Umbria

https://www.umbriatourism.it/en/homepage
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/italy/umbria

Umbria is a region where I would rent a car. There are many villages to choose from like Assisi, Gubbio, Spello, Bevagna, Acquasparta, Corciano, Spoleto, Todi, just to name a few.

I guess one could use buses from the regional capital (Perugia), and Orvieto, is an easy train ride from Rome, but if you want to visit more efficiently the smaller towns, I think a car would help.

It depends on what you are interested in, of course, but what we did in November 2021 was to fly into Rome, right away took the train to Orvieto for 4 nights (a return visit). Most of the places we stayed in or visited in Umbria were to walk around the historical center, eat the local food, see early Renaissance art and architecture, and buy some ceramics we do not need but really like.

Took the train to Perugia. From Perugia, we took buses to Assisi for frescoes, to Deruta for ceramics, and to Spello for another fresco. Also visited Montefalco for art.

Then we rented a car to go to Gubbio to stay for a while --- our favorite town except for Orvieto, art, the Gola del Bottaccione (a geology thing), the birdcage lift.

Then to Spoleto --- my favorite Romanesque church facade (San Pietro extra moenia), the cathedral art, the aqueduct, daytrips to Vallo di Nera and Citta di Castello and San Gemini (twice, to eat at Osteria Pecora Nera)

Then stayed in Norcia for the food and a daytrip to Castelluccio to eat lentils. We like to eat dishes an ingredients that are named for a location AT that location, like eating Trevi black celery in Trevi.

Then we stayed in tiny Narni, partly to daytrip to Amelia (to photograph signs that said "Amelia" for a family member)

Returned the car in nearby Terni and took the train back to Rome.

We found Umbria an easy region to take trains and buses, easy to pick up and return a rental car, and easy to drive in.

My husband and I fell in love with Todi!! Definitely go there, and to Assisi. Bagnoregio was a HUGE highlight for us.

Thank you everyone for these quick replies! I think we will take the train to Orvieto and rent car there. I am wondering if it will be wise to just stay in Orvieto, and then take day trips from there? Thanks for the advice!