We will be renting a car for 3 days in La Spezia and staying in Montelpuciano for 3 nights dropping the car off in Orvieto before taking the train to Rome for 3 nights. There are a number of different routes to take using http://www.viamichelin.com/ . We could go the fastest without stopping which would be around 3 hour trip. Or go a number of different ways and stop for lunch somewhere. Siena (3:46) ? Volterra (4:32) ? San Gimignano (4:18) I read about the tough parking at Siena and the loads of tourists at San Gimignano? Any suggestions would be appreciated. This is our first trip to Italy (12 nights) 2 Venice, 2 Florence, 2 Monterossa, 3 Montelpuciano, 3 Rome. Possibly a stop at a winery for lunch and tasting?
Posted by
Boston
1816 posts
I would go the direct autostrada route, and stop to see a site of interest to you along the way. Lucca would make an easy stop to tour and have lunch. The longer routes through the rural Tuscan hills can be tiring and you'll get those driving opportunities while staying in Montepulciano.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thank you Mike,
That was my first thoughts. Looking that up on VIa Michelin would be 3:20. Is Lucca easy to park and get into? Another town I found is Monteriggioni (just before Siena) and it indicates a total trip time of 3:36. Do you cutting off and going this route would still be tiring?
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16238 posts
The fastest route is via the following freeways:
A12, A11, A1.
This route passes through Lucca and Florence (actually around them since the freeway goes around those cities, not through it.
Lucca would be a good idea because it's too far from Montepulciano and you won't get another chance to see it in this trip.
You could also swing by Pisa after Lucca. (One hour in Pisa is all you need to see Duomo and leaning tower).
If you go to Pisa after Lucca, then from Pisa take the FI LI PI SCG freeway (no toll) toward Florence and reconnect with the A1 at the FIRENZE SCANDICCI A1 freeway entrance.
All other famous locations are visitable from Montepulciano. Volterra and San Gimignano for example are about 1.5 hours drive away.
If Lucca doesn't spark an interest to you, go via Pisa (maybe a quick stop there) to Volterra (exit the SCG FI PI LI at Pontedera). Of all the most famous town, Volterra is the one that is the most painful to visit from Montepulciano because the Via Volterrana is a very curvy road. If you visit it on the way there, that way you get it out of your to-do-list.
Monteriggioni is close enough and easy to reach from Montepulciano and is on the way to San Gimignano (or Volterra). You can visit it (a must see) then when you go to San Gimignano from your Montepulciano base.
Posted by
Tampa, FL, USA
1054 posts
I enjoyed wandering around Volterra more then Lucca. I"d stop in Volterra on the way down.
Posted by
Boston
1816 posts
Lucca is relatively easy for an Italian city - see here: http://www.metrosrl.it/en/park/map
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thank you everyone! I am figuring we will see what we feel like on the day of. It really sounds like you can't go to wrong and all good choices.
Posted by
6 posts
I would stay off the Autostrada.....stay away from Florence as the autostrada there can be very slow. I would take the autoroute to Pisa and then head south to Volterra, try and stay west of Siena ( parking is brutal) and then to Montepulciano.
Florence restaurant that is wonderful and central Trattoria Camilla on Borgo San Jacopo 57R - cross over the Ponte Vecchio and Borgo San Jacopo is right there. Turn right and walk almost as far as Ponte Tinto and it is on the left hand side. If the Ponte Vecchio is too crowded then walk to Ponte Tinto ( next bridge), cross over and turn left at the first street ( via Jacopo) and approx. 50 feet and it is on the right. Borgo San Jacopo is just a few feet over the bridge. I have been going here for years.....third generation,food is delicious. Open for lunch and dinner. Make reserve if possible.Prices have not changed but Beyonce and JayZ were there last year and I thought they might increase!!
Montepulciano Restaurant - Osteria Acquacheta, Via del Teatro, 22. A must if you want to try Bistecca (Tbone steak) alla Florentina. It is their specialty but the rest of the food is also good. The tables are long and everyone sits together. Now open for lunch but make a reservation. Popular with the locals and tourists. Lots of fun. Made from the Chianina beef. Find it at the end of the made street. Check their website.....it is an experience. They bring the steak to your table before they cook it to make sure you are happy with the size.