We will be picking up a rental car in Bologna and driving to an agriturismo outside of Siena. We are looking for suggestions on pit stops along the way. We originally thought Volterra might be a nice stop but it may be too far out of the way. Any ideas would be welcomed.
Thank you!
Posted by
seattle
2147 posts
San Miniato is a charming town. We often stop for lunch or dinner at the excellent Ristorante Lamole in the tiny village of Lamole near Greve in Chianti. Know that there are mountains between Bologna and Florence. We have taken both backroads and the highway, which is much quicker and allows for more time for the countryside of Tuscany.
Posted by
WPB, FL & Firenze
3112 posts
Another option would be to take the expressway to south of Florence, visit the American Cemetary and then cut over to SR222. That will take you through Greve in Chianti and Panzano, both nice places to stop, with Lamole about 15 minutes east of SR222 between them.
Posted by
OP
52 posts
Thank you both for the suggestions! Our accommodations have a very specific check in time range, so we need to kill time getting there but not too much time, lol.
Becky - I’m assuming you mention the mountains because of added driving time? Or another reason?
Posted by
seattle
2147 posts
Yes, the mountains really slow down the drive time between Bologna and Florence. The highway takes about an hour+, the backroads take more like 3 hours. Plus the highway skirts you around Florence. Where are you picking up your car in Bologna?
Posted by
OP
52 posts
We are picking up at Hertz at the Bologna Central Station. We would like to take the highway.
Posted by
OP
52 posts
I actually have a couple of other questions about the highway segment of the drive - I'm assuming (maybe incorrectly) that the drive through the mountains is quite scenic?
Also - I've read a lot about the autogrills along the highways in Italy being something worth experiencing - is there one along this segment between Bologna and Florence?
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16189 posts
I wouldn’t say the mountains slow down traffic at all especially after the new freeway opened 3 years ago. The new freeway, which runs parallel to the old one, is a 6 lane highway that goes straight through the mountains under some of the longest tunnels you’ll ever see, with minimal or no curves. Since you will be driving mostly underground there are few views, but it’s very quick. Watch out because everybody drives as fast as they can, including the many trucks. I would pay attention to that more than the views.
The old freeway, also a 4 to 6 lane freeway which is now called “Panoramica”, runs at a slightly higher elevation with fewer tunnels and a few more soft curves. The old freeway has better views but takes at least 15 min longer as it is a few km longer than the new one, few people drive on it anymore because of that, and it’s basically used mostly when the new one is congested due to an accident.
San Miniato is really out of the way. If you are traveling at lunch time you should experience the Italian freeway rest areas, especially the Autogrill restaurants. There are a couple of stops between Bologna and Florence. Otherwise I would stop at San Donato, on the freeway between Florence and Siena, and eat at La Toppa restaurant, always a favorite of mine.
Posted by
Italy
3812 posts
This is the point where the mountain section of the A1 motorway splits in 2
take the Direttissima for tunnels and trucks. The old Panoramica section is... well, it's panoramic compared to the new Direttissima one. The last Autogrill on the old section closed for lack of customers.