I plan on doing a bit of traveling around Tuscany/Umbria in May. I will have a car. Some of the places I'd like to check out are: (in no particular order) Assisi, Gubbio, Volterra, Montepulciano, Mantalcino, Orvieto, Todi, Bagnoreggio. I may be returning car to Civitavecchia/Rome, but picking up in Florence (or perhaps Perugia)....I would love feedback on what town to use as a homebase, not just in terms of being central, but to offer enough on it's own. I cannot thank the RS Graffiti Wall participants enough. Your views are always spot on! thx!
Posted by
roswell, ga, usa
1501 posts
You need to start a new thread with a specific question, such as Tuscany/Umbria home base? You'll have luck getting more expert
advice from people who are most familiar with this area. 2 cents worth sounds like you're giving YOUR 2 cents worth re a recent trip. I like using Florence or somewhere just outside for travel in Tuscany, because of the conveniences of travel connections, but so far haven't had a car there -- and you CANT drive inside the city of Florence.
Posted by
OP
staten island, ny, usa
33 posts
Thanks. No, not recent trip, that's why I wanted to explore these places. I did get a car in Florence once, & fortunately noticed the signs.I thougt by posted question in this area would reach more travelers, but thx for suggestions
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15221 posts
Based on the towns you listed, Siena or thereabouts would be the town that is logistically best located to day trip to those destinations. All of those towns are within 2 hours drive from Siena. Some are within half hour drive from Siena.
Posted by
Wichita
831 posts
Felicia,
This may help http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/tuscany/hs_planning.htm
Posted by
Atlanta, Georgia
565 posts
I agree with Roberto. My husband and I had a similar wish list and rented an apartment in Siena last year and made day trips. I've also done this from a B&B in rural Tuscany but highly enjoyed staying in a good sized town at night much more. It was nice to do day trips and come home and be able to walk to dinner and enjoy some beer/wine on the Campo every night. We didn't have any problems finding parking just outside the walls as we usually arrived back home when everyone else was leaving. It wasn't cheap though, but worth it to have the car. There is also an escalator from the train station (across the street in the mall) into the edge of town that most people still don't seem to know about so the train station is much more convenient for easy train day trips. We picked up our car in Rome on all occasions so I can't help with Florence other than we drove there as day trips and parked it just outside the ZTLs with no issues. Have a wonderful time!
Posted by
Huntsville, AL, USA
8163 posts
If you're driving a Hertz car, you can drop it off in Orvieto across the street from the train station. From Orvieto, it's about 45 minutes into Rome's main trains station. Rome is a place you really don't need a car in, as parking is expensive and cars are somewhat a hassle to deal with. There's also a chance you could be ticketed in a ZTL. The roads in Tuscany are easily traveled, if just a little crooked. We love just rambling from town to town.