Interested in traveling via train from Naples to a Tuscan town, but prefer not spend hours traveling. We will be in the area for three nights and then travel to Rome. We enjoy wine, history, artisans. Questions are
Yes you can, provided you don’t choose Montepulciano and Pienza, two of Rick Steve’s’ favorites but which cannot be visited efficiently without a car.
You just need to choose a base that is a transportation hub for the area. Basically Florence or Siena.
Since you are coming from afar, you should probably settle in Florence, which is Tuscany’s capital and transportation hub of Tuscany, and quickly reachable by high speed train from Naples. Lots of Tuscan towns can be visited from Florence via bus or train.
Another option is to settle in Siena, which is the provincial capital of the Province of Siena. Siena itself is a gem to visit, but also from it you can visit many small towns nearby by bus, like San Gimignano, Monteriggioni, Buonconvento.
Getting to Siena requires a bit extra time. Coming from Naples the fastest way is a high speed train to Florence then a 75 min bus ride (or 90 min train ride) southward to Siena.
Orvieto was suggested in your previous post and would still work if you are coming from Naples.
It’s Umbrian but very similar to a Tuscan hilltown
Would be less travel time all around
I believe there is a direct IC train from Naples that stops in Orvieto
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/which-three-cities
Otherwise Florence or Siena if you want a smaller town although Siena is really a small city.
