We are staying with friends for a week in Montepulciano, then 3 days in Florence, leaving there about October 18. We fly out of Rome on the 25th, and want to go to Sorrento and the Amalfi coast. My husband would freak out in Naples, so would prefer to visit the smaller, less hectic towns along the way. I loved San Gimiano 50 years ago….but don’t know what it’s like now, but I’d like to have a day in a town like that on the way to Sorrento. If we got 1 (2?) nights in Sorrento then, take the ferry along the coast (?), then what? Back to Sorrento? Stay at the southern end of the Amalfi coast (?). Would like to go to Pompeii, just not sure of logistics until we leave for Rome on the 23rd. Thanks for your guidance!
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
6621 posts
Exactly how many nights between Florence and Rome?
It looks like 5-is that correct?
I see 2 nights in Rome which isn’t much
Since it’s such a trek to /from Sorrento and Amalfi give that area all 5 nights
You can visit San Gimignano while you are in Montepulciano along with many other small hill towns
Train from Florence to Sorrento via Naples
Sorrento 5 nights
-visit Pompeii
Do a day trip along the Amalfi Coast
Ferry to Capri
Day visit to Naples
Train to Rome
Posted by
OP
14 posts
Thanks.
Here’s the itinerary I have in mind for 10 days after leaving Florence:
Florence to San Giminano 1 night October 16 (2 hrs by train or bus)
San Giminano to Sienna 1 night October 17 (1 hr by bus prob)
Sienna to Spello 2 nights October 18-19 (3 hr travel)
Spello to Sorrento 3 nights October 20-22 (5 hr travel)
Sorrento to Rome 2 nights October 23-24 (2 1/2 hr travel)
Fly to Denver on Oct 25
This is after having been in Tuscany for 8 days,
Is this too ambitious or repetitive? Should we stay in Sienna for 2 days instead of Spello/Assisi? Should we stay in Sorrento for 2 nights and Salerno for 1, or is that more of a day trip? As I said before my husband can’t handle cities, so we may or may not go to Napoli whilst in the Sorento/Amalfi/ area. Haven’t booked rooms yet. Any ideas on the towns we are going (or not going) to?
Thank you SOOOO MUCH!
Posted by
lexington, il
4105 posts
Spello is best done from Montepulciano.
4 nights, hope you have a car for this area.
Edit. Florence 3 nights
Florence - Siena. 2 nights.
Bus drops you at the top of town.
Bus to San Gimignano from Siena. If your husband would Freak in Napoli, this wall of humanity is not for him.
Train Siena-Orvieto skip Sorrento & Amalfi coast this trip. 1 night.
Train Orvieto - Rome. 2 nights.
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
6621 posts
Too much moving around for my liking
I would suggest you chose between Umbria OR Sorrento
It’s a trek to Sorrento so give it the time it needs for exploring the whole area.
Add a night to Florence and day trip Siena from Florence. There are guided tours that will take you to both SG and a Siena-much easier than on your own via bus
I think you’ll find SG is not the place it was 50 years ago!
Orvieto is easy, right on train line and on the way south. We loved our 2 nights there, especially the evenings
From Orvieto to Sorrento for however many nights you have left-4?
Take a look at Mondo Guides www.sharedtours.com
We did their Pompeii tour and Capri tour.
Both were excellent
Their Amalfi coast tour is very affordable and makes getting around much easier than DIY in buses
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15466 posts
I'd rent a car on my way out to Florence, and return it in Sorrento.
Much more efficient to visit the places you want to visit.
As far as the nights in each place, assuming you follow the advice to rent a car, would be 4 nights in Siena (or surroundings) with day trips to wherever (including Assisi/Spello, which are within 2 hour drive from Siena).
According to my count you have 9 nights available. Therefore after the 4 in Siena above, you could have 3 in Sorrento and 2 Rome. I'm assuming that you've been to Rome before, because otherwise 2 nights would be totally inadequate.
Posted by
San Diego, California
5108 posts
Sorrento to Rome is almost four hours. You haven't taken in account the congestion in the entire area, and the fact that there is no efficient or quick way to get anywhere, whether it be public or private transportation. The infrastructure has been very neglected, so the roads are narrow and congested, and the regional trains can also be very crowded and not quite punctual.
Have. Great trip and perhaps spend more nights in the same area. Safe travels!