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[scaffrey]

Need advice!! I've never been to Italy before and I am moving to Florence for 6 months next year with my husband and 2 kids. We want to be close to Firenze, but not in the center of a big city. We'd prefer a smaller renaissance-like town with markets and restaurants and still within a 20 minute drive to Firenze. Any suggestions??

[suz123nj]

Need advice!! I've never been to Italy before and I am moving to Florence for 6 months next year with my husband and 2 kids. We want to be close to Firenze, but not in the center of a big city. We'd prefer a smaller renaissance-like town with markets and restaurants and still within a 20 minute drive to Firenze. Any suggestions??

Your question is rather broad but here are a couple ideas.

I have always like the towns north in the Mugello region. Look at San Piero a Sieve, Scarperia. I think it is about 16 miles or so from Florence.

If it is too far . Look at the municipality of Fiesole there are little villages within like Compiobbu also look at Bagno a ripoli to the east.

What do you want to rent ? Are you willing to travel by train into city? What are your expectations?

Suzan

[scaffrey]

Suzan--
Thank you so much for the tips! We will have a car, but would prefer to take the train when available. We are thinking a self-catering villa would be most ideal for us and our 2 kids. We are also looking into places in Tuscany, and more specifically chianti, if you have any other recommendations

[scaffrey]

Suzan--
Thank you so much for the tips! We will have a car, but would prefer to take the train when available. We are thinking a self-catering villa would be most ideal for us and our 2 kids. We are also looking into places in Tuscany, and more specifically chianti, if you have any other recommendations

Also... What our expectaions of our trip is a great question. We would love to rent a place close to a smaller, picturesque village where we can make daily trips to for groceries, cafes, etc. We plan to do short weekend trips all over Italy to visit my husbands relatives and see different parts of the country. We plan on cooking many meals at our place with the local products as we LOVE to cook. We have a slow place, relaxing mentality when we vacaction and want to really soak up the culture. Wine is also a very important part as we plan on doing tours through chianti and other wine regions. Any advice is greatly appreciated. It seems as though you know your way around the country

[suz123nj]

Will put my head onto this and get back to you. Just finished with a wedding for my daughter and a trip down to florida for the winter. Email be at suzanroll@gmail.com amd I will get to you quicker.
Suzan