Best driving route from Venice to the Cinque Terre, etc.

Let me be the first to give you some advice that you may not be particularly receptive to.

A car from Venice to the CT and Florence is a hindrance and problem rather than an asset. You do not need and really can't use a car until you are ready to leave Florence for your time in tuscany.

Then I would suggest dropping it Orvieto and taking the train to Rome.

Parking is very dear and goes fast in the CT especially in peak season. If you can find spots, they aren't near your accomodations and you won't need the car for your time there.

Florence is also not a place you want or need a car. Too many ZTLs.

Your destinations are well served by train connections and it will be far easier than driving. then get the car for tuscany.

You have picked two places that are not tourist car friendly. At least you are aware of the ZTLs in Florence. With very few exceptions, tourist cars are not permitted in the 5 CT towns. There are parking lots above the towns but they are full during the high season and they even will close the roads to them when full. You might struggle with the parking. You might look into parking in Levanto where parking may be more available and taking the train in.

Your hotel person in Florence is correct that you can enter the ZTL to register and drop off your luggage. It is correct that they can register your car with the authorities. Many don't. I would get something in writing that this was done if you can or at least document what took place.

Here is the policy from the City of Florence's Website Tourists in cars who need to travel within the ZTL to reach their accommodation facilities or a garage can obtain a temporary access permit, although they should still pass through the authorized ‘access points’ only, excluding the lanes reserved for public transport and the pedestrian zones which may not be used at any time. In order to obtain this permit, the number plate of the car concerned should be given to the relevant hotel (or garage) which will undertake to forward the same to the appropriate office.

This permit will be issued for a maximum of two hours for baggage transport purposes and, therefore, only on the arrival and departure dates (a permit may also be issued to tourists without a hotel booking entering the ZTL to find accommodation). For the rest of their stay, clients should park their car outside the ZTL, in a commercial garage or the hotel’s own private garage.

My first trip to Italy I made the mistake it looks like you're about to make (if you don't take the good advice given by the first two repliers). For reasons that are not apparent until after you've been to Italy once, renting a car there is not the easy and convenient experience that it is in the US. An essential point here is that all of your destinations are well served by rail (with the possible exception of Cortona, which is not a sufficient reason to drive the entire itinerary). 95% of travelers with experience traveling in Italy, who post on this forum and are doing the itinerary you are, would take the train. And there are reasons why that is the case.

Thank you very much for the information. I respect your advice. I just thought it would be nice to travel at our own pace and it also would make things easier for dealing with our luggage. I knew there would be some obstacles with the car, but thought there would also be some with the trains. However, based on your advice, I have checked Rail Europe for some schedules. Venice to Monterosso has one connection in Milano - 40 mins. transfer time. Monterosso to Florence has a connection in Pisa - but it only allows 8 mins. to transfer. This does not sound possible. Florence to Rome is direct. I'm not a light packer and getting off and on the trains with even one small bag is not as easy for me as it used to be...but I'm really trying to put this together after hearing from you. Thank you again for trying to help me.

rita - Pisa Centrale isn't that big and it looks like you would have time. Packing lighter is another issue that you might want to consider.

there are several threads on the board about that.

But suppose we take the worst case scenario and run with it. You get to Pisa Centrale, get off the train and watch as the trian you were supposed to board pulls away on its way to Florence without you and your luggage.

There is another train departing Pisa for Florence in either 15 or 20 minutes or so. the ticket you got in Monterosso for that segment is still good. these are mostly regional trains with no seat reservations. I think the ticket is good for six hours once validated.

So you'll be ok even if you miss the tighter connection.

You can route planning information at:
www.viamichelin.com

Here's what we did:

We had a leased car and drove from Amsterdam, through Southern Germany/Western Austria, through the Brenner Pass into Italy.

We stopped first in Verona, then drove to Venice. We parked in Venice and wouldn't do it again. Parking takes time to get in and out of and is expensive. It's better to park on the mainland and train into Venice.

From Venice we drove to CT but it's too long for one day so we stopped for a night in Modena. We drove to La Spezia the next day. It was October and we probably could have parked in Vernazza. There is a small parking lot at the top of town, I wouldn't expect parking in the summer. Parking by the train station seemed questionable (broken glass, graffiti and loiterers - all the things you don't want to see when you park) so I asked and was told I could park by the Naval base. After dropping family and bags at the station, I got to the general area then asked a person in uniform (Navy) where I could park. He pointed out an area of free parking on the opposite side of the road. It was a five or six long block walk back to the station.

From CT we drove to Florence with some stops (Pisa, Lucca) enroute. When we arrived in Florence we were very careful and successfully avoided any limited traffic zones. We found a parking lot a little North-Northeast of the center, where our hotel was located, and hoofed it to our hotel. If I went again, I would look for a place to stay that offers good public transport to city center but is outside of town. Even budget lodging in Florence is expensive, having a place outside of town would probably save significant time and money.

After Florence we headed toward Rome and stayed a night in Orvieto. We drove into town and parked near our hotel. Again, it was October. In high season, I would expect no parking so the suggestion to park near the train station is a good one.

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We drove to Ostia Antica, spent half a day there then dropped our car at the airport and took the train into town for our stay in Rome.

Observations:

Bring a GPS with European maps that you know how to use.

Florence is rental car unfriendly but the surrounding area is much better with a car. I wouldn't trust my hotel to keep me from getting a ticket by registering my car. Italians have a "come what may" attitude. You could easily get ticketed while your hotel staff "forgot" they needed to register you.

We were leasing a car for a month trip which was more cost effective for a family of five than train tickets and short-term rentals even when paying for parking. Do the math for your trip. Trains are great for city to city travel and drop you near the city center. Cars are better for getting off the beaten path.

Mistake # 1 - the rental car. This has been addressed.

Mistake # 2 - " I'm not a light packer". Become one.

Last summer, we rented a car in Italy, and we never, even for a second, regretted it.

We started with 4 nights in Rome. On our way out of Rome, we picked up our rental car. We used the car to drive to Vesuvius, Pompeii, and Sorrento. While in the Sorrento area, we used a private driver (for the Amalfi Drive) and boats (a day trip to Naples).

After 3 nights in Sorrento, we spent the day driving to Florence, exploring along the way. In Florence, we stayed at Hotel David, which has free, private parking, and it's in a wonderful location.

After 3 nights in Florence, we drove to Pisa, spent just enough time to take in the Field of Miracles and climb the Tower, then drove to Vernazza. It was a spectacular (yes, narrow, and lots of hairpin turns, but an amazing experience). We parked in the lot above town and took the shuttle (free into town, nominal fee back to the car).

After 2 nights in Vernazza, we spent the day driving to Venice, exploring along the way. When we arrived in Venice, we returned the rental car.

Trains are great. But, if you want freedom, spontaneity, the ability to set your own schedule, not having to be a light packer, the list goes on, rent a car. Yes, the car sits idle while you're at your destination, but why is that a problem?

We are a family of 5, so it paid off, even having to rent a minivan.

Enjoy the adventure, whatever you decide!