In an attempt not to make my husband crazy with packing and unpacking, I'm trying to determine what city would be a great central location for day trips in Tuscany. We don't drive in Italy. The towns that I'm interested in are:
Montepulciano
Pienza
Orvieto
Assisi
Potentially Civita
Thanks in advance.
Assisi and Orvieto are in Umbria not Tuscany. Both areas are wonderful.
Siena is a great location to do day trips to towns in Tuscany.
Spoleto is great for Umbria. Do Orvieto on you way to Rome.
For Tuscany, consider Lucca and Pisa. Also, San Gimignano.
For Umbria, consider Perugia and Gubbio.
You’re right…and thanks.
Lucca is lovely...sourrounded by wide/thick fortification-wall with a wide walkway-promenade running the entire perimiter affording a grand view of the city on the inside and the countryside on the outside. Pisa is rather touristic due to the popularity of the Leaning Tower. Another town worth considering is Montecatini. Small, quaint. Known for thermal baths. All of those are somewhat to the northern part of Tuscany though. San Gimignano is more central, perhaps a consideration for those without a car.
Without a car none of those towns are very practical.
Siena is the most practical but I see from your previous post you have already been there.
Lucca would be second best- but Lucca is also far to the north and west so not near the typical hill towns and Val D'Orcia area that you may be thinking of.
Of the towns you have listed Montepulciano would have to be my choice without a car- although the train station is well outside of town.
As pointed out Assisi and Orvieto are both in Umbria. Neither very practical for day trips as Assisi train station is not actually in Assisi and Orvieto station is below town- bus or funicular to get to it.
I know there is a thread on this forum that shares the possible bus and train connections from small towns in Tuscany- a search should bring it up.
Potentially Civita
Really? Not practical even with a car.
I know that most people who come here are Rick Steves’ disciples who must absolutely see the places he mentions in his TV shows on PBS, however those (now very popular and heavily touristed) destinations are not practically reachable from one single location without a car. As a matter of fact, with the exception of Orvieto, they are not served by trains at all, and all require a bus ride to reach the closest station. If you rent a car, then the area near Montepulciano or Orvieto would be convenient enough to be able to visit the others on a day trip, but even with a car some trips would be well over 1.5 hour drive one way, if you drive fast.
I understand Rick himself now hires drivers rather than all train and bus travel
Consider hiring a private driver if you choose to stay where public transportation is limited or nonexistent, time consuming and difficult
daytrip.com
Will give you an idea of the cost
Thanks, all. Planning this particular trip is giving me fits. I appreciate all of the feedback and advice.
This map is a pretty indication of places accessible by train or by train and with a bus connection.
https://www.wanderingitaly.com/maps/images/tuscany-rail-map.png
Siena is the town (city actually) with the best connections and the best Tuscan city experience, but also a good place to look for getting tours or trips the smaller towns or wineries in the area. Because it's the biggest place it is where a lot services are centered.
Siena deserves at least a full day for the city itself. If you really want small Tuscan hilltown experience Cortona (of Under the Tuscan Sun fame) is accessible by train and then a bus to get up the hill. Arezzo is smaller and less touristy than Siena but is a small city with the modern town around the train station blending into the ancient as you head uphill.
The area is small, scattered towns and is not well served by mass transit on a tourist timescale.
Good luck,
=Tod
Here is a recent post that may help you.
Many years ago I spent a week in Lucca. While it's a great base for side trips, it's location is not what most think of as Tuscany.
I also spent time in Siena without a car. It's can be a great base with bus travel to several hill towns along with day tours to further reaching places.
Yes, without a car I would choose Siena as a base for day trips to several hill towns in the province, such as:
Monteriggioni
Colle Val D'Elsa
San Gimignano
Barberino Val D'Elsa
Certaldo
Montepulciano
Pienza
Buonconvento
Possibly the Chianti hills, although those are better by private driver.
It takes longer by bus however, and bus service is really scant on weekends, therefore you would need more days available to cover all the towns you might want to see.
Florence is a good base for towns/small cities connected by rail such as:
Arezzo,
Pistoia
Montecatini Terme
Montelupo
San Miniato
Pisa and Lucca
Even Orvieto, although that one would be easier from Rome.
Assisi and the rest of Umbria is farther, and not easily reachable from Siena without a car, and the trip by train from Florence is kind of too long for a day trip.
Civita di Bagnoregio is out of the way and a car is almost a must to get there. But, it is of any help to you, in spite of the hype by Rick Steves, it's not really a big deal. Most of my friends who live in Florence have never seen it or even heard of it. It is actually more famous among Americans (probably because of Rick Steves) than Italians, just like Castelrotto (Kastelruth) that few Italians visit or are aware of, even though they may have gone to the Dolomites more than once.
Thank you all again. The information is truly helpful. It looks like we have have to break down and drive to see some of the villages. We love Siena, but have been there twice.
