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Logistics for Tuscany stay

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Our family of 5 is doing a 3-night stay in Tuscany in between visits to Rome and Cinque Terre. We are planning in the area around Volterra. We will need to rent a car for this area. I looked at train schedules and was originally thinking to take the train from Rome to Siena and rent a car there but then I see that trains to Florence are much faster due to the high speed service between Rome and Florence. We were not planning on spending time in Florence though now I am tempted to at least take my boys to go see David. If we did that, what would be the best plan of attack - rent the car first and then use it to store our backpack luggage and park somewhere? Get baggage storage elsewhere and then rent the car later? How long should we allow for going to see David (I will get reservations ahead of time)?

Then I am wondering if from there I should drive to Siena and check that out before checking in that evening near Volterra? We will be staying at an agriturismo for 3 nights so we will have whatever we do on that arrival day plus two more full days. We want to have a little time on the farm we ill stay at to relax but also would like to see Volterra, San Gimignano, and Siena. Anyone have a good plan of attack? Any cool experiences we shouldn't miss for 3 boys ages 9, 12, and 15?

On our check out day, we will be heading to the Cinque Terre area (Levanto). I was thinking about driving to Pisa to see the Leaning Tower and then returning the rental car in Pisa to then catch a train to the CT. Is anything wrong with this plan? Is it ok to rent the car in Florence but return in Pisa or will we be charged an arm and a leg?

Thanks for any suggestions. We have not booked our agriturismo yet so if anyone else has a family of 5 that stayed in a great one they would recommend, please share! Would love a pool for the boys.

Posted by
16243 posts

You could also rent a car in Rome and drive to your Tuscany destination and visit some places on the way there. That way you save the €45x5 people for the high speed train tickets. For five people a car is less expensive even at €1.50/liter gasoline. I would choose this option especially with kids and luggage to haul. Three nights are only two full days, so you don't have a lot of time. If you want to see something in Florence you can later decide if you want to drive there for one of the two days. Just park outside the city walls in one of the parking lots (coming from the Siena area, the parking at Porta Romana is the best option).

Your plan to take the train to Florence then rent after your short visit can also work (at a higher price).. In that case you would leave your luggage at the station at the luggage storage (Deposito bagagli) and retrieve it later. The rental car offices are all in the Via Borgognissanti area, about 10 min walk from the station. if you decide to drive back to the station to retrieve your luggage after picking up the rental car, let me know and I'll give you very detailed instructions to get in and out without being "caught on camera" while entering the ZTL zone. Or you could pick up the luggage first then walk to the rental car place.

If you go to Levanto, you could return the car in La SPEZIA, then take the train from there. Or you could keep the car depending on what your plan is afterwards. You won't need the car in Levanto however.

There is no extra charge for picking the car in a city and returning in another, as long as it's in the same country.

Posted by
16895 posts

I don't think you have time to pop in and see David (and would want a reservation to do so efficiently). Among your destinations of Volterra, San Gimignano, and Siena, Siena is the largest, so I would allot it the most time, up to a full day. If you don't drive from Rome, you could pick up a car in Siena or at Chiusi, on the central train line.

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