Hi everyone. Just need help,or hint with our stay in Tuscany. We will be based at agriturismo fattoria II in Monteriggioni..our date of stay check in 29th June check out 5th July so we have a total of 5 full days. We have a car and intend to visit various small towns i.e Greve, San gimignano, Siena etc etc...do day trips and return to home base each day. If someone could help me plan each day of places/towns/villages to visit each day than would be most appreciated just so I can get my bearings of what/where to head to each day. I can then just outline the map. Hubby does all,the driving and I do the planning and will follow each day as suggested by rick Steves group. I have convinced him how good you all are. We return the car to Sorrento the day we check out on the 5th July soon after breakfast and make an early start. I did one planning while in the US and made a boo boo by back tracking and hubby was nice and did not tell me off ha ha. He's a very good driver. But this time I thought I will sought some help. We will be driving to Monteriggioni from Pisa airport suggestions stops along the way would also be helpful.. Thank you everyone and I hope I get lots of suggestions. Perhaps some towns in Umbria can also be included. Not into. Churches or museums, just like the feel,of each place an absorb the atmosphere, culture etc and do a bit of walking, meet locals.
Posted by
Huntsville, AL, USA
8393 posts
You're in for a 488 km or 303 mile drive from Monteriggioni to Sorrento, and you're going to have to go through Rome to get there.
Have you considered dropping the car off along the way and taking the train down to Naples and on to Sorrento? Hertz has a location across the street from the Orvieto train station, and it's a popular drop off point for those going into Rome. Orvieto's also a very popular hilltown to visit.
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15823 posts
Driving in Italy is nothing like driving in the U.S. Roads are narrower and drivers are, well, Italian. Signage is not as good and can be confusing. GPS is a really good idea.
Most towns with historic centers have ZTL areas. You will have to find a parking place outside the ZTL and walk or use public transportation to get to the sights. The ZTL's are designated by no-entry signs (that are easy to miss) and are monitored by cameras. The fines for driving into a ZTL are steep (€100-200) and awfully easy to incur by accident. The rental company gets the ticket and gives the authorities your contact info. You will get the fines. . . .and about a €25-50 charge from the rental company for "handling."
Use viamichelin.com to estimate net driving times.
Invest in a guide book. The RS Italy book has a section on Tuscany/Umbria that will help you. DK Eyewitness Back Roads Italy has a lot of recommendations.
Posted by
OP
Perth, W.A, Australia
61 posts
Thank you David and Chani..hubby said its ok driving to Sorrento and yes I've noted the dreaded ztl. Also have the rick Steves book and did a lot of reading. We will be very careful with driving. Just needed input on where to start the next day from Monteriggioni but I'll consult my map. I have everything but thought it will make it easier and less headaches for me if someone gives me some idea.. Thank you . I also have via michelin and all the apps needed. I've been planning this for a year just want to be doubly sure.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
You don't have to go "through" Roma, you can take the tangenziale (bypassing city traffic).
Posted by
Boston, MA
1832 posts
Basically for all towns plan on parking on the outskirts of the city walls and walking in.
Not that hard to avoid the ZTL's that way ; exception is the large cities like Florence, Rome and other similar places where the ZTL can extend further out than the ancient walls.
On the way from the airport stop off in Pisa to see the tower and surrounding piazza - well worth a couple of hour stop ; just make sure any luggage is completely hidden - not visible from the windows and you are parked in a secure lot. Would hate for the trip to start in a terrible way. I would not plan/try to make more than 1 stop before getting to your place in Monterriggioni.
Dedicate 1 day to seeing Siena (not so much a small town) ; also drive a bit around the countryside to Siena'a south called the Crete Senesi
1 Day to see Greve and the Chianti Countryside area
1 day to see San Gim and combine that with Volterra on same day
1 day to seeing Montepulciano-Pienza-Montalcino and the Val D'Orcia countryside
1 day just for relaxing in Monteriggioni ; if you decide you don't need this drive to Orvieto for the day
That's 5 full days right there and did not include Florence, Lucca, Assisi, anything on the coast, etc...
You will want a GPS or a phone with data and then can use a GPS app. Either is fine and one of the 2 should be considered required for driving around the Tuscany countryside for 5 days where signage is very confusing.
I prefer the free Waze app on a smartphone with data to a GPS unit personally.
Just make sure to plug in the next destination before you leave a town, in the towns reception is good, in the countryside you will likely lose cell service but as long as next destination was entered you will need lose GPS functionality. If you needed to plug a new direction in at a mid countryside location that would often not work.
Posted by
OP
Perth, W.A, Australia
61 posts
Thank you Zoe and mreynolds. Hubby said he doesn't mind returning car to Sorrento. Will make one pit stop along the way for food, toilet etc.. And mreynolds, thank you for such good advice. We plan to get italy SIM card when we get there and yes I have iPhone for Gps and waze and google map as well as via michelin and will put in the next destination as advised. Also have one of those big folded paper maps, Italy driving map and rick Steves book. I'm all geared up but still need some advice here and there. Thank you so much.