Drive from Cinque Terre to Rome

Someone mentioned I should be a bit more specific ... but the good news is that I have no itinerary and no "must sees" along the route except for Pisa and Siena. Any suggestions you might have - restaurants, interesting towns, etc. would be greatly appreciated.

I have heard that a town called Todi is very nice to see. Any comment?

The drive from CT to Rome takes about 4 hours. Are you planning to do that in one day or over several days? If you do it in one day than 2 stops in places like Pisa and Siena are more than plenty. I'd probably cut it down to one stop. Or you you do both of them making it for a very long day. I'd choose my lunch/dinner breaks in those two places without adding another stop.

Or are you doing this drive over several days? Then there are many more options depending on how much time you have. Has Florence been on your trip list yet? Orvieto would be an easy stop as well as it's right off the Autostrada.

Yes - by this point I've stayed in Florence and done those sights - this is the final leg of my vacation. I am driving CT to Rome in one day.

Scott,

if you want to stop in Pisa because of the leaning tower you have to account for a minimum of 3 hours: 2 hours wait to book your ticket for the climb, 1/2 hour to go up and down. 1/2 hour for misc (like walking from your parking lot to the field of miracles and buying the tickets).

Stopping in Siena for less than 2-3 hours would be stressful as well. I strongly recommend to go up Torre del Mangia with outstanding views over Il Campo and Siena which with standing in line could easily take up one hour. The museum at the Palazzo Comunale has outstanding frescos that are not to be missed. Budget a minimum of 45 minutes for that. And a visit to the Duomo should be part of your tour as well.

Theoretically, you can add another stop during that day but do you really want to?

Be cautious in Pisa with your car. Pisa is a city with the dreaded Zona Traffico Limitatos (restricted zones). You can do a search on this site and see what happens when you stray into one of these areas.

After Pisa, I suggest that you consider going down the coast road a bit to just north of Cecina. Turn east on highway S68 and you can visit both Volterra and San Gimignano on the way into Siena.

Larry,

are you serious in suggesting that Scott visits Pisa AND San Giminiano AND Volterra AND Siena in ONE SINGLE day AND make it to Rome????? Sorry, but that kind of stress doesn't make it into my definition of travelling nor would many others on this list recommend that. You get a better view of the leaning tower in a nice coffee table book than in the 30 seconds that schedule leaves you to take a look in person.

btw, parking in Pisa isn't a big deal. Take RS suggestion for the huge FREE parking lot that is well signed: Parcheggio Pietrasantina. You end up with a 10-15 minute walk to the field of miracles but you don't risk running into any restricted traffic zones. We found finding parking in San Giminiano much more difficult as the lots are smaller and none are free.

I should have been a bit more clear. I'm suggesting the route more than the suggested stops. They can stop at any of these locations. Or not. It's a 4hrs drive to Rome from the CT on the main Autostrade without stopping anywhere. This route would take a bit longer. Plus, if they want to turn in their car when they get to Rome, most car rental locations close at 7:00pm or 8:00pm. Rental office at Ciampino airport is open until 10:00pm and Rome FCO is open until midnight. This could limit what they can do.

However, if they are not turning in their car, I would 1)leave the CT early, 2) not climb the leaning tower and shorten my visit to Pisa, 3) make short 1.5hr visits to Volterra and San Gimignano (Grayline Tours only visits S.G. for an hour on the way to Siena) and, 4)spend the late afternoon and early evening in Siena. Then, I would leave Siena about 7:30pm-8:00pm for the 2.5hr. drive into Rome. Great scenery in the Tuscan hills. Beats the crap out of driving on the Autostrade and paying tolls. Long day, however.

Do you have to drive? You can take the train from Cinque Terre to Pisa to Siena to Rome for a lot less money and aggravation than a car. Gas in Italy is more than $9 per gallon, the autostrada tolls are steep, parking in Rome is a contact sport, cars are not allowed at all in the Cinque Terre towns, and the parking lots in Siena aren't as close to the old town as the train station is.

If you have a choice then the car is a bad call for this itinerary.

Yes, I'm committed to the car at this point.

DO NOT MISS ORVIETO! Hour north of Rome right off the highway.
That's all I can say. :)