Tastes & Textiles: Wine to Dye For
Travel planning
If you're flying from outside Europe, I suggest you arrive a couple of days early to recover from jet lag so you can fully enjoy your time with us. If you want to arrive in Pistoia a day or two early, I can ask the hotel whether you can have your room before the tour starts (at your own expense).
If you're flying from outside Europe, I suggest you arrive a couple of days early to recover from jet lag so you can fully enjoy your time with us. If you want to arrive in Pistoia a day or two early, I can ask the hotel whether you can have your room before the tour starts (at your own expense).
Travel: meeting point on first day of tour at 4 pm
The official meeting point is the hotel where we're staying:
Palazzo Puccini
Vicolo Malconsiglio, 4
Pistoia
Google maplink
Check-in time is from 4 pm, but I'll try to arrange an earlier time if you need to arrive earlier.
Please don't arrive later than 4.30 pm to give yourself time to unpack and rest before our introduction and aperitivo at 6 pm.
The official meeting point is the hotel where we're staying:
Palazzo Puccini
Vicolo Malconsiglio, 4
Pistoia
Google maplink
Check-in time is from 4 pm, but I'll try to arrange an earlier time if you need to arrive earlier.
Please don't arrive later than 4.30 pm to give yourself time to unpack and rest before our introduction and aperitivo at 6 pm.
How to get there from Florence Airport
Florence airport does not have a train station. Here are various ways to get to Palazzo Puccini in Pistoia.
Florence airport does not have a train station. Here are various ways to get to Palazzo Puccini in Pistoia.
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Without going into central Florence (most economical)
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Via Santa Maria Novella train station, Florence (next most economical)
Least hassle
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How to get there from central Florence
There are direct trains to Pistoia from Santa Maria Novella station in Florence which take between 33 and 51 minutes and cost EUR 5. You buy the ticket at a ticket machine at the station (don't forget to validate it at one of the machines on the platform). There's no point in buying it in advance, unless you’re coming by train from further away, in which case you can book the whole journey at the same time.
The best train is:
15.09 (3.09 pm) Depart Santa Maria Novella
15.42 (3.42 pm) Arrive Pistoia (NOT Pistoia Ovest)
You can take a taxi from the station (there's a taxi rank just outside the front door of the station) to the hotel. It's only a 5-minute drive; the fare is about 10 EUR. Or about 12 minutes on foot.
There are direct trains to Pistoia from Santa Maria Novella station in Florence which take between 33 and 51 minutes and cost EUR 5. You buy the ticket at a ticket machine at the station (don't forget to validate it at one of the machines on the platform). There's no point in buying it in advance, unless you’re coming by train from further away, in which case you can book the whole journey at the same time.
The best train is:
15.09 (3.09 pm) Depart Santa Maria Novella
15.42 (3.42 pm) Arrive Pistoia (NOT Pistoia Ovest)
You can take a taxi from the station (there's a taxi rank just outside the front door of the station) to the hotel. It's only a 5-minute drive; the fare is about 10 EUR. Or about 12 minutes on foot.
Travel: departure on last day of tour*
Please let me know your departure plans as soon as you know them so I can make sure my driver is prepared. At the end of the tour we will be staying near Pescia at Borgo La Torre. One transfer will be provided no earlier than 7.30 / 8.00 am either to Pescia train station (10 minutes from where we stay) or to Florence airport (40 minutes, but allow an hour). We drop off at Pescia station on the way to Florence airport.
*If you're coming to Sardinia with me, we'll leave on one day earlier and I'll arrange the transport for us to Pisa Airport.
Please let me know your departure plans as soon as you know them so I can make sure my driver is prepared. At the end of the tour we will be staying near Pescia at Borgo La Torre. One transfer will be provided no earlier than 7.30 / 8.00 am either to Pescia train station (10 minutes from where we stay) or to Florence airport (40 minutes, but allow an hour). We drop off at Pescia station on the way to Florence airport.
*If you're coming to Sardinia with me, we'll leave on one day earlier and I'll arrange the transport for us to Pisa Airport.
Weather & clothing
You’re probably wondering about the weather and what you should pack. It’s really difficult to advise, because the usual weather patterns have changed so much. In general, I expect it to be warm during the day (in the 70s–80s, probably higher) and cool at night (in the 50s–60s). I generally advise people to bring layers and comfortable shoes (sturdier than sandals, unless they’re sandals for hiking). Toiletries and hairdryers are provided.
There's an unheated swimming pool at Borgo La Torre (the second place we stay). At La Torre, there's a washing machine and dryer for the use of guests at €15 per laundry.
If you’d like to check the weather nearer your day of departure, here’s the website I use: https://www.ilmeteo.it/meteo/Pistoia. It’s Italian and is generally fairly accurate, but not more than 3 or 4 days in advance.
You’re probably wondering about the weather and what you should pack. It’s really difficult to advise, because the usual weather patterns have changed so much. In general, I expect it to be warm during the day (in the 70s–80s, probably higher) and cool at night (in the 50s–60s). I generally advise people to bring layers and comfortable shoes (sturdier than sandals, unless they’re sandals for hiking). Toiletries and hairdryers are provided.
There's an unheated swimming pool at Borgo La Torre (the second place we stay). At La Torre, there's a washing machine and dryer for the use of guests at €15 per laundry.
If you’d like to check the weather nearer your day of departure, here’s the website I use: https://www.ilmeteo.it/meteo/Pistoia. It’s Italian and is generally fairly accurate, but not more than 3 or 4 days in advance.
Cash
A few places don't take credit cards. There are ATMs everywhere. The safest way to travel is to bring a direct debit card with a PIN and to draw out small amounts at a time.
A few places don't take credit cards. There are ATMs everywhere. The safest way to travel is to bring a direct debit card with a PIN and to draw out small amounts at a time.
