I have found through previous posts that a day trip from Chiusi to Cinque Terre is just too much to try. However, my husband really wants to see some coastline during our time in Italy. We are going to be in Rome & Venice, and then Tuscany (Chiusi) for 6 days. Is there any interesting place closer to Chiusi that would be a coastal experience? We are good day-trippers, willing to drive up to 3 hours each way for a worthwhile spot! Lakes? Lake Trasimeno? Thanks for any help.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
It depends on what you mean by "coastline." Technically, Ostia Lido (near Rome) is the coastline, but it's not the beautiful Amalfi/CT kind of coastline. Check it out on Google Earth to see what I mean. Nor is the area around Venice that kind of coastline. I suggest going to CT for 2 of your days that you had planned for Tuscany.
BTW, Lake Trasimeno is pretty, but it's not the kind of coastline I think you want. The northern lakes (Como, Maggiore) are, however.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
1317 posts
I don't know about from Chiusi, but if you have time in Rome you could go down to Ostia Antica to see the ancient Roman seaport (no longer on the water) and the Ostia beach area nearby.
Posted by
OP
Longwood, FL, USA
19 posts
Yes, I was looking for the Amalfi/CT type coastline. We gave up going to Amalfi when we had to make our trip 12 days (excluding travel), so I was hoping to find something doable as a daytrip from our time in Tuscany. We have a villa already rented for our time there, so I realy can't cut out 2 days. Next trip, I guess! What is there to do around Lake Trasimeno? We might be able to satisfy the desire to see coastline with a different great water view!!! Any ideas for that area?
Posted by
Portland, Oregon, USA
20 posts
One of the toughest things to do is get from the central Italian hill cities to the coast. The mountains run north south and the roads that are passes are few. You can go south to Orvieto and take the country roads over to Monte Argentario and Orbetello. These are Italian resort towns and a peninsula out in the sea. The hills are not as dramatic as CT or the Almalfi coast but still pretty nice. There will not be a lot Americans or British there. There are lots of beaches and families. The drive there from Orvieto is quite pretty but very off the beaten path. Most people come up the coast from Rome. You will doing some back road navigating. Google the area and see if you would like the trip. The coast near Rome and Otisia Antica (sp?) is very flat and often industrial.
Posted by
OP
Longwood, FL, USA
19 posts
Thanks. You have confirmed what I seemed to be finding every time I looked at a map of Tuscany -- no good roads to the coast. I am still interested in people's opinions about Lake Trasimeno area. Also, maybe I need to decide how important the coast is -- do I dare drop my days in Venice and go to the CT instead this trip???
Posted by
Portland
3643 posts
A number of years ago, 1997 I think, we rented a cottage in the Trasimeno area for 2 weeks. We did a day trip almost every day. These are the ones I can remember: Perugia twice, Orvieto, Arezzo, Cortona, Montepulciano, Siena, Gubbio, Urbino, Spoleto, and San Gemignano. We never did as much as 3 hours one way. Because it's so close to the A1, that area is quite perfect for daytripping. We didn't do it, but I think you can also take a boat to an island in the lake. Don't miss the Etruscan Museum in Chiusi.