Hello. We are driving from Pienza to Parma on a Friday this fall. We will drop off our rental car in Parma when we arrive there. We will use the train to visit Bologna from Parma during our stay. Our question is what would be a good place to stop between Pienza to Parma while we still have our rental car. Thanks in advance for your input.
I was wondering about stopping in Brisighella or Arezzo. What do you think?
Posted by
11506 posts
Arezzo is interesting once you get past the modern sections when entering the town. The Basilica of San Francesco has magnificent frescoes and makes a visit to Arezzo very worthwhile.
If you take a longer route near the coast, you could visit Lucca, a wonderful small walled city.
Posted by
872 posts
Read this about driving in Italy and restrictions involved [ZTLs]; avoid leaving anything of value in a car when parked:
http://driventoit.blogspot.com/
La Forchetta in Parma is one of the best in the area. Then there is Latte di Luna in Pienza.
Posted by
OP
34 posts
Thank you so much!
Posted by
Boston
1782 posts
If you've not been there, Lucca is overall a more evocative town than Arezzo - especially if you haven't traveled a lot in Italy. It will not add much to the drive versus the detour into Arezzo, and the drive from Lucca to Parma via the coast and the Cisa pass through the Apennines is prettier and a less hectic drive, in my opinion.
Posted by
4836 posts
If I was going to be leaving luggage in the car, I'd be inclined toward somewhere very small like Brisighella, but I don't know the parking situation there. Also of course it depends on if you want to stop early in the drive or later.