we arrive on sept 2 in Rome. we have rented an apartment near the French embassy for a week . we leave on Friday sept 9 for Tuscany. Monday we are taking a Rapid Rail train to Pompei and tour there , Tuesday we are doing Vatican museum, Wed. the Borghese museum, Thursday Rapid Rail to Venice . We leave for Tuscany on the 9 we have a driver for a week in Tuscany . We are staying in a villa in a small village called Manciano , we leave Manciano on the 16 for a day trip with destination back at airport Hilton with flight out on Saturday. Help filling in or just any advice appreciated on things not too miss. First time for me and husband in Italy.
Posted by
Washington DC
28477 posts
Venice is a rather odd day trip from Rome. Even on a fast train, it's a long ride. It's considerably closer to Florence. If you can't switch Venice around and visit it from Florence, I'd be tempted to skip that trip and go somewhere closer to Rome where I'd actually have some time to see the destination.
From Rome you have Orvieto, Viterbo, Ostia Antica (perhaps not the best choice since you're doing Pompeii), Tivoli, and many other possibilities.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11851 posts
There's nothing we call "Rapid Rail" in Italy. The trains are generically called high-speed or alta velocitá. To get to Pompeii, you need to take the alta velocitá to Naples and then the Circumvesuviana to Pompeii Scavi. OR you can take the alta velocitá to the town of Pompei (note spelling difference) but you will be a mile from the scavi (ruins) site and perhaps require a cab to get there depending on your desire to walk in the heat.
To and from Venice is 7 hours on the train. Does not give you much time to see Venice. I think there's much more benefit to staying in Rome or doing a closer day trip. Orvieto is very easy and always a hit with people. Tivoli and Villa d'Este is very nice. Are you planning on seeing the Colosseo/Palatino/Foro Romano over the weekend of the 3rd and 4th? I like to recommend a private guide for that in particular.
Other things to work in if possible: Palazzo Valentini Domus Romane, These fun night events in the Fori Imperiali, Galleria Pamphilj, Eataly, Castel Gandolfo, Notti d'Estate a Castel Sant'Angelo continues through Sept 6 so you might look into that. It's nice to have some things to do at night when it is so hot during the day!
Posted by
Portland, Oregon, United States
907 posts
Agree that a day trip to Venice, if that is what you had in mind, is not advisable.
I think you are also asking about things to see in Tuscany. So I will suggest a few. You are pretty much in the south of Tuscany.I assume your driver will have many ideas as well. You are close Porto San Stefano and Porto Ercole which you should visit.
Also, you have the standard hill/wine towns of Montalcino and Montepulciano to visit, and see Pienza for lunch if you go to Montepulciano. You can also do Siena, and you should, from your villa. You can even get to San Gimignano, Monetriggioni and Volterra. Here's a thought if you want wander over to the Chianti area, go to Panzano and the butcher shop. Google Dario Cecchini and see if you would like to meet the guy before you go, or even go for lunch or dinner.
About 15 minutes up the road is Trattoria Verdiana, try that for meal. And you might try Locanda Pietracupa in San Donato and/or
for seafood while you are on the coast try La Pineta near Cécina, Tuscany, a bit north of you.