We are a couple traveling through Tuscany in June. We plan to hire a car from La Spezia after time
In Cinque Terre, then spend 6 nights in Tuscany before making our way to Sorrento. We would
Love to visit the hot springs in Saturnia on our way south. Is there somewhere convenient to drop the car and then perhaps take a train to Naples/ferry to Sorrento or is there an easy route to drive from Tuscany to Sorrento? I have read that Naples is hectic for drivers and not a great spot to drop a car off and that there is a lot of traffic on the road into Sorrento from Naples in the summer months. Aiming to keep any driving as stress free as possible. Thank you.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15826 posts
Keep the car and drive to Sorrento. Return the car in Sorrento, no need to drive through Naples. It’s a long drive from Saturnia to Sorrento (well over 5 hours plus pit stops along the way), so take your time and enjoy the drive. The portion from Saturnia to the freeway at Montalto seems to take a long time (country highway and curves) but it’s scenic. Unfortunately Saturnia and Maremma in general are isolated from the rest of the world.
This is the most famous hotel at the thermal spa (expensive). Was there many years ago, when I was still living in Italy.
https://www.termedisaturnia.it/en/
All other times I stayed in numerous B&B in the town of Saturnia (cheap but don’t remember the names.
This is where I stayed most recently when I returned in 2022.
https://www.saturniatuscanyhotel.com/en/
Luxurious but very reasonably priced, just up the hill from the more expensive Terme di Saturnia above.
The Tuscany Hotel has a nice restaurant where I had breakfast daily (included) and dinner once. The price was kind of high IMO and the food sort of nouvelle cuisine based on the area tradition but kind of innovative. Personally I prefer the traditional traditional Maremman food, so I found this restaurant up the hill from the hotel (very short but steep road from the hotel) in the village of Poggio Murella. Cheaper and more authentic:
Ristorante Il Capriccio
+39 0564 607623
https://maps.app.goo.gl/hdJYDULYxpQkWXMR6?g_st=ic
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thank you. Would you recommend a detour to Saturnia or should we just drive straight to sorrento? Also any advice on best roads to take? Would E80 and A1 be easy driving?