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Help Planning - Italy - Florence, Tuscany, Cinque Terre or Amalfi, then Rome.

We will be in Italy, the last week of October and then departing the end of the 1st week of November. 10 days which includes travel time.
Trying to lay out our itinerary before we look into places to stay. I know most will say we are squeezing too much and to narrow it down. However, this will more than likely be our only trip. We are okay, not visiting a lot of museums..and doing more of the local thing. Want to enjoy the good food and wine and are okay living like gypsies for the time we are there. Places below are not set in stone. Is there anything we should add or take off? Suggestions on a central locale to stay? Flights have already been purchased. We are flying into Florence and departing from Rome. I do however, wish to go to the coast -either Cinque Terre or Amalfi. I know it is a stretch. But if we could even stay 2 days. I'm good with that. Which should we do? We are outdoorsy love hiking, but also are good with just relaxing too. Amalfi has always been on my list of must sees -- until I learned about Cinque Terre - and I am intrigued and would be happy with either.
FLORENCE ARRIVING (1-2 NTS?) — rent a car and visit below areas in Tuscany:
TUSCANY BELOW (3 NIGHTS)
GREVE IN CHIANTI
SAN GIMIGNANO
SIENA
MONTEPULCIANO
PIENZA
VAL D’ORCIA
MONTALCINO
CIVITA DI BAGNOREGIO
PITIGLIANO ?
AMALFI OR CINQUE TERRE? (If we do Cinque Terre, I think we should do this right after Florence, and then go to Tuscany and make our way down to Rome stopping casually along the way) (IF we do Amalfi, I think we should do Florence, Tuscany, Amalfi - take the train into Rome 2-3 NIGHTS. I would pick a central locale in Amalfi)
ROME — DEPARTING 1 night?

Posted by
7175 posts

I think its ambitious. Hopefully you have 10 nights to play with. I think the Amalfi Coast is easier than CT (and warmer for you in October).
FLORENCE (2 NIGHTS) — rent a car and visit below areas in Tuscany
TUSCANY (3 NIGHTS)
GREVE IN CHIANTI / SAN GIMIGNANO / SIENA / MONTEPULCIANO / VAL D’ORCIA ??
SORRENTO/AMALFI (3 NIGHTS) CAPRI ??
ROME (2 NIGHTS)

Posted by
24 posts

Both the Cinque Terre and Amalfi Coast are stunning. However, considering the time of the year, I agree with the other traveler who mentioned Amalfi might be warmer and drier. You might even be able to stop and see Pompei and take a quick ferry boat over to Capri. Either area you choose will be memorable. Enjoy your wonderful trip !

Posted by
11613 posts

Museums in Italy are a local thing, by the way.

Your trip sequence looks good for either Amalfi Coast or Cinque Terre.

You need to pare down your list of places in Tuscany. Even with a car, two towns in one day is about as much as I would attempt. Distance between towns and finding a place to park can take more time than you think. Plus, you'll want to enjoy the places, not just rush through them.

Praiano is central on the Amalfi Coast.

Posted by
52 posts

Comment about the museums - Did not mean that it was not local. Meaning that we are ok not standing in line to see the Sistine Chapel, and many of the more traditional tourist attractions. The bulk of our trip would like to be in Tuscany walking, driving through towns, appreciating the scenery, food and wine.

Posted by
4105 posts

When you say "10 days which includes travel time" do you mean...

Day 1 Travel. You loose a day going to Europe.

Day 2 Arrive Florence

Day 10 Travel home ???

Or 10 days NOT including the day you leave and return. This could make a huge impact

on the available time you actually have.

Posted by
906 posts

OK, Tuscany is an easy driving area. Last summer we stayed in San Gimignano and traveled to Florence (by train from Poggibonsi). We stayed in Umbria and traveled to Rome by train (Narni). We departed from Rome-FCO (after Umbria). We drove to many, many other places and there were 12 of us. We visted most of the towns on your list and could have done them all (matter of priority). We even went to 5 Terre from San Gimi (but it was a very long day). Almost all the towns you mention you can drive to from one central Tuscan location. Try to minimize moving locations.

It is very difficult to drive the Amalfi coast. It is a beautiful place and you should see Amalfi, Revello, Positano, Capri and Sorrento if you go there. We did it by local bus. I had a rental car there and took it back to Naples and jumped a ferry back to Positanto because it had no use on the Amalfi coast.

Consider Montefalco, Perugia, Orvieto, Todi, and/or Spoletto if you are in or near Umbria.

Have fun.