Taormina, the Villa Belvedere, and were extremely pleased with our choice for many reasons. The Hotel Sole Castello is not located in the center but some distance away from it (perhaps walkable but a bit of a hike.I noticed the reviews on TripAdvisor are not very favorable.For those reasons, I wouldn't stay there. The location of the Hotel Mediterranee is much better and so are the reviews on TripAdvisor.

We're in Florence in March 2007 and would like to take a day trip via train(if possible.I've heard great things about Siena and great things about Lucca.We're not into shopping and glamour.More into culture, people, architecture, and art. What's your favorite and why Any other suggestions for a train ride for a day gquick, The bus is better to Siena http://www.ga./ita/not/sita.m it is quicker, cheaper, and lets you off in Siena instead of the train station about 2 kilometers from the center.

Hi; We just returned from a week driving in Tuscany. I suggest you skip Lucca and go to Siena.y suggestion is only based on my feeling and someone else may tell you differently.ena is exciting,colorful and we could have spent more time there.Ead up on the Flag festival. even brought a flag home for a souvenir.hey sell the flags in the square.e did visit Lucca also but perhaps we were tired and ready to come home as it was our last place to visit.e preferred Siena. As for the train.e stayed 2 nights in Empoli which is 25 min.ain ride from Florence.e were packed on the train like sardines and it was very hot.w you are going in March so it should be cooler with hopefully less tourists.here were so many tourists all over and that was less than 2 wks ago when we were there. know nothing about the bus ride.e purchased our train ticket for Florence at the station 3 minutes before the train departed.n Florence,we walked and saw everything and then even went up to Fiesole,a small village by city bus for a nice lunch away from the millions of tourists. came back to our FarmStay in Empoli just before dark so we could drive back out in the country where we were staying.We had a rental car.inding parking places in all of the Tuscany cities was a challenge and a waste of our time.an Gimignano was wonderful and if you can try to visit there too.ou can do San G and Siena in one day.e did.e actually drove Pisa to Montepulciano in one day seeing San G and Siena.he bus trips do those 2 places also.Hope I have helped some. Gloria

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