My husband and I went to England last year and had no hotels planned in advance. It was perfect, because we could come and go from town to town as we pleased, capable of leaving in two hours, or two days, depending on our whim. We are hoping to do the same in Italy this year in the small towns of Tuscany and Umbria. We are willing to travel between mid september thru october, and we will be spending two weeks.
My main concern is car parking. Are there places to park and pay outside of these towns? Must we drive into these towns and park, and will having a car make it a lot harder to find a last minute hotel? We want to know that the parking we end up with will be relatively safe, and no more than a bus ride, or about a mile walk away due to carrying our backpacks. I realize that the answer to this question may be as varied as the towns themselves, but any input to help plan an itinerary that has the chance to run smoothly would be greatly appreciated.
The towns that have our interest that we have not already visited are Lucca, Cortona, Montepulciano, Montacatini, Civita di Bagniorregio, Chianti, Todi, Spoleto, Assisi, Orvieto and Volterra. (please forgive any miss-spellings) We have already been to Florence, Rome, Siena, (amazing) San Gimignano, and Pisa. I know we will never get to all of these towns in two weeks, and we do plan on going back again, so we are open to suggestions and thoughts of warning and or encouragement from those of you who know more than us. Thanks in advance- Beth
Posted by
Cesena, Italy
791 posts
In general you'll usually be able to find parking around centro of most any town. Usually pay but sometimes free. I always found the earlier you get there the more choice you have of lots/spaces. Many lots will be fairly small with tight parking. As you move out from centro parking will usually be more plentiful. Of the places you listed to go see I've only been to Volterra. Plenty of parking and I found free spots close to the open market lot. A tip: When you park try to do so in a way that will leave you wiggle room when you leave. A lot of Italians think nothing of parking bumper to bumper. Had a few times where I had to do a 30 point maneuver to get out.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
My experiences with some of the towns on your list:
Lucca: you can park outside the walls for sure and walk in. There is some public parking inside the walls but get there early.
Cortona: definitely park outside the walls, the streets are narrow and hilly and many are pedestrian-only.
Montepulciano: Some public parking in town but it fills up very fast.
Todi: some public parking in town but it's quite congested.
Assisi: there are several big parking garages, I suggest the one at the upper end of town (furthest away from Saint Francis' Basilica), so you are walking downhill instead of carrying backpacks uphill.
Orvieto: park at the train station area and take the funivia up to the town. Your funivia ticket gets you a free ride to the Piazza Duomo, where the tourist office can help you find a room.
You might want to check the Italian Touring Guide maps for locations of parking.
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
In most of the small towns in Tuscany and Umbria, you will find ZTLs (restricted traffic zones) in the town centers. In towns with walls, which many have, the ZTLs are mostly inside the walls. You can usually easily park outside the walls.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thank you all for your input- it is much appreciated!!
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
360 posts
You'll be able to park, it's just a matter of how close to your hotel you'll get. I thought the ZTL signs were pretty obvious and the RS book helps with advance warning of what to look for and easier places to park.
Posted by
Massachusetts
715 posts
I would second the advice about parking in Asissi. Go all the way up to park at Piazza Matteotti (parcheggio Matteotti), then it is down hill into town. Also, when hiking back to your car if you hike along via San Gabriele dell'addorata (stay to the left of the Piazza Commune fountain heading out of town) there is an elevator on the left that will bring you back to the garage.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16563 posts
You can also do internet searches on the go. I often travel and search the hotel in town either the day before I arrive or when I arrive. All you need is a smart phone with an Italian SIM card (if you use your American smart phone it will cost you a lot in roaming data charges). Also when I have a car I like hotels that have parking or parking arrangement with a local garage. I'm not going to park out of town and reach the hotel on foot or bus.