First time in Italy (Renting a car, Tuscan Countryside and general questions)

Pick up the car in La Spezia when leaving after your time in the Cinque Terre and return it in Orvieto. Take the train into Rome so you can avoid car return hassles. You do not want a car while in the Cinque Terre!

Sounds like a great trip!

We're doing a similar trip in October, get car on the way out of Florence, looking to drop car at Chiusi, Hertz (and others) look to be adjacent to train station. The station appears to be about a mile from the touristy part of Chiusi.

Avoid driving in urban areas, including smaller towns, when at all possible. You'll know why when you get there and try to drive some place that's not in the country.

In the past there have been MANY previous posts on this subject and you can look at those by using the SEARCH box at the top of this window.

I'll concur with laurels advice, rent in La Spezia.
But, if you plan to drop off in Orvieto, your only choice would be Hertz.

Since this is your first attempt at driving in Italy, please read this and download their e book.

https://www.italybeyondtheobvious.com/dont-mess-with-ztl-zones

Thank you, for the replies everyone.

Yes, have read up about driving in Italy. I have driven in Spain before, so shouldn't be too much of a problem, and we don't intend to drive into big towns, but only around the countryside.

The query was about where to book and drop the car, and now it seems driving from La Spezia to Pienza (Terrapille) and then dropping off the car at Chisui seems ideal. I think we'll go with the drive from La Spezia to Pienza rather than do the train again.

Now, to book all the "skip the line" tickets in Rome and Florence.

Oh, btw, we arrive in Florence on May 1, and the only thing likely to be open is the Duomo, and have booked tickets there.

Thanks a bunch.

We did a very similar trio a few years ago. Pick up car rental in LaSpegia after CT, drop car in Orvieto, then train to Rome.

I'd drop the car on the outskirts of Rome or even FCO and train into town. There are wonderful places to stop by on the trip to Rome including the Etruscan tomb villages of Tarquinia and Cervetari just north of Rome. There is no reason to add an expensive train trip when you have a car. Look at a place on the outskirt of Rome and then take a cab to your hotel. We have done this several times.