Is it too long a trip to try to pick up a car after visiting Venice and then driving to the CT (Monterosso)? My alternative is to drive to Florence first, then on to the CT (But that would put me in Florence on Monday when most things are closed.) I could also drive to Venice to Verona, stay overnight in Verona, then go on to the CT the next day. Please let me know your thoughts. Thanks!
Posted by
Portland, OR, USA
805 posts
Why not take a train? The train system in Italy is wonderful and it would take less time and be a lot less stressful to use it.
Posted by
Portlandia
3313 posts
David's train suggestion is a good one. Once you get to the CT, what are you going to do with the car? The drive is a long one, especially at the end when you have to leave the autostrada. More info, please, on why you want travel by car?
Posted by
OP
Los Altos
5 posts
David and Doug - thanks for your reply. We were going to rent a car because we had planned to visit Venice, then pick up a car and maybe see Verona, CT, Lucca, Florence, Tuscan hill towns and then drop the car off before seeing Rome. I wanted to stop along the way to see famous gardens. Thanks for your help.
Posted by
Northborough, MA
636 posts
We will also have a car, and we are planning to drive from CT (Vernazza) to Venice in one day, exploring along the way.
It's hard to tell if you're talking about dedicating the whole day to driving or spending the day seeing Venice and then driving (confused by "pick up a car after visiting Venice and then driving"). If so, then I think that you're fine. (I hope so, since we're doing the same thing, in reverse!) But, I wouldn't leave later than morning.
Posted by
Beervana, Oregon
65 posts
Nancy, not too far in the least. According to my driving chart, driving distance from Venice to Genoa(near enough to CT) is 240 miles. With a stop in Verona, all the better. All of your driving legs will be comfortable. You probably have neighbors spending more time on the road every day than you will on any given day in Italy. You mentioned gardens above. Recently in Verona I went to the botanical gardens and they were for sale so bring the checkbook.
Posted by
Lebanon
711 posts
Nancy.. We went to Venice first, then picked up a car there, and drove all over Tuscany and Umbria. We dropped off the car in La Spezia, took a train to Vernazza for a while, then took a train to Pisa , stayed overnight, and flew to Rome. Very easy.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
25 posts
We were in Italy for the first time in October '07. We took the train from Venice to Florence, stayed there 3 nights, then picked up a rental car for a 3 day side trip to Siena/Tuscany. We trained from Florence to Lucca, spent an overnight in Lucca (worthy of more time), took the train to Pisa for a 4 hour stop (just right), then on to Vernazza via La Spezia. We were able to figure out the train schedules without much difficulty. From what we could tell, a car in the CT was nothing but a headache. Be sure to have breakfast with the Canoli Brothers in Vernazza - great pastries!
Posted by
Vicenza, Italy
319 posts
Its about a 3 1/3 hour drive. I would try and drive on Sunday (no trucks on highway. Avoid driving tot he beach on saturday. That is the day that most people travel to start week long vacations. Don't bother trying to drive in Florence. Oh a great place to stop is lake garda, near verona. there are some beautiful gardens near by, and wineries all over th country side. Maybe try Lucca or Sennia.