We are mostly traveling by train in Italy, but wanted a car to see some of the hill towns of Tuscany. So, we are picking up a car on our last day in Florence. We will have the car for three days, while we are staying at one of Rick's recommended hotels in Siena. I have been reading on the web that parking is Siena is VERY difficult. We will be there in late May. Does anyone have any experience with this? If it is going to be too difficult, we may ditch the car and go back to trains and buses. Thanks for any insight anyone might have.
Bill
Posted by
Wichita
831 posts
Bill,
This might help http://www.turismoverde.com/italia/info/mappe/mappark.jpg
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
Rick gives detailed instructions on overnight parking in Siena, on p. 234 of Florence & Tuscany, page reference is to 2007 edition not 2008.
Posted by
sauk rapids, mn
267 posts
we were in siena last month with a rental car and used the free parking behind the fortress that rick steves talks about in the guide book. it was hit and miss with parking stalls but we always managed to find one for the overnight. sometimes you just have to drive back and forth pass the lot and street parking to see someone leave and take that spot. his guidebook had great directions on finding these spots when arriving to siena. good luck :):)
Posted by
Nashville, TN, USA
53 posts
Bill,
We just rented a car for the day and thank the Lord we did. We returned the car after hours and they said just to find a space to leave it somewhere around the rental place (Avis). WE drove around for 45 minutes looking for a space, I can't imagine having to do that every night!
Posted by
Fort Collins, CO, USA
24 posts
We found a big pay parking lot just outside the city. There's actually an esculator up to the city.
Elaine
Posted by
OP
Alamogordo, New Mexico, USA
3 posts
Thanks everyone for tips. Elaine, can you tell me how to find the lot you are referring to? Thanks.
Bill
Posted by
Fort Collins, CO, USA
24 posts
Gosh, I'm sorry but I don't remember. I think we just followed signs for parking, but I know it was easy, and there were plenty of spaces.
Elaine
Posted by
The Hague, NL (AMS)
2207 posts
I've been to the same escalator Elaine describes.
I believe it is entry through Porta Ovile and the escalator is to the Church of San Francesco, in the historic centre of Siena. It's on the NORTH side of town as we stayed at a hotel near the train station!
You still have to walk "up into" the heart of town but it is easier. I cannot vouch for the amount of parking as we were walking that trip...
Ciao,
Ron
Posted by
SF Bay Area, CA, USA
508 posts
Check on parking arrangements with your hotel. Our hotel directed us to the parking structure on the outskirts of town and validated our ticket every day.
The hardest part was finding our hotel to drop our bags. We must have passed it twice and had to circle around the town each time as it is a one way street. Other than that, driving in the Siena area and Tuscany wasn't a problem.