Hello all! My fiance and I are going on our honeymoon to Italy in a couple weeks. I have been reading up and trying to plan some good day trips from our hotel in Montepulciano since we will have a car the whole time there. We have never been to Europe/Italy, so we're excited to get out and see a lot. However, we also don't want to be in a car the entire trip. Any advice on the second leg of our trip below would be greatly appreciated! Leg 1: Venice (3 nights) Leg 2: Montepulciano/Tuscany (4 nights) -Day Trip #1: drive to Volterra, spend 3-4 hours, drive to Sienna, spend 5 hours, drive back to hotel in Montepulciano -Day Trip #2: drive to St. Antimòs Abbey to watch Gregorian Chants at 9AM, stop in Montalcino, San Quirico d'Orcia, and Pienza on the way back to Montepulciano -Day Trip #3: drive to Assisi, spend 4-6 hours, drive to Cortona, spend 2-3 hours, drive back to Montepulciano. -Day Trip #4: drive to Civita di Bagnoregio early in the morning, spend 2 hours, drive to Orvieto, spend 2 hours. Catch train to Rome at 12:00p Leg 3: Rome (4 nights) Some of my questions of the bat: 1. Is this too much driving? 2. If yes above, what should we cut? (Is Volterra/Assisi/Orvieto worth it) 3. Any other advice based on what you see? Map of our honeymoon including these day trips: https://www.google.com/maps/ms?msid=211969406731211674214.0004c72525ad39b00ac09&msa=0
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
Driving in the hills can take longer than you might expect; all of the places you mention are worth seeing, but you might consider paring down your list a bit. You can visit Orvieto as a daytrip from Rome (take the train), or stop there on your way to Rome. I would keep Assisi as well, but you've got a long day there with Assisi and Cortona. I've been to all of the places on your list, the only one I would drop would be Pienza, unless you have some special reason for going there.
Posted by
Richmond, Ky, USA
278 posts
Dan, First, great pick . Montepulciano is a really nice place. Try a meal at Ai Quatrro venti, and Borgio Buio. Next, I agree with Zoe, Pienza is nice, but not alot there unless you want to go through the Papal summer home there, the Picolomini palace. Wife and I spent 6 days in Montepulciano one time, and 4 days the next. Both times, we took a map, found a high spot, and looked for another hilltown. The pace was slow, but we saw plenty, and enjoyed every mile. I think that all of the towns you mentioned are great, my only advice is to pick 1 a day, and enjoy the trip to and from. There is allot to see in between those towns. Also, Zoe was correct also about Orvieto being a day trip from Rome. Whatever you do, enjoy, and start making a return trip list, when the wheels touch down. Pm me if you need more info
Ciao, Jeff
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16210 posts
Dan: I might be biased since I was born and raised in Tuscany, but I wouldn't drop Pienza. Pienza is defined as "the Ideal Renaissance City" and is on the list of the UNESCO sites. It won't take much of your time and it's definitely worth it. Montalcino won't take much of your time either, unless you indulge too much on the Brunello, in which case your fiance will have to take over at the wheel. When I was living in Italy my then girlfriend and I did your trip 1 and 2 in one day starting from my house in Florence (it was a Mussolini tour, no rest allowed, or be punished with castor oil). Day Trip 3 could easily add a quick 1 hour stop in Perugia (Corso Vannucci and Duomo). I've done Assisi, Perugia and Cortona in a day from Florence also (another of those Mussolini tours), so you can certainly do it from Montepulciano. And 6 hours in Assisi are excessive, if you ask me (or Mussolini).
But one more thing. Do you really need 3 nights in Venice? You can visit everything in Venice in one day (San Marco, Palazzo Ducale, Rialto, Accademia, Frari Basilica). Add another for Murano glass shopping and some rest and you're done. Oh! Ok, I forgot the honeymoon! (I've been married for too long).