Central Italy Itinerary

Posted by Nancy (St. Paul, Mn) on 02/02/20 10:43 PM

My wife and I are are planning our first trip to Central Italy in September 2020.
We would appreciate suggestions concerning our itinerary.
Being considered is a flight to Pisa, then 2 nights on the Cinque Terre. Next we would take the train to Florence for 4 nights. From Florence we travel to Siena by train or car? We would like to visit the Chianti area enroute to Siena or as a day trip from Siena. We wonder whether to rent a car on leaving Florence or wait til we get to Siena. After a 3night stay in Siena we would drive to Montapulciano area to stay for 3 nights visiting the Val D'Orcia area, return the car to Rome airport? We plan a 4 night stay in Rome and then our return home.

Plan B would be flying into Florence for 4 night stay, then taking the train to La Spezia and to the Cinque Terre for 2 nights. We would rent a car from La Spezia and drive to Siena for 3 nights. ( or car rental from Pisa). While in Siena we would visit the Chianti area 1 day and on to Montapulciano and Rome as mentioned above.
We would appreciate any feedback.
We have been reading the driving in Italy information.
Thanks

Posted by Suki

02/02/20 11:16 PM

11504 posts

Rent the car in Florence. There are pick locations that are not difficult to deal with, easy exit from the city.
Drive the historic State Route 222, the Chiantigiana, , that goes from Florence to Siena. You will drive by the towns and villages of the Chianti region, Greve, Panzano, Castellina, etc. This is where we always stay in Tuscany.

Posted by gerri

lexington, il

02/03/20 12:23 AM

4105 posts

Plan A as per sukis suggestion. Plan B is fine.

You don't need to go to the airport to drop the car unless it's a Sunday. You can drop it at Roma Tiburtina, then a 15 min. taxi ride to your lodging.
Under 20€.

Posted by Nancy OP

St. Paul, Mn

02/03/20 12:46 AM

14 posts

Thank you both.
Where do you suggest in Florence for car rental that provides easy exit from the city?

Posted by gerri

lexington, il

02/03/20 02:16 AM

4105 posts

Auto Europe will list several agencies on Borgo Ognissanti.

Posted by N_Kingdom

02/03/20 04:16 AM

872 posts

There used to be easy access from Hertz or Avis on Borgo Ognissanti, via the Ponte Amerigo Vespucci, which last I heard is closed southbound, making the route with ZTL issues very complicated. Better to take a taxi to Via Palagio degli Spini, the complex near the airport [although IMO there is a better option below]. Read this about driving in Italy and restrictions involved [ZTLs]; never leave anything of value in a vehicle when parked:

http://driventoit.blogspot.com/

As to the Cinque Terre, check the cruise ship schedule [although the crowds are likely to be unpleasant no matter what, the tiny villages getting 2.5 million visitors a year]:

http://crew-center.com/la-spezia-italy-cruise-ship-schedule-2020

If CT is in the picture, fly into Pisa and get it out the way. Relocating to Florence, packing up in one hotel and walking out of the next figure on 5 hours. If Visiting Siena and not a day trip from Florence, take the bus, which goes to the center of town; when leaving pick up a car at the train station.

https://www.wanderingitaly.com/maps/valdorcia.html

Montepulciano try for a room at the Locanda San Francesco. There is parking on site, right near the exit road. Entering the ZTL the hotel will notify the authorities.

Chiusi is a handy place to drop a Hertz rental Mon-Sat AM [Hertz in the next block], first train to Rome at 10:54AM getting off at Tibertina [stop before Termini], as the platform at Termini is a long way from the station exit.