Day trip from Florence

Nestled in the beauty of Tuscany, Florence rules supreme - it has the most blockbuster attractions of any of the Tuscan cities. However, it is also beautifully situated for day trips and easily connected by train or bus to many other cities and towns in the region. I want to soak up Florence for a few days, but I would like to use one day to venture out and about in Tuscany exploring the region.

My rough plan would be to bundle a few stops on one trip through the region hitting Siena, Montalcino and Montepulciano. According to google maps it is a 4 hour round trip drive from Florence through all three town and back again. I think the morning in Siena with lunch, stop in Montalcino for an afternoon Brunello wine tour, then on to Montepulciano for late afternoon wandering with dinner (maybe at one of these legendary steak restaurants) and back to Florence a little after sunset. Yes, I already researched what time the sun will set - around 8pm if you are curious. If we fall in love with Siena we stay longer and skip one of the later towns.

I was thinking Sunday (museums are free on the first Sunday of the month and may be crowded) or Monday (practically all museums are closed). Tuesday morning we transfer to Rome on the train. Linda is working on a lead for a driver who can do this for us for the day so we wouldn't have to worry about bus transfers between cities and so that we can indulge in the world's best red wine. Thanks Linda!

Here is my dorky psuedo-celebrity crush, Rick Steves, and his video on side trips from Florence which shows Siena and Chianti wine country. https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/video/tv-show/siena-tuscany-wine-country And this one features Montepulciano: https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/video/tv-show/tuscany-dolce-vita

Breathtaking Montepulciano