Rental car from Florence to La Spezia

Only Pisa is on the way from Florence to La Spezia. The rest are south/southwest of Florence and out of the way if the intent is to see them while on the way to the Cinque Terra. Therefore, I would forget about the car and just take the train to La Spezia with a stop in Pisa along the way.

Better yet, you can do Pisa and Lucca as a day trip via train or bus from Florence.

If you have your heart set on the Chianti region, make if a day trip or find a base in Chianti from which to explore for a couple days. Just make sure you read up on all the hassles of driving in Italy. Traffic Zone (ZTL) and speed violations can add up really quick.

The train trip from Florence to 5 Terre takes a couple of train changes. We did it from Lucca and it took awhile, but it is doable. Pisa is south of La Spezia and Lucca.

I always like a car, if you handle the parking associated with it. You can rent one in La Spezia. You have much more freedom and travel schedules are totally up to you not the railroads. If you divide Italy by the A1 autostrada east and west you have two distinct parts of Tuscany. Siena, San Gimignano, Pisa, Lucca, Volterra, ets are all west of the A1. The classic Chianti towns are all east. One I like is Panzano. Google Dario Cecchini and check out the butcher of Panzano. Maybe you would like to visit him.

Rent a car from La Spezia after seeing the CT - Avis/Budget has the most convenient location but watch their hours. Do not drive from Florence to the CT. You will hear of people driving to Monterosso because there is parking, but don't do it unless you have the neck of an owl.

Thanks everyone. Our plans are to stay in Rome 3 nights and take the train to Florence for 3 nights. Then we would rent a car and drive to La Spezia stopping in Siena, San Gimignano and Pisa (or other better suggestions) before dropping the car in La Spezia. We will then take the train up to Monterosso for 3 nights in the 5 Terra then take the train to Lecco for 2 nights in Lake Como and then train to Venice for 4 nights. All lodging is set, waiting to do train reservations.

We were looking at a Viator day trip from Florence to Siena, San Gimignano, Pisa and back to Florence. I have contacted Viator to see if we can bring our luggage in the coach and stay in Pisa instead of returning to Florence. We would then take the train from Pisa to La Spezia and on to Monterosso. But I have not heard from Viator as of yet. Hence, the thought of renting a car from Florence.....

All sounds good,, have a great trip.

Thanks Gordon... I trust we will. Any advice on renting a car from Florence to La Spezia? And you like Chianti over Tuscany. Any thoughts on why?

Just a note....the Chianti region IS in Tuscany.

Thank you..... well pointed out. My question was which part of Tuscany, as pointed out by Gordon, should we spend our day in. This is only our second time in Italy and our first was only in Rome and a day in Florence.