Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
bistecca alla fiorentina
(chargrilled T-bone steak)
,
which comes to the table in huge,
lightly seared and exceptionally flavoursome slabs. Lunch sittings are at 12.15pm and
2.15pm; dinner at 7.30pm and 9.15pm - book ahead.
TRADITIONAL ITALIAN
€€€
La Grotta
( 0578 75 74 79;
www.lagrottamontepulciano.it
;
Via San Biagio 15; meals €44, 6-course tasting menu
€48; 12.30-2.30pm & 7.30-10pm Thu-Tue, closed mid-Jan-mid-Mar)
Facing the High Renais-
sance Tempio di San Biagio on the road to Chiusi, La Grotta has elegant dining rooms and
a gorgeous courtyard garden that's perfect for summer dining. The food is traditional with
a modern twist or two, and service is exemplary. A hint: don't skip dessert.
Information
Tourist office
( 0578 75 73 41;
www.prolocomontepulciano.it
;
Piazza Don Minzoni 1;
9.30am-12.30pm & 3-7pm Mon-Sat, 9am-1pm Sun Easter-Sep, 9.30am-12.30pm & 3-6pm Mon-Sat,
9.30am-12.30pm Sun Oct-Easter)
Reserves accommodation, offers internet access (€3.50 per
hour), supplies maps of the town, rents mountain bikes (per hour/day €2.50/15) and sells
bus and train tickets (commission applies for train tickets).
Getting There & Around
BUS
The bus station is next to Car Park No 5. Siena Mobilità runs four buses daily between Si-
ena and Montepulciano (€6.60, one hour) stopping at Pienza (€2.50) en route. There are
three services per day to/from Florence (€11.20, 90 minutes).
Regular buses connect with Chiusi-Chianciano Terme (€3.40, 40 minutes), from where
you can catch a train to Florence (€12.50, two hours, frequent) via Arezzo (€6.40, 50
minutes).
CAR & MOTORCYCLE
Coming from Florence, take the Valdichiana exit off the A1 (direction Bettolle-Sinalunga)
and then follow the signs; from Siena, take the Siena-Bettolle-Perugia autostrada.
A 24-hour ZTL applies in the historic centre between May and September; in October
and April it applies from 8am to 8pm, and from November to March it applies from 8am
to 5pm. Your hotel can usually supply a permit. The most convenient car park is at Piazza
Don Minzoni (€1.30 per hour April to October, free November to March), from where
minibuses (€1) weave their way up the hill to Piazza Grande.
