7 Days in Tuscany/Florence area-Lucca, Pisa, Siena, Bolsena Need Help!

I visited Bolsena via public bus from Orvieto, so I know you could easily do the trip in reverse with a rental car. Orvieto is a lovely town. It will be more touristy if you go on a weekend; it seems to get a lot of Italian visitors then. Do be sure you see the cathedral (free), including the chapel (entrace fee).; check to be sure they aren't closed one day a week. You could spend the whole day in Orvieto, which has at least two nice museums (which may have once-a-wek closures). I think that's the trip on which my bus skirted the base of what looked like a very pictureaque hill town that I didn't get to visit; it may have been Montefiascone.

i believe Viterbo would also be a viable destination. It's a larger city, still retaining its walls. It's much less touristy but also less colorful. I thought it made a nice change from the tourist hotspots. And the small walled village of Tuscania might also work as part of a day-trip. It's fairly near Viterbo. I felt as if I was the only tourist in Tuscania when I showed up during the siesta period one day in June. That's not an experience you typically have in the hill towns mentioned in guide books.

The Etruscan sites around Tarquinia might also be within striking distance; I haven't checked the driving time from Bolsena.

Orvieto, the wine towns, Montalcino, Montepulciano, Pienza

Or, to the coast, Porto San Stefano.

Candy,

First, a car can be a nuisance, especially in Florence. Be sure you read up on traffic zones (ZTLs) and the horrific fines uneducated tourists receive up to a year after the violation. Many of your destinations are easily reachable by public transportation so you could actually trim your car rental down to "as needed."

Regarding Pisa - if you actually want to tour the Duomo and Tower, I would plan to get there as early as possible. By mid-morning hordes of tourists arrive and the place becomes nuts. If you don't plan to climb the tower or tour the Duomo, shoot for later afternoon or evening after the selfie- stick wielding crowds leave for the day.

Walk About Florence has a really good Chianti wine tour. It's worth it to leave the driving to someone else.

Thank you for the insights. We plan on renting a car in Orvieto and returning it there before we head to Florence. We will have a car just for day trips in Tuscany and around Bolsena.

I will check out the towns suggested thus far.

Thank you again.