Traveling with sister in law and niece- will be in Florence and traveling to Cinque Terre in October. Sister in law ancestors from MonteCarlo Italy and Lucca.
1) can you rent a car in Florence and drop off in La Spezia?
2) Will stop in MonteCarlo and Lucca on way (12 miles between) - Sister in law wants to rent Vespa- safe and how far do people go? Rent in Lucca?
Suggestions and how much time to spend in each town? Winery suggestion in MonteCarlo?
Thanks!
Posted by
lexington, il
4105 posts
We enjoyed these two. La Fattoria del Teso And Fattoria Valddrighi. Both in Montecarlo.
Easy to rent a car in Lucca and drop in LaSpezia.
If you don’t ride vespas on a regular basis, now would not be the time to start.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16167 posts
- Yes
- Safe if one is an experienced and skilled motorcycle or scooter rider. If not, Italy is not the place to begin learning. A 125cc is what she can ride without a motorcycle drivers’ license. On my long experience riding Vespas, I would say that anything over a 30-40 km radius (less of a 50cc) begins to be tough on the arse and is beyond what I would recommend for a few hours ride.
- I’m sure you can rent in Lucca. Just Google NOLEGGIO VESPA LUCCA.
Lucca deserves most of the day to fully visit. Montecarlo is a quaint little town that is famous mainly for its medieval fortress. A few hours should do, but you can linger longer if you like. They have plenty of good wine, one of the few places with great white wine in a region famous for red wine.
Posted by
Bendigo, Australia
1297 posts
A motorcycle has two wheels and an engine.
A motor scooter has two wheels and an engine.
A Vespa has two wheels and an engine. Maybe a bit less complex than a motorcycle, as likely to have an automatic transmission. And they rocket along, a 125cc Vespa will hit 90km/hr, a 200cc PX manual does 80 (with a following wind).
Renting a “Vespa” is not like renting a surfboard. Like, you can damage yourself.
Posted by
Italy
3812 posts
a 200cc PX manual does 80 (with a following wind).
There are places all over the world where such a libellous statement would be punished with a very harsh sentence.
Posted by
Bendigo, Australia
1297 posts
Dario, that was my experience on my PX, Edit to read “with a following wind on a slight downwards slope”.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16167 posts
I can guarantee you that when you hit a car or simply fall on a slippery curve at 50 or 60km/h, it will hurt. The opportunities for hitting 80 or 90 km/h will be few due to the nature of the Tuscan roads and the traffic.
The major difference between a scooter/vespa and a motorcycle is the direct connection between engine and wheel (no transmission chain) and the small wheels.
Posted by
OP
53 posts
I thank everyone for their concern for my health and welfare.
I may only want to make it to Montecarlo and back from Lucca- 12 miles going slowly.
My sister in law motorcycle driver. I will pray a lot!
Any suggested scooter rental in Lucca?
Thanks
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16167 posts
It's not too hard. I've traveled that road by Vespa many times on my way from Florence to Viareggio (and back). it's mostly a straight flat two lane highway, except for the last few km to Montecarlo where the road is narrow with some curves.
The biggest challenge is when the huge trucks pass you just inches from your elbows (Italian two lane highways are not very wide and they have no shoulder on the sides where you can drive). Also be careful passing other vehicles. Head on collisions do happen, and cars are very hard when you hit them.
Tell your SiL to check the way on Google Streetview.