Florence + Tuscany

You don’t need or want a car IN Florence but a car is almost necessary for visiting small towns in Tuscany.

We like the Pienza area for a stay with a car. Pienza is a flat hill town, compared to others (Siena, Montepulciano) which are very steep, hilly might be hard for your elderly mother.

Lucca is another flat town but a bit too far north and west for exploring the rest of Tuscany and you wouldn’t want a car there either - inside walls is all pedestrianized.

There are a lot of threads here that discuss exploring Tuscany. Use the Search function and filter by Date and Type

Info here as well
https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/italy

Thank you for the advice Christine! I'll look into Pienza.

I have read a lot of threads about Tuscany in the forum, but I haven't seen anyone share yet exactly what they would do. Most threads explore several possibilities and leave the reader with too many options. I'm interested in reading categorical views from people who know the region very well.

I would spend 3 nights in Florence-no day trips
Then pick up a car and stay 1 or 2 places 2 or 3 nights somewhere near Siena or in Chianti and another 3 in Pienza

From those 2 locations you can explore each day by car
I could name all the little villages we like but you do have to choose those yourself;)

After that I would drop the car take train to Rome for 5 or 6 nights - with maybe 1 day trip from Rome to Orvieto ( or stop on the way) or Tivoli

Tuscany is filled with amazing medieval cities 700 years old.
Siena is wonderful. Lucca is worth a day. San Giminanco (SP), Cortona and Pisa.

I’m with Christine. Stay 3 nights in Florence to see Florence only (maybe 4 nights if you want o to see Pisa+Lucca by train in a day trip). Then rent a car on your way out of Florence and stay in a base (or two) near Siena. Where exactly is up to you. Siena would work also as a base, but be aware of traffic restrictions in the city if you have a car. Lots of small villages or farmhouses (agriturismo) can be used too. There are lots of villages to visit in Tuscany, in virtually every one of the 10 provinces comprising Tuscany (these are the 10 provinces, named after the provincial capital cities: Florence, Siena, Arezzo, Prato, Pistoia, Lucca, Pisa, Massa-Carrara, Grosseto, Livorno).
Some resources on the many villages of Tuscany are below.

https://www.borghiditoscana.net/en/
https://borghipiubelliditalia.it/en/toscana/

Thank you very much for the advice, Roberto and Christine!

Thank you very much for your reply, geovagriffith! I love your suggestions. I'm sorry, somehow I missed your post before.

I would also like to get your opinions about our itinerary in Italy. We are spending 24 days there, mostly in Venice (5 nights), then Verona or Lucca for 2 nights, Tuscany (8 nights), Rome (7 nights).

We wanted to fit Matera in our trip and it would be the first destination. All flights from Paris to Bari airport are in the late afternoon. Would it be crazy to:
- October 2 : fly from Paris to Bari and land in Bari at 7:30 PM, take bus to Matera (1st night)
- October 3 : see Matera the entire day (2nd night)
- October 4 : fly to Venice from Bari

Matera is so far out of the way
Will there actually be a bus from Bari that late at night?

I like your itinerary as posted but would give Verona 3 nights- take from Rome or Tuscany
2 nights is really only 1 full day
We loved Verona and liked it much more than Lucca

My wife tonight are planning a similar trip from Venice to Rome:

Ljubljana three nights, one night, Venice, then board sailboat, one week in the Adriatic, then, three nights Venice, then train on for four nights Verona last performances of opera, day trip Padova or Vicenza, then two nights Ravenna, local train through Faenza, Brisghella and Marradi to Florence for five night with one day trip, probably Luca, then car out, two nights Radda, last day to Siena for day then on to Montepulciano three nights, then drop car and overnight Orvieto then train five nights Monti Rome, then on to eastern Mediterranean.

Enjoy.

Any thoughts on my itinerary?

Hello,

I went the last 2 weeks in October and the first week in November.

1n in Milan
I did 3n in Venice
3n in Florence + wine tour and walked Harley Davidson
3n in Siena + wine tour
3n in Montorosso
2n in Milan

I took the train everywhere, did use the bus in Florence.
I did not go to Rome, hoping this year.
Enjoy your trip

my humble opinion...too many nights in Venice (no haters please). It is just SO crowded...especially if cruises are in port. The streets are lined with many touristy shops with the same stuff. I think 2 nights max is enough to enjoy the less crowded evenings and stroll about.

Upon leaving Venice, I would suggest a night or two in Bologna on the way to Florence. Especially of you want to do a tour of the cheese, oil & prosciutto facilities. I highly recommend the www.Italiandays.it food tour....so fun and informative plus very tasty.

Florence is a great "base" as I have used it as such for many, many years. However, it also is VERY crowded these days because naturally everyone wants to be there ;) I have shifted to staying in Pistoia a few years back. The rent is much, much better and it is only 20-30 minute train from Florence so I can still enjoy time there when I'm willing to fight the crowds.

Some really great day trips from Florence as previously mentioned like Lucca & Pisa (takes only one day to see both) and by train. Greve is a town I visit EVERY time I'm in the area....can go from Florence by bus. A good day trip and super cute town for shopping and a lunch stop.

Arezzo is also a good stop on the way South. If you go when they have the monthly antique market your Mom might enjoy that. You didn't mention age but I appreciate a beautiful market. Speaking of that, the Sant' Ambrogio market in the Santa Croce area of Florence is just the BEST!

Further South, a Stop in Orvieto I would also recommended for at least a night or two. also can get there on the train. It is about halfway between Florence & Rome. I am giving options available with transport since I never rent a car in Italy. Lots of other great small towns if you do decide to have a car. I was lucky to have a friend that drove me to a several in the Chianti area and also found Pienza to be lovely. Whew...sorry, rambled a bit but so many options and I'm sure you will enjoy every moment whatever you decide.

I agree a lot with ChristineH's suggestions, but also do give thought to what you and your mother enjoy, and the activity level of each of you. Also, I wouldn't say that Siena is very hilly, and less than Montepulciano, but there are areas of Siena where there's a lot of up and down. But I do love Siena; it's beautiful, has lots of places (especially the Campo) to sit with a glass of wine or cup of coffee and relax, and a lot of places to visit within the city.

Also, if you will be driving in Tuscany, keep in mind that depending on where you visit or stay, you will be driving on narrow, winding (but beautiful) roads (much of Chianti is like this, for example). Especially if you will be doing all the driving, take that into account. I like driving, and am a good driver, but it gets a bit tiring after a couple of hours.

Another factor is the possible weather in October. You could have a glorious trip with no rain. Or lots of rain. One of the drawbacks of smaller locations, I think, is that there is less to do when it's rainy. In a bigger city, there are more indoor spots to visit when the weather is poor. So think through how you would spend your time if it's rainy in rural Tuscany.