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Siena as a day trip from Radda en route to Montepulciano

Posted by (Coconut Grove, FL) on

My wife and I in our 70's, in the mid portion of our ~8 weeks itinerary (after visiting Ljubljana and Bled for 3 nights, Venice overnight then boat the eastern Adriatic for 7 nights, stay in Venice for 3 nights, train to Verona for 4 nights and train to Ravenna for 2 nights) by early September, my wife and I will have 5 nights in Florence in an airBB.

I'm certain we may be road weary and want to just stay put in our apartment in Florence. have found we can easily plan enough to fill all of our days and nights staying put in Florence and may elect to forgo day trips either to Siena or Luca by train while there.

We then Leave Florence by car to Radda for 2 nights and drive on to Montepulciano for 3 nights before dropping the car in Orvieto where we will overnight before training on to Rome 5 night and flying onwards to Israel.

Is a day trip to Siena after leaving Radda by car to our next stop in Montepulciano a reasonable plan albeit limited in time?

At what time of evening would you suggest we leave Siena for our drive further to our next base, Montepulciano?

My concern is darkness on an unfamiliar road.

Thank you for your consideration.

S

Posted by
1 posts

Hello. I and my husband were in Chianti area last month - Radda, Greve (not worth it!) and Siena. You're going early September, so leave Siena after lunch, avoid from 5pm - traffic, Italians are back from summer vacation. Whe.n you're in Radda, there's a really nice place to visit with amazing art and history. Try and look this girl up, Joyce, Rome-based but works with head guides all over Italy. She is a very helpful travel advisor and helped us a whole lot. Radda and Siena are worth it. Have a fun time!
Jill

Posted by
32 posts

We did a day trip from Montepulciano to Siena on May 28 this year, one way drive is one hour. It seems like driving from Radda to Siena is less than an hour so I think you're fine. In Siena we parked at Il Campo which is right outside the ztl. There are lots of video or images to show you how to arrive this parking. It is indoor, multistory, well established with cameras. I feel safe if I had my luggages with me (not exposed anything of course). Driving from Siena to M, mainly S and SP roads, check the daylight hours, I think you'll be fine if you leave at 5ish pm from Siena. More importantly to know where you're going to park in M. Check with hotel or host for parking location and how to arrive. The outskirt of M might be busy to maneuver for new arrival.

Posted by
1633 posts

If it works out while you are in Florence - or nearby - I would suggest doing Siena as a day trip instead.

If you do it 'on the way' you will get the same amount of time - or less - and need to leave your luggage in the car and constantly be thinking about getting on the road rather than the city itself. Doing it as a day trip ahead of time removes those concerns and lets you just visit the city without outside pressures.

My $.02,
=Tod

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