Logistics of going from Colle di Val d'Elsa outside Florence down to Sorrento

The faster option would be dropping the car near the Florence station and taking a train, but a lot of people are afraid of driving to the center of Florence as a single wrong turn may cost you a ZTL infringement fine; so the second best option would be dropping the car in the outskirts (like at the airport or at via del Sansovino).

The time lost backtracking north to Florence is easily recovered by boarding a fast train. As fast trains stop only in Florence, Rome and Naples and travel a little less than twice as fast as an average car, travelling through Florence will actually make your travel time shorter. Dropping the car anywhere between Florence and Rome would mean travelling on a much slower train, having to change in Rome and needing more time.

The following is just my opinion, the opinion of a Florentine who's lived there for decades and visits at least once a year.

Your plan makes no sense time wise, money wise, logistics wise, and above all, comfort wise.

You already have a rental car while you are in Colle (by the way you get an A+ for the choice of location in Tuscany, one of the quaintest towns and the most strategically located for car exploring).

In your shoes, I would keep the car a few extra hours and simply drive from Colle to Sorrento. The drive is an easy 310 miles (less than 6 hours including pit stops), 300 of which on a comfortable 4 to 6 lane freeway (the last 10 on a 2 lane highway). Once in Sorrento, if you don't need the car anymore, you can return your car there, all rental companies have an office in Sorrento.

Doing so will save you time and money (the car option will cost you less than €100 in gas, tolls and a few extra hours of rental, therefore cheaper than the train fare for two people). But above all, you will save yourself the hassle of driving back to Florence (nearly one hour) to return the car at the airport and spend an additional 25€ taxi fare to the station. Or, alternatively, dealing with city traffic to get downtown, with the possibility of getting lost and getting a ticket in the ZTL, walking 10-15 min from via Borgo Ognissanti (car return) to the station with luggage to take a train, deal with the gypsies at the Florence station, hauling luggage aboard the train, and finally, after 4 or 5 hours of ordeal, take the nasty and crowded Circumvesuviana commuter train from Naples to Sorrento for the last 70 minutes of your hellish journey.

I think that, in comparison, 5 hours behind the wheel on a freeway at your pace with your luggage safely and comfortably in the trunk sounds like a great deal to me.

Actually in your shoes, I might even keep the car while staying in Sorrento, but that is up to you.

Hi Superboiler,

Sorry I can't help with your question, but I have been to Colle a couple of times and wanted to give you a restaurant recommendation (even though you didn't ask for one.) It is called L' Astronave (the Astronaut) and it is in the town of Scorgiano which is a short distance south of Colle. They used to be out in the country but I think they have moved into town. Anyway, it is a casual, family-run place with excellent food. It is famous for its fresh tagliatelle with ragù. They have wonderful grilled meats including faraona (guinea hen) and chops and huge steaks. Their Torta della Nonna is unforgettable. We ate there 3 times. I will return!

Colle is also famous for its crystal. There are many shops selling it in the lower town and probably in the upper town too. I hope you enjoy your stay there. Ciao!

I'm with Roberto on this one. We actually did that same drive a few years back and it was quite easy as you are on the autostrada for most of the way.

Thanks for the reply and the restaurant recommendation. I think we will plan to drive down to Sorrento. This would allow us to take our time and stop for pictures, etc… along the way. I was originally hesitant about driving the Naples to Sorrento stretch but after looking at Google maps it looks like it won’t be a problem. Just need to watch for the scooters. :)
Our plan is to arrive in Florence and spend a couple of nights there and then pick up the car (probably at the train station or airport) and then stay in Colle di Val d'Elsa at the Palazzo San Lorenzo for two nights. Then off to Sorrento for three or four nights before heading back to Rome for a week. I suspect we will want to stay longer and each place but about two weeks should be enough for this trip.

Other Questions:
I am still looking at hotel arrangements for Florence and Sorrento. Any recommendations…especially something with a view in Sorrento?
Are there any tours that leave Sorrento in the morning and stop at Pompeii and maybe Naples before dropping you off at the Naples train station?

"Are there any tours that leave Sorrento in the morning and stop at Pompeii and maybe Naples before dropping you off at the Naples train station?"

You don't need a tour for this. You simply take the Circumvesuviana from Sorrento to the Pompeii Scavi stop. At Pompeii, you can take a tour if you wish. Then you take the Circumvesuviana from Pompeii Scavi to Napoli Garabaldi (the second to last stop). This is directly under the Naples Centrale station, and from there, you can get easily to any part of Naples you want to see.

It seems like you won't be staying overnight in Naples, but then want to go right from there to Rome. If this is the case, you may not have much time to see stuff in Naples, depending on how long you spend at Pompeii. It's large, and depending on your interest, people report spending anywhere from 2 to 6 hours there. (Personally I wasn't enthralled with it, and much preferred the Archeology Museum in Naples, but others find it's the past come to life).

If you have a few hours in Naples and they coincide with opening hours of the Archeology Museum, don't miss it. It has all the great stuff from Pompeii and Herculaneum, as well as amazing statues from the Baths of Caracalla in Rome. The past came to life for me here, and how! If you don't have enough time for this large museum, see the Cappella Sansevero. It's famous for the Veiled Christ, but I found Disillusion even more amazing. The Sansevero is small, and can be seen in a half hour - but you won't forget it.

Naples to Sorrento is easy. Once you see the Napoli Centro Direzionale freeway exit, keep an eye for the A3 autostrada to Salerno. You will pass the Ercolano exit, Torre Annunziata exit and finally you exit the Autostrada at CASTELLAMMARE DI STABIA. Then when you exit the freeway follow the directions to Castellammare and to Sorrento. Scooters aren't allowed on freeways, so only on the stretch from Castellammmare exit to Sorrento (regular two lane highway) you might see some.
Instead of the tour, you can take the Circumvesuviana commuter train from Sorrento to Pompeii and Naples. The train station at Pompeii is just 5 min walk from the excavations. There are lockers on site for your luggage, if you need.
For renting a car I suggest checking prices with a consolidator. I use www.kemwel.com or www.autoeurope.com (they are part of the same corporate group but check prices with both). The work primarily with Europcar, Hertz and Avis-Budget and they generally give you a better deal compared to going directly with the rental car companies. I suggest you get the full "no insurance excess" option (zero deductible insurance) as your insurance from home won't cover you (also the insurance from your credit card usually does not cover you in Italy and some other countries).
From Florence the car rental pick up locations that are easiest to get to Colle are:
Via del Gelsomino (Europcar)
Via Sansovino (Hertz)
Avis only has the Via Borgo Ognissanti (city center) location and the airport location. But Avis generally has higher prices anyhow. All companies (including Europcar and Hertz) have their city center location on Via Borgo Ognissanti.
Remember that you need your International Driver Permit to drive in Italy (get one at AAA for $15).
Study the Italian road signs (Google "Italian road signs") before going and remember that on European freeways you cannot cruise in the left lane. The left lane is the passing lane and it must be cleared as soon as you complete your passing of another vehicle. Do not pass cars going around their right side using the slow lane. That move is illegal on freeways.