We're in a bit of a quandary-we'll be traveling in September, flying from Cork Ireland to Italy (Florence?) on the 21st. We'd go Aer Lingus to LHR, then Vueling from LHR to Florence, arriving 19:35. We are already booked for three nights in Vernazza, 24th, 25th, and 26th. This leaves us Sunday the 22nd to see Uffizi, which is closed Monday, and a couple of other key sites in Florence. My question is: Does it make sense to train to Siena from Florence either late afternoon-evening on Sunday-or perhaps early the next day (Monday)-stay one night in Siena, then train to Vernazza on Tuesday the 24th? It would have been nice to have an extra day, I see that now, but we are also booked in Ireland through the 20th, so we are a bit boxed in. I'm ok with Siena on Monday even if some stuff is closed there, as the Uffizi etc would be our priority, my concern is really the Tuesday train to Vernazza, a distance of about 245 km, is that easily done? The obvious option here would be to just skip Siena and take a relax day in Florence, heading by train to Vernazza from Florence on Tuesday the 24th, a somewhat shorter distance.
I would sure appreciate any input on this-thanks.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15163 posts
You should take a day trip to Siena on Monday via bus from Florence, it's a 70 min ride (bus is 20 min. faster than train and takes you on the hilltop in the historical center, rather than at the foothills where the station is). Just go for the day coming back to Florence in the evening. Spend the night in Florence Monday night and on Tuesday head to Vernazza. Going to the Cinque Terre from Florence, rather than Siena, is much faster and requires only 2 train changes (Pisa and La Spezia) rather than three. Also from Florence, depending on the time of travel, you might be able to catch a non stop Regionale Veloce to Pisa, which is faster.
Posted by
OP
Eugene, Oregon...Formerly Ventura, CA
2261 posts
Of course! Thank you so much Roberto, a great idea. We get so "into" it, we can't see it anymore! We'll do a day trip.
Dave