This is our third trip to Italy for my husband and I, and we are taking our 32 year old son for his first trip in May for 3 weeks. We are staying in an agriturismo in Pienza for a week. Our itinerary is set and not much room for changes. Would it be reasonable to travel from Pienza to Florence for a day trip. I would really like for my son to see the Academia. We will have a rental car, but I'm not sure that we should drive all the way to Florence or to a train station outside of Florence. I know that parking near cities can be difficult. It appears to be about an hour and a half to 2 hours each way. Any suggestions?
Posted by
133 posts
You could drive from your accommodation near Pienza to the parking lot just off the A1 outside Florence…Parcheggio Villa Costanza. It looks to be about a 90 minute - 2 hour drive or so. You park in the large lot, buy your tram ticket, and wait for the next tram into the Florence train station…Santa Maria Novella. Be sure to validate your ticket as soon as you get on the tram. The tram ride is about 20 minutes and runs very frequently. It is about a half mile walk…15 minutes or so…to the Academia from the train station.
https://parcheggiovillacostanza.it/en/
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
7235 posts
Train from Chiusi takes just about 2 hours
Check to see if there is parking there
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16133 posts
If you decide on a train, it is probably faster to drive to FIGLINE VALDARNO then take the train from there. There is a parking lot at Figline. I would be more inclined to drive all the way. Villa Costanza is a good option.
Posted by
Chicago, IL, USA
488 posts
The map bot of google says 1:49 in driving from the center of Pienza to the SMN parking lot. With tolls. Without, 2:04.
Checking other solutions: the bot says Pineza to the Drive & Tram parking lot on the A1 is 1:26 with tolls to 1:45 without.
If you drive to Chiusi, the train to SMN is 1:56 on top of the drive from the center of Pienza adding an additional 44-58 minutes.
The Figline Valdarno is 1:15 on the A1 with tolls, and 1:35 on the SP540 without. Add 36 minutes on a RV or 55 on a REG.
As always, Roberto knows his stuff. I'd drive, pay the tolls, and avoid the ZTLs.
Posted by
OP
Houston, TX
116 posts
Thanks to all for the suggestions!