Links to Other Sites of Interest
Things to help with planning your trip:
The Department of State offers up-to-date travel information on any country in the world, on matters such as health conditions, unusual currency and entry regulations, crime and security conditions, etc. at http://www.travel.state.gov
There are several weather sites that provide forecasts for Italy, including Florence and Siena; however, because Tuscany is so hilly, the weather that one experiences on one side of the hill may be very different from the weather on the other side. http://www.accuweather.com; http://www.weatherplanner.com; http://www.intellicast.com; http://www.meteofocus.it/en/CLIMATOLOGIA/index.aspx
Different travel insurance programs can be compared and insurance purchased at http://www.insuremytrip.com or at http://www.quotewright.com.
There are several car rental companies operating in Italy, among which are the following: http://www.autoeurope.com; http://www.avis.com; http://www.kemwel.com
General information about Italy can be found on several websites, including: http://www.italiantourism.com; http://www.enit.it; and http://www.traveleurope.it/italy/. For specific information about Tuscany, http://www.regione.toscana.it For specific information about the original towns of Chianti, http://www.chiantistorico.com.
Things to do near Le Miccine:
The Palio is a bareback horse race run twice yearly in Siena (July 2 and August 14). A contest among the contrade (similar to Parishes), the race itself takes only 90 seconds, but the pomp and circumstance leading up to the race lasts for weeks. http://www.ilpalio.org/palioenglish.htm
Enjoy a cooking lesson in an authentic Italian kitchen not far from Le Miccine. Simonetta and Paola de' Mari teach one- to five-day courses, in English, in their farmhouse kitchen. http://www.welcometuscany.com
Take in the museums in Florence without having to wait in all the lines. Book reservations at http://www.weekendafirenze.com
See the only cashmere goat herd in Italy at La Penisola, a farm near Le Miccine, and purchase luscious soaps, lotions, and creams made from cashmere goat milk or beautiful scarves and blankets woven from their cashmere. http://www.chianticashmere.com
Golf enthusiasts can check out the closest links at http://www.ecs.net/golf/Italy/Toscana/clubs.html