Love Steve's but confused about italy itinerary and car vs train

My family and I (three of us including one young child) are going to Italy. We are skipping Cinque Terre on this trip. It is somewhat of a logistical hassle for us. We are traveling strictly by train and bus and going to areas that are easy to access by train and bus. I do NOT recommend a car for major cities like Rome and Florence (expensive parking, crazy driving). Siena can be walked. The only place I would take a car in Italy is the Tuscan Countryside (places like Montepulciano) that are difficult to access by train or bus. You can easily day trip to Siena from Florence (bus) or overnight in Siena. Places like Florence and I believe Siena have car restrictions within the city itself as to where you can and cannot drive. So, a car would be useless in these places. For a nine day trip, sticking with Florence, Siena, Rome is really enough. There's plenty to see in these places. Make a list of "must-see" sights in each place and then figure-out your time allotments for each place.

We are currently in Florence, and our third trip to Italy in the last five years. I don't have any advice about Easter, but there are lots of good activities for active 13 year olds here in Florence. We loved the Pitti Palace and adjacent Boboli Gardens. The Bargello museum would also be good for teens. And there are good climbs in the Duomo and the campanile to wear them out! We are grandparents now but raised 4 children - all very active, so remember the energy! I think 4 days here would be good.

How about using trains to get here from Rome and renting an apartment in Florence in the Oltrarno district? Adventures to be had both managing the trains (it's not hard to buy the tickets - and so many people speak English and will help) and living like locals for a few days. We are renting an apartment close to the south end of the Ponte Vecchio, and love shopping in the local supermarket for good prepared foods in the deli section, great bread and cheese, and fresh fruit and veggies. Best tomatoes in the world! And then strolling to the local gelateria for dessert....

We found our apartment on the Homeaway web site. Good value and great experience.

Once you have seen Florence, renting a car to tour Tuscany and head beck to the airport might be a great change of pace. Lucca and San Gimignano would both appeal to teenagers.

llavelle,

I have a few thoughts on your questions.....

1. Some places likely will be closed on Easter Sunday but you should still be able to do some touring. Roberto or one of the others should be able to provide more specific information on that.
2. Itinerary: It appears that you have eight days for actual touring. Your profile doesn't indicate where you're travelling from, but you'll likely be jet-lagged on arrival day so won't get much touring done. With that in mind, I'd suggest no more than two or three locations, along with day trips. I'll provide a suggested Itinerary in another post.
3. Try to minimize the number of location changes and hotels, as each one will require time and money. With such a very short trip, wasting time is not a good idea. As you have to return to Rome for your flight home, that will also require extra time.
4. A car is NOT necessary for the places you'll be visiting, as you can easily get around by public transit. Having a car creates other "issues" so you'd be better to stick with trains and perhaps buses (IMO).
5. The Cinque Terre is definitely worth seeing, but you likely won't be doing any "intense hiking" while there. The most popular trails used by visitors to that area are the No. 2 trails, and at the moment they're all closed. There's no indication at this point which ones (if any) will be open at the time you're there. One option would be to take a day trip from Florence to the C.T. just to see the place, and travel between the five towns using the local trains. If the Via dell'amore (Riomaggiore to Manarola) is open, you could certainly walk that as it's very easy (although it may not be worthwhile to pay for the Park Pass just to "hike" that one trail).

As you have the Italy 2014 Guidebook, be sure to familiarize yourself with the "caveats" regarding using public transit in Italy. Those with "irregularities" in their tickets are often fined on the spot and the fines are NOT cheap (~€50 PP).

Good luck with your planning!

llavelle,

You could consider something along these lines.....

• Apr. 17 - Th: Arrive Rome/FCO - Buy tickets at the airport station to Firenze SMN. Use the Leonardo Express to Roma Termini (DON'T forget to validate) and then Freccia train to Florence (90 minutes). Check into your hotel. You may have the energy for a brief walkabout and jet lag recovery.
• Apr. 18 - Fr: (Good Friday) - Florence, touring - perhaps take a Bus trip up to Fiesole, as you'll still likely be jet lagged and not up to touring speed. If you're planning to visit the Uffiza and/or Accademia, reservations would be highly advisable (details in the guidebook). You'll have to check online to see which places may be open that day.
• Apr. 19 - Sa: Day trip to Cinque Terre, Pisa or Lucca (pick one). A day trip to the Cinque Terre will mean a longer day, but that's the one I'd recommend, as it's such a beautiful and unique area.
• Apr. 20 - Su: (Easter Sunday) - Florence, touring. Your hotel will be able to provide information on which restaurants may be open.
• Apr. 21 - Mo: (Easter Monday) - Day trip to Siena via Bus. The bus station is close to Firenze SMN rail station. There are two types of buses, Corse Rapide and Corse Ordinarie. One is an express bus but the difference in travel times is minimal so you could take either type. DON'T forget to validate your tickets prior to boarding the bus. You'll be dropped in Piazza Gramsci, which is right in the main part of town. Be sure to note the return time for the Bus back to Florence.
• Apr. 22 - Tu: Freccia train to Roma Termini (90 minutes). I'd suggest leaving sometime after breakfast, since you'll be paying for that anyway. Don't arrive too early as your rooms may not be serviced yet. Check into your hotel and start touring right away.
• Apr. 23 - We: Rome, touring. You may find it helpful to hire one of the local guides listed in the guidebook to provide a tour for your group, as it will make the experience more interesting and you'll learn more. Francesca Caruso is exceptional, but you'll have to check with her.
• Apr. 24 - Th: Day trip to Orvieto (about an hour each way). Your group may find it interesting to visit St. Patrick's Well (a remarkable engineering feat in it's time, using a double helix design), the Underground tour (if it's operating then) and the Duomo (be sure to see the incredible Signorelli Frescoes in the Chapel of the Madonna di San Brizio, which is inside the Duomo).
• Apr. 25 - Fr: Rome, touring. The guidebook has information on avoiding queues and how to obtain tickets for various attractions.
• Apr. 26 - Sa: Leonardo Express or other mode of transport to FCO for your flight home.

There are many ways this could be structured, and this is only one suggestion.

Regarding the language issue, there are suggestions in the guidebook. Most of the people you'll be dealing with in tourist-related businesses will be able to speak some English, but it's still polite to learn a few of the common phrases (good morning, good evening, please, thankyou, etc.).

Be sure to wear Moneybelts and be vigilant for scammers. They WILL be working!

I'm sure this will be an incredible lifetime experience for your 13-year olds. I was never able to take a trip like that with my sons.

Happy travels!

Wow ...thank everyone , especially Ken...amazing ....thoughtful...and exceedingly mind of you to give such a detailed answer....thanks so so much...

Ken is right about going to Florence first and doing Rome for last. Rome at Easter is too crowded with pilgrims.
However keep this in mind. Easter Sunday at Noon exactly has a major event in Florence (the Scoppio del Carro, or the blowing of the cart), make sure you don't miss it, but it attracts lots of crowds from all over the world.
Monday 21 is a holiday in Italy (Lunedi dell'Angelo, or Angel's Monday). That is a day where all Italians take the family on a trip "fuori porta" (outside the city wall gates) for the day. A good portion of Florentines will be visiting Siena (by car) and lots of Senesi will be visiting Florence. Bus are on holiday schedule (festivo) that day, i.e. limited service. However don't despair, you can go to Siena by train also, just 15 min. longer.
Rome after Easter would be normally slower than during Easter Week. Not so fast, amigo! This year Easter is late and April 25 is a National Holiday (Liberation Day), therefore lots of tourists after Easter too.
No way to get around that my friend. Just book early.
Shops will be closed on Easter Sunday, Angel's Monday and 25th of April. Restaurants will be open in all tourist areas.

Thanks Roberto .....do you agree with men's itinerary??? I deeply appreciate your help we are so nervous abut everything being closed...originally we were thinking of spending the first 17,18, part of 19 th in Florence and then stay 19-21 just outside volterra thinking we would be ok for the holiday and could drive around Tuscany or up to cinque.....I love the book but it gets confusing if you are not sure where you want to go....

Restaurants will be open at those major tourist destinations so don't worry about that.
Ken has a good plan, however the Cinque Terre done as a day trip by train from Florence is a long trek. It's almost 3 hrs each way with 2 train changes. If you decide to go to the Cinque Terre, I would try to spend 2 nights there. You have 9 nights on the ground in Italy from the 17th of April (Thursday) to the 25th of april (Friday). Then Sat 26 you return.
You could spend 4 nights in Florence, 2 nights at the Cinque Terre and the last 3 in Rome. Thus:
Thu 4/17= Arrive FCO (to Florence). follow Ken's advice
Fri 4/18=Florence all day.
Sat 4/19=Florence (day trip to Siena or Lucca)
Easter Sun 4/20=Florence all day, maybe afternoon in Fiesole.
Angel's Mon 4/21= depart to Cinque Terre, visit Pisa for 1-2 hr on the way there (must change trains in Pisa anyhow). Afternoon at CT.
Tue 4/22= all day at Cinque Terre. Take a hike. Visit villages.
Wed 4/23= depart to Rome from CT (3.5 hr train trip). Afternoon in Rome
Thu 4/24=Rome all day
Fri 4/25=Rome all day
Sat 4/26=Depart from Rome FCO.
As you can see, in my proposed itinerary I dumped Orvieto, but you now have more time for the Cinque Terre. It depends on your personal interests of course, but if you really want to see the Cinque Terre, you could spend 2 nights there and relax. If you don't mind doing the Cinque Terre as a day trip with lots of hours on trains, then follow Ken's advice, but don't stop in Pisa on the way to the Cinque Terre. Rather go as early as possible to the Cinque Terre because the Cinque Terre must be enjoyed during daylight time and you want to take advantage of the daytime hours as much as possible. Then on the way back to Florence in the early evening when it gets dark leave the CT and stop in Pisa to see the leaning tower (which is even nicer at night). The last train back from Pisa to Florence is pretty late, after 10pm.

I would skip the Cinque Terre for this trip and spend a night in Orvieto. There's a good underground tour and a spectacular setting, and an archeological zone just outside the walls.

@Roberto,

Thanks for providing the information on holiday options. My knowledge of holiday customs there is a bit limited.

@llavelle,

The Itinerary suggestion that Roberto provided is also excellent, and certainly one to consider. Regarding a day trip from Florence to the Cinque Terre, it's a bit of a long day but not really too bad. I suggested it as I took that trip myself last June so I have a good idea what it's like, and I didn't find it to be a particularly strenuous journey. If you leave Florence right after breakfast and return from Monterosso after supper, it provides enough time for a quick look at the C.T. as well as a fine Ligurian supper (preferably something with Pesto).

Thank you all so very much....now that we have an itinerary , on to booking places to stay!,,

If the Cinque Terra are on your itinerary, remember that you can connect some towns by boat, as well as by train or hiking. That also gives you a different perspective, from the water, and another experience!