The gist of it is simple: our friend Angela Mancuso takes care of our place; she will be the one to meet you when you arrive, to let you in and give you the apartment keys. If what follows sounds complicated, it's only because I provide "contingency plans" in case there are difficulties getting in touch by phone, or some other form of miscommunication occurs.
First of all, Angela will be expecting a call from you when you get close enough to Citta Della Pieve to have a pretty good idea of your arrival time (NOTE: See below if you will NOT have a phone with you!). Angela's number is: 377 1584830. If she doesn't answer, hang up and try Peppe, her husband, who is her back-up. His number is: 340 1458895. IMPORTANT: these are the exact numbers you dial within Italy, on a phone on an Italian network. If you are using a U.S.-based phone, then I think that you must dial the US international access code + Italy country code first, i.e., 011 39, followed by the number above. By the way, both Angela and Peppe speak English, though Angela's is better. Over the phone, speak clearly and a little more slowly than normal.
Once you connect with one or the other of the Mancusos, you're almost there. They will suggest a place in the town center to meet, from where you'll walk together to the apartment.
If neither Angela nor Peppe answers the phone, call Angela back and leave her a voice mail. Tell her: a) who you are; b) your phone number; c) the time you expect to arrive in town; d) and that, if you don't hear from her first, you will be at Stefanini's waiting for her. Stefanini is a cafe/bar on a piazza across from the Cathedral (Duomo). It is a thirty-second walk from our place (see the map on the "Getting There" page). How do you find Stefanini's? Ask somebody -- better you ask someone who looks likes like a local rather than a northern European tourist. No problem if you don't speak any Italian: just say "STEHF-A-NEE-NEE?" and they will probably take you there.
I suggest if you're coming by rental car, whether or not you connect immediately with Angela/Peppe, that you park in one of the public, free lots (see the other map on the "Getting There" page), leave your luggage, and walk into the town center. Once you are in the apartment, you can deal with retrieving your bags from the car. This will be a lot more pleasant than schlepping your bags with you in town when you first arrive (driving is restricted in the center, and parking places are extremely limited).
IF you have no phone: we will either have to arrange a rendezvous ahead of time, or you need to borrow a phone from someone when you arrive. I recommend the latter (remember, people are generally very friendly here!). In any case, let Toby know ahead of time and we'll work it out.
First of all, Angela will be expecting a call from you when you get close enough to Citta Della Pieve to have a pretty good idea of your arrival time (NOTE: See below if you will NOT have a phone with you!). Angela's number is: 377 1584830. If she doesn't answer, hang up and try Peppe, her husband, who is her back-up. His number is: 340 1458895. IMPORTANT: these are the exact numbers you dial within Italy, on a phone on an Italian network. If you are using a U.S.-based phone, then I think that you must dial the US international access code + Italy country code first, i.e., 011 39, followed by the number above. By the way, both Angela and Peppe speak English, though Angela's is better. Over the phone, speak clearly and a little more slowly than normal.
Once you connect with one or the other of the Mancusos, you're almost there. They will suggest a place in the town center to meet, from where you'll walk together to the apartment.
If neither Angela nor Peppe answers the phone, call Angela back and leave her a voice mail. Tell her: a) who you are; b) your phone number; c) the time you expect to arrive in town; d) and that, if you don't hear from her first, you will be at Stefanini's waiting for her. Stefanini is a cafe/bar on a piazza across from the Cathedral (Duomo). It is a thirty-second walk from our place (see the map on the "Getting There" page). How do you find Stefanini's? Ask somebody -- better you ask someone who looks likes like a local rather than a northern European tourist. No problem if you don't speak any Italian: just say "STEHF-A-NEE-NEE?" and they will probably take you there.
I suggest if you're coming by rental car, whether or not you connect immediately with Angela/Peppe, that you park in one of the public, free lots (see the other map on the "Getting There" page), leave your luggage, and walk into the town center. Once you are in the apartment, you can deal with retrieving your bags from the car. This will be a lot more pleasant than schlepping your bags with you in town when you first arrive (driving is restricted in the center, and parking places are extremely limited).
IF you have no phone: we will either have to arrange a rendezvous ahead of time, or you need to borrow a phone from someone when you arrive. I recommend the latter (remember, people are generally very friendly here!). In any case, let Toby know ahead of time and we'll work it out.