My family of 4 (all adults) will be making Rome our home base for our trip to Italy from 7/29 to 8/14. Somewhere around August 6-8, I wanted to take the train to Orvieto to overnight and then rent a car in Orvieto to explore Assisi for the next day and then overnight in Assisi on the second day. On day 3, I was hoping to drop the rental off somewhere that we can train back to Rome after exploring a couple other places briefly while driving the car to the drop off point. My difficulties are in finding an automatic transmission rental from Orvieto and then finding another drop off place closer to Assisi so we don’t have to go all the way back to Orvieto. My husband has anxiety about renting at Termini in Rome as he does not like dealing with chaotic city traffic especially in a foreign country. We did that in France a couple years ago so we don’t want to repeat that mistake. He can drive a manual, but is rusty so it will take some adjustment time if we do that and not sure what kinds of road we will be dealing with in Umbria around Assisi and Orvieto. Can anyone advise on the roadways in Umbria and what other towns might be good rental/drop off points for our trip? Also, I’m noticing that I am also having difficulty finding convenient train connections between Rome and towns in Umbria, especially Assisi which makes just training to those areas difficult as well. Would be grateful for any helpful suggestions!
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
8261 posts
Orvieto only has Hertz and that location only offers manual so Orvieto is not a good place to pick up a rental
You could rent at FCO and have the best options/availability-of course that involves travel and expense of taxi or train/shuttle
Or pick up at Tiburtina-a bit easier to exit the city from there
We dropped a car at Hertz in Spoleto (after visiting Assisi) then took train to Rome (a short walk to station)
You might see if that location offers automatic and just reverse your plans-go to Assisi first then drop in Orvieto?
Posted by
Saint Paul, Minnesota
1860 posts
We took the train from Orvieto to Perugia, stayed there for a few nights going on daytrips by bus (like to Assisi) and then rented a car in Perugia and drove to other towns to spend a few nights in each (Spoleto, Gubbio, and Norcia). Finally, we stayed in Narni and returned the car to Terni and took the train back to Rome. We always rent from Europcar, but always a manual. I don't remember any poor roads in Umbria. Did lots of day trips --- most towns had a parking area outside of the ZTL and you just walk in. The outskirts of Terni were kind of busy and dreary to drive through, but nothing like what driving into Rome is. Google Maps is how we figure out trains and buses, then go to the train or bus website to make sure.
Posted by
OP
Pennsylvania
4 posts
Thanks to both of you for your ideas! I was finally able to book an automatic car from Spoleto for 2 days. We will take the train from Rome to Spoleto, pick up the car, drive to Assisi for an overnight stay (after seeing a little of Spoleto first) and then head to Orvieto at our leisure the next day where we will overnight and turn the car in the next day before taking a train back to Rome. I’m hoping I can figure out how to visit and dine at a winery the first night we arrive in Orvieto after we check in our hotel. We are staying in the historic town center right next to Orvieto Duomo so I’m pretty happy I was able to work out all the details. :)
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
8261 posts
Oh that’s great!
Glad Spoleto rental worked for you
Posted by
Saint Paul, Minnesota
1860 posts
On your way out of town, see if you can park for a bit at the bottom of the hill where a Romanesque church called "San Pietro extra moenia" is --- just run up the stairs and look at its facade. It's one of my very favorites. Especially the sculpture of someone's soul being weighed and a devil has got his claws sneaked onto the scale to try to win the soul. Upper left hand side. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Pietro_extra_moenia,_Spoleto
Posted by
OP
Pennsylvania
4 posts
Thank you, Nancy! Ironically, I was researching things to see in Spoleto this afternoon and this beautiful church came up! We will definitely take the time to see it. My husband and I have developed a love for traveling to see the magnificent Catholic churches of Europe, especially since our parish church was built in the 60’s here in State College, Pa and it’s so drab. When we went to Paris in 2022 , Notre Dame was still undergoing repairs, so it is a goal of ours to get back there. We were going to go back this summer, but I decided to take us to Italy for the Jubilee year instead. We are in our 60’s so it is unlikely we will be able to experience Rome during the next Jubilee :D