Greetings - Visiting Italy mid-November. After our time in Florence, our group of 3 will be renting a car at the airport there then driving to Orvieto, where we will spend the night. See sights in Orvieto next morning, then train to Rome. Will definitely include parts of the Heart of Tuscany Drive in the itinerary, but am wondering if it's realistic to include a stop in Siena on the way? Also curious what those of you with experience would recommend as the "must see" stops along the route? Thank you!
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
5344 posts
Given the short daylight hours, and assuming you don't want to drive strange roads at night, you could make a stop of a few hours in Siena. Then if time permits, a short visit to Chiusi, since its en route. Of course the usual warning to avoid the ZTLs applies.
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
7771 posts
I suppose it will be easier in November than in the summer, but you may believe you have more speed and mobility at your command than you actually do. Parking in a "remote" lot at Siena, and walking around quite a big "small city" takes a lot of time. And even small Tuscan hill towns are a project (curvy roads, 1.5 lanes wide, limited public parking, ZTL restrictions) to get "off the highway and into the town." Siena is a really nice city, but because the Renaissance came "late" there, it may not be the best place to stop - unless you determine that you only want to park and walk once, after you have studied the territory.
Arezzo and Montepulciano are pretty easy bets for along the way. Are you already planning to have pre-made (unrefrigerated!) sandwiches for a time-saving walking lunch? Or are you going to sit for the mandatory "slow food", available only during regular meal hours? Don''t overlook that many better wineries require reservations and pre-paid tour bookings, if that's an interest.
Orvieto is quite a rich-target destination. If you have the lowest-priced, most restricted, train tickets, you are not going to see everything possible before your train to Rome.
Posted by
Washington DC
27701 posts
It takes more than one full day to see the sights in Orvieto, and it's a lovely place for just walking around. I don't see any advantage in making stops on the way there. It seems to me that will just mean more time sitting in a car, looking for parking and walking between parking places and the things you really want to see.
Posted by
Firenze, Italy
1652 posts
Neither Arezzo nor Siena or Montepulciano are on the way from Rome to Orvieto. If you get to one of them, you have to backtrack to go back to Orvieto. Siena, for example, is 75 miles (1 hour and half) north of Orvieto.
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
7771 posts
lachera, the drive is from Florence to Orvieto.
Posted by
OP
6 posts
All - thank you for the informed feedback. Much appreciated. Thinking we'll save Siena for another time, and aim for no more than two short town stops along the way.
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
7057 posts
Consider stops in Montalcino and San Quirico
That’s really all you’ll have time for
What time do you need to return the car? I’d want to be in Orvieto before dark which comes early in November,.
Is adding a night possible?
Then you could stay in a hill town and enjoy more of Tuscany.
Otherwise I don’t see the need for renting a car for one day-just take the train to Orvieto and enjoy that town -it’s really nice
It’s an Umbrian hill town.
Posted by
Firenze, Italy
1652 posts
I stand corrected; I definitely need a new pair of glasses :-)
Posted by
Bay Area SF & Uppsala Sweden
949 posts
Hey there, Well I guess it depends upon your travel speed and exactly what you're interested in seeing. I've driven numerous times in Tuscany in the warmer months, & hiked in December. Are you really THAT keen to drive to Orvieto? Montalcino gets my vote, I would be sure to look for a nice trattoria that's open in November to stop along the way. You might check the weather before you start this day trip! Unlike the US, where public transport can be a hassle, it's so easy in Italy, so as mentioned above, you could just take the train to Orvieto.