We will have about 10 days to spend. We will arrive in Rome and then leave from Rome. We want to travel by train and rent an apartment. I was thinking 5 days in Sienna and then take a train to another location. After that we would return to Rome. We want locations that would be interesting and easy to get around in. We would like easy train connections. Any suggestions would be welcome.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
713 posts
I think Florence is a better choice as it has excellent train connections (I don't know about Sienna) and it has a lot to see. We stayed in an apartment there (one senior and one almost senior) for six days and did day trips to Sienna and Pisa and Via reggio . We trained from Venice and then on to Rome. (we stayed 3 nights Venice, 6 nights Florence, 4 nights Rome)
Just my 2 cents
Posted by
Martinez, CA, USA
1510 posts
We are 2 seniors (71 & 67) and stayed in Siena in 2009. Siena does have good train connections but the train is about a mile from the old town and you would need to take a taxi. We took the bus to Siena from Rome (Tiburtina) and from Siena to Florence and had no problem. The bus stops right at the old town and we were just a 2 minute walk to our hotel. Either Siena and Florence would be a good choice.
Posted by
OP
5 posts
Thank you both. The bus suggestion is a good one. I was probably wasn't very clear. I was thinking Sienna because it is a little smaller. I thought it might be a little easier and more relaxing since we don't have a car. We love Florence but thought another smaller city might be more pleasant.
Posted by
San Jose, CA
1994 posts
Another possibility is Orvieto. It's relatively flat, has good restaurants, some amazing art, and interesting streets to wander. There are also Etruscan remains if that's of interest to you. It's about an hour train ride from Rome; you then walk across a plaza to a funicular, take that up the hill, and then catch a bus that deposits you in the flat area of the town, right by the cathedral.
One thing to consider about Siena, since you say you want the place to be easy to get around. Siena is really hilly. I spent more time lost, walking up and down steep hills in that town than anywhere else I've ever been.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11348 posts
Siena (not correct spelling) or Florence are both great, and you can have a wonderful time. We did not mind the walk to/from the train station (a mile is NOTHING if you live here). As to a second location, depending on time of year you could look at Bolzano, Castlerotto, or deeper into the Dolomites, or perhaps Venice, Lake Como (3 nights maximum IMHO), or somewhere in Umbria like Perugia or Assisi.
Posted by
1416 posts
since someone else suggested lake como i'll put in my volte for Varenna on lake como..(train connects thru Milan) ...town is right there when you get off the train, and there are taxis available if getting down the hill with luggage is an issue for you. there are several returarants, gelato shops, beautiful vistas and a couple of artizans right there. the name of the apt we rented (on the ground floor) follows : http://www.vrbo.com/822588ha a few steps to get up to the garden.....but then easy walk again. Marilena is apparently the multilingual renting agent for about 7 different people who each have one property.....some of them are in the city center above a store front if that's more your style. they met us at the train and drove us down.