All of the information I've looked up says to get off train in Chiusi-Chianciano Terme, and take a bus from there. Is this still the best and correct information? It's a bit confusing when the train tickets say there is still a 15 min ride to Montepulciano from the 6 min switch at Chiusi-Chianciano Terme.
Or how difficult is it to drive in Italy? Should we just rent a car in Rome and visit all the little hill side towns on our way to Florence?
Please Help Us!
Thanks,
Luis & Stacy
Montepulciano and Montepulciano Stazione are two different places, about 15 minutes apart by car. From Chiusi, you are required to switch to a Regionale train that will let you off at Montepulciano Stazione. If your goal is to stay in Montepulciano, then you'll need additional transportation to get there. Getting to the famous hill town of Montepulciano from Rome by train is complicated.
how difficult is it to drive in Italy?
How much experience do you have driving in a foreign country?
Hello NYC,
Our Goal is to stay in the Hill Town of Montepulciano. As far as my driving experience, outside of the U.S. I've only driven in Mexico.
I will be taking the same trip when I reach Chiusi-Chianciano Terme, although coming south by train from Arezzo. At Chiusi, there's a bus station in the same vicinity (Piazza Dante) as the train station to take the bus to the base of Montepulciano. If you take the train to Montepulciano, instead, you will need to catch a bus into the town. The map below shows how close the train & bus station are in Chiusi:
The bus info from Chiusi to Montepulciano is located here, in case you need this:
If you stay in Montepulciano, a small town south of Siena, I recommend renting a car. Driving in Italy is not more difficult than driving anywhere else, provided you do your homework on European road signs and rules.
Google ROAD SIGNS IN ITALY and read the Wikipedia article that pops up. Also do some research in ZTL (Limited Traffic Zones in the ancient historical centers where traffic is restricted to residents, transit and emergency vehicles) and on International Driving Permit (easily obtainable at your local AAA office). The road from Rome to Montepulciano is largely on a 4 to 6 lane freeway like freeways in the US, the last portion (about 30 min drive) is in a curvy two lane highway. Roads in that area are mostly two lane highways with lots of curves. You can rent a car in Rome or you can take a train to Chiusi and rent a car there. Whatever you do a car is highly recommended during your stay in Montepulciano. The area is very rural with infrequent bus service.
Hello Jean,
We'll be visiting in May. Thank you very much for the useful information and link. It looks like we'll have to get off at Chiusi-Chianciano Terme and catch the 30 min bus ride to the Hill side town of Montepulciano. It looks like there isn't much around at the end of the line at Monteluciano stop as far as taxi's or buses easily accessible.
We lived in Montepulciano for 3 months this summer/fall. Take the bus to/from Montepulciano to Chiusi. It's easy and cheap. Good train options for trains from Chiusi to Rome and other Italy destinations. There are also car rentals available in Chiusi but so much easier and less stress to take the bus, imo. There is a Montepulciano city bus that runs up the corso (main street) that you can hop on that begins/ends at the bus station. Ask a local where the stops are.
The road from Rome to Montepulciano is largely on a 4 to 6 lane freeway like freeways in the US
Not true. The A1 (E35) going north from Rome is mostly a two-lane freeway. Occasionally, the freeway breaks into three lanes, but those stretches don't last very long. Driving south when exiting the A1 into Rome, sections of the Circonvallazione Settentrionale (A90), Rome's ring road, will offer 4-5 lanes. All of these details are very easy to see on the internet by using the little man icon in Streetview. In fact, everyone who wants to drive to Tuscany from Rome can do it in Streetview. You'll need a lot of patience, but Streetview is a great tool for learning the roads before faced with driving them.
Of course Roberto did not mean 4 to 6 lanes per direction. Is it "Pedantic January" in NYC?
Of course Roberto did not mean 4 to 6 lanes per direction.
4 to 6 lanes per direction is the norm in much of the U.S.
In the United States a six lane freeway is a freeway that has 3 lanes per direction, while a four lane freeway has 2 lanes per direction.
Such definition (which counts lanes in both directions) is used by the Federal Highway authorities in the United States.
https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/tables/01.pdf
Using the aforementioned definition, the freeway from Rome to Chiusi is largely a SIX lane freeway (3 lanes per direction) both on the GRA and on the A1 segment at least up to Orte, if I remember correctly. It then becomes largely a FOUR lane freeway (2 lanes per direction) north of Orte.
There might be some short sections, especially on the A24 within Rome (if one takes that route) where there might be even more lanes, but they aren’t significant stretches. As I said, the route is mostly 4 to 6 lanes freeway.
I hope that this explanation is sufficient.
Much of the San Diego freeway in Los Angeles is six lanes in one direction. Much of the Santa Monica freeway east of Los Angeles is seven lanes in one direction. Much of the Long Island Expressway is four lanes per direction. Much of I-90 running through northern Ohio is four lanes per direction. Much of I-95 through Minnesota is four lanes per direction. I could go on. I travel, drive, and rent cars for work. I know incorrect or misleading information when I see it.
Instead of discussing U.S. freeway terminology, perhaps we could discuss the OP's question.
It is not difficult to drive in Italy except in the towns and cities. Florence and Rome are nightmares, and in towns such as Montepulciano, you need to park outside of the town and walk. It's not that you have to walk far, but a few "blocks" if you will by American terms. Rick Steves' guide to Tuscany has lots of info on parking. And for driving in Italy, at Gemut.com you can download a helpful guide. See the right-hand column "What you should know about renting a car in Europe." Helped me a lot my first time.
Or, simply grab a cab from Chiusi-Chianciano Terme to Montepulciano and save your sanity.
To respond to the OP’s question since nobody really cares about American freeways and lanes on this forum.
To go from Rome to Montepulciano you’d take the GRA (Grande Raccordo Anulare, Rome’s Beltway) to Roma Nord, then proceed on the A1 to Chiusi, where you must exit and follow direction to Montepulciano.
The GRA and the A1 is a 6 lane freeway (3 lanes per direction) which becomes a 4 lane freeway (2 lanes per direction) north of Orte. Italian toll freeways are similar to US freeways, they just have better equipped rest areas (called Area di Servizio) where you can find gas stations, restaurants, shops. You pick up a ticket at the toll booth at the entrance, then you give the toll booth attendant at the exit and pay toll, just like when you park your car in most parking lots.
When you exit, make sure you choose the booth with a white sign with the logo displaying a black hand holding some cash. Those are the ones withan attendant. All others have automatic kiosks where you insert a card or cash, or require a telepass transponder (yellow sign).
Once you exit the A1 freeway, follow directions to Montepulciano. It’s a two lane highway (1 lane per direction) with some curves, but not too bad.
I recommend having a car while in Montepulciano. It will allow more flexibility and freedom, especially if you want to visit the many pretty towns in the area. Bus service is not very frequent, especially on weekend.
Thank you all for the information! We really appreciate it, I'm sure we'll be Able to figure it out now. It sounds like we should rent a car at the Chiusi station. In order to really get to see all of the hill top towns, and vineyards.
Yes. Renting in Chiusi is an alternative if you want to minimize the driving.
However be aware that the Chiusi rental offices are closed on Sunday, if you happen to travel to Montepulciano on Sunday.
I agree to take the train to Chuisi and rent a car from there. The drive in the countryside is worth it. There is a Hertz rental agency right across the street from the train. You can set up the rental using the Hertz web site before you leave to reserve a car. I find it easier and less expensive to reserve before you go. That way you can also do day trips to surrounding towns.
We spent 3 nights in Montepulciano last September........I'm soooo envious of you! Montepulciano was my favorite hill town!!!
We drove from Florence through the countryside to Montepulciano, stopping in neighboring hill towns, then onto Assisi. Driving was incredibly easy, expedient and oh-so-beautiful! One plan that helped us (Thank you Roberto di Firenze!), is that we rented our car from a Hertz Rental Office in the Oltrarno district of Florence. (The "other" side of the river......One of my favorite areas in Florence.) By doing so, we avoided all ZTL zones and crazy traffic in Florence. (Took a cab from our apt. to the Hertz office.)
We flew home from Rome. So the day before departure, we drove from Assisi to Termi, stopping in Spoleto for a walk and lunch. The Termi train station is just 2 blocks from a Hertz Rental Office. So we dropped off the car, purchased tickets to the Termini in Rome, and took the train to Rome. By doing so, we once again avoided the chaos of driving in a large city. The next morning, we took a cab to the airport. It couldn't have been easier!
Hope you make beautiful memories in Montepulciano! :)
A big thanks to everyone for the tips, and information! We've decided to take the train from Rome to Chiusi-Chianciano Terme. Then it's a 5min walk from the station to the AVIS/Budget car rental on Leodardo De Venci street. We'll drive to a B&B near Montepulciano, and stop in Orvieto on our way there. We're planning on visiting the various hill towns, before returning the car in Chiusi and taking train to Florence.
Once again thanks everyone, you helped us change our plans to what we think will be easiest and most convenient for us.
Has anyone rented from the Budget/AVIS office? I found that budget is almost half the price of both Avis (in the same office) and Europcar. Any tips?
Thanks,
Luis
