My wife and I are traveling to Italy first part of November. Main part of the trip is to visit our daughter in Florence, however we would like to spend our first 3 days in Italy visiting a few of the smaller hill towns between Rome and Florence. We fly into Rome. (we are not renting a car so trains and buses are our mode of transport)
What are the top two hill towns to visit? (hard question)
Steve
Definately, Siena great town and base and from there you can take a public bus to San Gimignano, Pienza, Montepulciano.I did it and was very pleased on how easy it was . I also bused it from Florence to lovely Siena.
I had a very nice stay in Cortona this Spring. I picked it because it was easy to get to by train. It is about 2 hours from Rome and about 1.5 hours from Florence on the train line. You take the train to Camucia. From Camucia, you take a bus up the hill to Cortona (15 minutes). The main part of the town got a fair number of daytrippers, but was absolutely delightful in the morning and the evening. I went here directly after my flight to Rome and it was a great place to get over my jet lag.
Orvieto is another hill town that is easy to get to by train from Rome.
There are many great hill towns, but some are more challenging to get to by public transportation because the buses don't leave so frequently. There were frequent trains (every hour or two) from Rome that stopped in Camucia so this made it an easy place to get to when I first arrived. My flight arrived in the morning and I was in Cortona in time for lunch.
Montalcino
be sure to visit the 15th century abbizia d' sant antimo
First stop north of Rome should be Orvieto, an 1 hour train ride. The intricate mosaic church facade in the main square is beautiful. An interesting town built on the tufa rock. The train station is at the base of the town, and you can take the funicular up to the old town close to the train station. RS book will give you more particulars on Orvieto. I believe they have a luggage check at the small train station.
You simply HAVE to try Assisi. The epidimy of a rual hill town with St. Francis of Assisi basillica and the old fortress atop the hill. Apartment at San Rufino has a million dollar view and very reasonable. Also look up Anne Robichaud. (Steve talks about her in his book) The best tour we were on and we were in Rome, Florence, Cinque terre and Milan. The art was the best we viewed by far. Including the locals. One in particular. Giovanni I believe was his name. On the main street into town.
Also if you like wine the local wine is awesome.
I have been to every town that has been mentioned and they are all wonderful suggestions. If you go to Assisi, definitely take the advice about contacting Anne Robichaud. I have taken two tours with her and she is wonderful and both times the tour with her was a highlight of the trip. I suggest the tour of Assisi finished by the wine tasting in Spello. And be sure to agree to let Salvatore play guitar at the wine tasting. He is a treat.
Without a doubt, best hilltop town in all Italy Civita just south of Orvieto in Umbria. I have never seen anything like it! Hard to find on a map, but it has it's own website go to: http://www.civitadibagnoregio.it/
Civita di Banoregio! An amazing medival town connected to Banoregio by a footbridge. If you spend the night, try to stay with Pucci and her husband, Lamberto, at Romantica Pucci B&B in Banoregio. Wonderful accomodations and delicious food!
