We are traveling late November, from Venice to Pienza. I’m trying to discern the best way to get to Pienza mid week. We will be staying in Pienza for 4 nights using as a base. I don’t know if we should just drive straight from Venice - just under 4 hours. Or take train to Chiusi with a transfer in Florence, then pick up car or hire driver to go 45 minutes to Pienza. We will want a car for this part of travels to explore Val d’Orcia. Picking up the car in Venice vs. chiusi seems obvious but unsure of what late November weather/driving might be like. We haven’t driven in Tuscany for 20 years but do not remember it being difficult, although it was summer. Appreciate any suggestions.
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
8261 posts
If you can get the car you need and be in Chiusi in time to pick it up- offices close mid day- that is an option.
Or just take the train to Florence and pick up car there. There are posts here with excellent advice how to drive oit of Florence safely.
I wouldn't want to drive from Venice to Pienza but the drive from Florence to Pienza is easy and scenic.
Make sure all drivers have an IDP- required by law,
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16767 posts
It’s a decision you will have to make based on cost, convenience, or personal preference. There are pros and cons with the below options available.
You could rent a car in Venice and drive the 4 hours (plus pit stops). The road is mostly freeway from Venice up to the A1 Valdichiana exit at Bettolle. Tolls would be 28.70€, fuel maybe another 45€. The advantage may be that you don’t need to transfer modes of transportation and you don’t have to schlep your luggage on and off trains. Just place your suitcases in the trunk where you pick up the car at Piazzale Roma in Venice, and unload them at your destination. The disadvantage is for the person who does the driving.
You could rent a car in Chiusi (Avis-Budget only), then backtrack a bit to Pienza. The train journey requires a change in Florence, and the travel time to Chiusi is about 4.5 hours. The train fare is 72€ per person (full fare in standard class) but you can save about 20€ per person if you pre-purchase in advance. The advantage of this option is that you minimize driving. One disadvantage, besides the luggage which however may be mitigated by packing light, is that the Avis-Budget franchise agency in Chiusi, which is open only on weekdays and Saturday mornings, may have limited fleet options, and maybe no automatic cars, if you need auto transmission. Also the rental cost may be higher than in a big city like Venice, however you would probably return the car at the same location, therefore you would save the 20€+ one way fee.
Another variant of the train plus car option is to pick up the car in Florence. The full train fare to Florence is 57€ pp on standard class. From the station you would rent a car and go to Pienza. Tolls and fuel would be less than 20€ from Florence. A disadvantage is that driving out of Florence city center freaks out a lot of Americans. Also some rental agencies are not exactly at the station therefore you’d need to walk 5-10 min from the station to the rental agency with your luggage.
The choice is yours but I would go for either 1 or 2.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thank you for the detailed info, very helpful.As we are going onto Rome from Pienza, it seems to make most sense to pick up in Venice and drive to Pienza, then return it in Rome. While possibly more driving than my husband wanted, he’s driven in Italy before (both autostrada and Tuscan hills), and we can stop along the way.