Needing help with an itinerary idea. Arriving in Rome and thinking to rent a car and drive up the coast way to Pisa with a stop along the coast for one or two nights. Other option is to take a train to do this and then rent a car in Pisa. Any suggestions on the best way to do this and where to go? Our end stop is San Gimignano but we have several days to get there after we arrive. We have never been this way but have been to Italy several times. I appreciate any suggestions!
Posted by
6706 posts
What month will the trip be?
When I do something like this, I know my husband can drive about an hour after an overnight flight, and we don’t go much beyond that. Do you have an idea of how far you could safely drive?
Do you have 1-2 nights or several days to spend—I’m unclear on that part.
Posted by
OP
Orlando, FL
16 posts
Our trip is the late part of July. We get into Rome at 12:30 but will be tired as it is not a nonstop flight from US. We might drive an hour but that would be most, as you mentioned. We have two nights that we can spend before we need to be in San Gimignano. I just thought this might be a way for us to see something we have not on our way.
Posted by
6706 posts
Yes, it’s a good plan. I’m a huge fan of the southern Tuscan coast. In July, you might want to check out some beaches, and you are spoiled for choice with sand and rocky beaches. Archeology fans also find a lot to explore in this area—Etruscan treasures, “vie cave.” Plus all the things you’d expect in rural Italy like hill towns and farms. The Orbetello area clocks in at an hour and a half, so you can look for a place further south or look at doing a train part of the way, whatever works best for you. The area is known as Maremma if you want to explore it further, there’s plenty online.
Posted by
Saint Paul, Minnesota
2088 posts
On a similar trip, our plan was to take the trains from the Rome airport to Civitavecchia (about 1.5 hours), then rent a car and drive to Tarquinia (less than half an hour). A train strike derailed (ha!) that plan, but it's a good one. Less driving straight after a plane flight and any jetlag. There's also a shuttle directly from the airport to Civitavecchia Port, which avoids changing trains in Termini but probably requires taking a short taxi ride to the car rental place in Civitavecchia.
Tarquinia gets my vote for the most interesting place to stay a night or two on your way to Pisa. We also stayed in Massa Marittima, Volterra, and Pisa itself (lots more to see in Pisa than just the leaning tower, plus some nice day trips). None of these towns are right on the coast --- we are more interested in medieval hill towns and Etruscan stuff than beaches and looking at water, but everybody's different.
Posted by
OP
Orlando, FL
16 posts
Thank you so much for the suggestions. Our thought was to see the coast along the way before we head inland to the Tuscany area.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
17593 posts
I would stay in the Mount Argentario peninsula. Preferably Porto Santo Stefano since there are fast ferries to the Giglio island (about 50 min crossing), if you care to take a day trip there during your stay. You may not be able to take your car across in July, as I think only residents can in high season, but there is a parking lot across the street from the ferry dock.
I wouldn’t stay in Orbetello in summer. It’s pretty, and you will be driving through it to get to Porto Santo Stefano, but it sits in the isthmus in the middle of a lagoon, and there are too many mosquitoes there in summer for my personal taste. I didn’t have that problem in Porto Santo Stefano all the times I have been there in summer. If you drive directly from the Rome FCO airport, you should get there in less than 2 hours, plus pit stops.
Posted by
6706 posts
Def agree—I recommend the area in general as a reasonable distance from FCO but at that time of year, take care in choosing exactly where.
If you have qualms about the drive, you can probably get a car in Orbetello, maybe Grosseto.