4 days in Tuscany

The Florence car rental question comes up every other week, so if you search previous pages in the Italy forum as well as in the Transportation forum, I'll bet you can find the answer you are looking for. There are locations from which to drive a car out of Florence without encountering a ZTL. My initial question, without knowing the reasons for your itinerary, is: why Florence to Siena back to Florence back to Siena? Are your first two nights' lodging already booked in Siena?

NanC,

I believe Kent posted a Map here recently of the Zona Traffico Limitato zones in Florence. It would be a VERY good idea to have a look at it (perhaps take a print-out?).

I'd suggest finding an town close to Florence and then taking the train into the city.

Cheers!

Nan, why rent a car to drive to Siena and then return to Florence? SITA has a non-stop express bus than runs between Florence and Siena several times a day. It's fast and not expensive. The bus stop is right at the city wall which is a closer than you can park your car.

The safe suggestion for renting a car in Florence is to rent at the airport. They will show you how to get onto the Autostrada. It's a pain but a lot safer than trying to exit Florence from a rental car company that is in a ZTL. By the time you see the sign and try and reverse, you'll be under a pile of Fiats and motorscooters.

It would seem to me to make more sense to stay at least Friday night in Florence. Do some touring when you arrive, have dinner, sleep there and then get up on Saturday do you planned touring in Florence without the drive from Siena. Then go to Siena.

If it weren't the week end you could pick up the car in Siena, but it appears that they close around noon on Saturday.

There are places in Florence that are open all day Saturday.

If you are planning on staying in one of the five villages in the CT, having a car is more of a disadvantage. You may want to think about dropping it at Pisa or La Spezia and taking the train in.

I don't have reservations, yet. I want to see Florence, Siena, Saturnia, and Pisa and Lucca on the way to the CT.

Just having trouble organizing.

We will arrive in the Florence area on Friday and leave on a Tuesday.

I see that I can't rent a car on a week-end in Siena. hmmm

And it sounds good to stay the first night in Flo, then next day go on to Siena.

Would I have to go to the airport to get the rental car or is there a place outside of the Centro where I can get a car? I can find that out from the car co when I have this itinerary nailed.

When we drive to the CT I plan on dropping the car in La Spezia, then take the train to Rome for several days and then home.

Thanks much. Don't know why this has been such a bear for me :)

I believe there is a bus that runs from the train station to the airport every half hour.

Ken suggested (above) that I post, once again, the map of the Florence ZTL zones of death (death to your bank account at $125 for every time you drive past one of the cameras)The 5 ZTL zones comprise basically all the historic core of Florence inside the ring road. Florence has gotten serious about this in the last year or so, since you were there before NanC (3 yrs ago, if I remember your earlier posts). It's now an automatic camera system that photographs you and your license plate every time you drive into one of the zones. Last week someone reported receiving 10 tickets @ $125/each = $1,250. Someone else reported receiving 5 tickets for $600.

NanC,

My preference would be to arrange your trip a bit differently. Why not take the train from Venice to Florence, stay one night in Florence and then take the Bus to Siena. Rent the car in Siena and then proceed to Grossetto, Saturnia and your other stops.

Just a thought...

Thanks for that map, Ken. I have no intentions of driving in Florence. Two years ago I just stumbled in...aughhh

I thought of training to Siena and then renting a car. When I talk with the car rental people I will find out if the car rental place is open on the week-ends.

Thanks for all the input. I am feeling much better now, things are falling into place.

A combination of train and bus trips will get you to all the places mentioned, without the aggrevation of driving and parking. Just sayin'.

Thanks for the map. Have no intentions of driving in Flo. Last time I stumbled in, aughhhh.

I want to give Ash the chance to drive a little in Italy and also, these days in Tuscany will be our unstructured days. We may change our minds and go somewhere else before we get to the CT

Thanks for all the input. It has beem wonderfully helpful.

" We may change our minds and go somewhere else before we get to the CT "

And where will you park in the CT?

I am dropping the car off in La Spezia and taking the train to CT

Hi NanC,
It makes more sense to take the train to Florence, then stay in Florence to see Florence. Take the bus to Siena. Stay in Siena to see Siena. Don't travel back and forth, don't get a car yet.

Stay elsewhere when you're ready to get a car and see other towns, which I assume are off the beaten path.

Get rid of the car before Pisa or in Pisa. Go to the CT after you get rid of your car. You will have a better trip.