ITALY Readers's Tips - You cannot drive into S., you have to leave the car down below and walk up, and back down, so that adds maybe a half hour or more to the visit.ut it is not a place where you need to allocate much time to get the gist and a few photographic memories, much of its charm is from the distance where you see the famous towers better than when you are in the narrow streets in town. I think an hour will do it if you are pushed for time, plus the walking up and back down. Hope this helps.

We were there last August and, including lunch, we may have spent 23 hrs there and felt we got the flavor of the place.It really is lovely, and the views are everything you expect from Tuscany. There was a parking lot just across the street from the main (upper gate.We managed to find a space fairly easily but we were there earlier in the day than you may be projecting.It was a waiting line to the parking lot as we were leaving but it might be worth the drive up the hill before you do the hike up and down. A warning about parking lots we paid the fee on the way to the car and then sat there a few minutes deciding our next route.When we got to the gate to leave it wouldn't work.Apparently, you have five minutes to exit the lot before you have to pay additional money. And a suggestion, if time isn't too pressing, take Road S2 instead of the Autostrada.We did it from Florence to San Gimignano on the way to Siena.Some of the small towns are so picturesque.If not S2 all the way, at least take it from San Gimignano to Siena, passing the walled city of Monteriggioni.http://www.stellitoscani.m/monteriggioni.m Toni It just crossed my mind that you mentioned getting food for dinner and breakfast, and the main street/lane through San Gimignano is lined with stores carrying all sorts of foods, wine, rolls, cheeses.You might be able to combine your sightseeing with grocery shopping. Toni

We just returned from our first extended trip to Italy and loved it.While there, we had a few potential tipping situations that were different from our experience and th guidebook advice. In Venice we passed lots of restaurants that offered the "Menu turistico," 20 Euro with "Service andamp; Cover included. No problem, we never ate there.The bill at most restaurants clearly included cover and service.After paying, if the service was good, I left one or two one euro coins as an extra tip. In Padua, we ate at an excellent restaurant where we got a wonderful meal.he name was La Pavana at 2 via Trieste.After eating, I was presented with a (very reasonable bill that showed a cover, but no service charge.I thought the waiter was a little surprised when I paid the bill and added about 18 percent.Did I breach etiquette

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