16 Days In Italy-Help Itinerary

Old May 12th, 2015, 11:09 AM
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16 Days In Italy-Help Itinerary

Hello,
My husband and I will be traveling to Italy for the first time in the middle from June 17 to July 3 for our honeymoon. We are thinking about Rome 3 nights - Cinque Terre 3 nights - Pick up car in La Spezia (for 7 days) and then stay somewhere in Tuscany where it would be accessible to do day trips to small towns, etc. for seven nights and then drop off car in Florence and then stay in Florence for three nights and then back to Rome one night before flying out. I love the coast and country and he loves museums and art so we figured we do a bit of both.

Questions
Does this seem like the right order of locations in terms of direction?

Easiest town to stay in Cinque Terre in terms of carrying luggage?
Places to stay in Cinque Terre? AirBNB?

Which part of Tuscany to stay in for a week that would be the most convenient for day trips and also beautiful? (we will have friends visiting us that mentioned visiting hot springs? (if anyone has any info on hot springs)

What parts of Tuscany do you think are the most special?

Driving from La Spezia to Florence? Easy roads? Where to drop car in Florence least amount of stress?

If you take the time to respond I would greatly appreciate it.....as it took me two whole weeks just to get tickets booked.....Have a wonderful day and Thank You....
Belle7088 is offline  
Old May 12th, 2015, 11:26 AM
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Consider a week at an agriturismo while in Tuscany. They are working farms which rent out apartments to tourists.

I tried this in 2003 and stayed near Orvieto which is a rail stop and a sight worth seeing in its own right. We rented a car and drove to nearby Aquapendente where our argiturismo was located (Santa Veronica). Many fun, relaxing days exploring the region by car.
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Old May 12th, 2015, 12:08 PM
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If you must return to Rome, you might put all your time in Rome together at the end and save one hotel change.

Arrive Rome- immediately train to Florence
Florence - 3 nights
Train to Cinque Terre - 3 nights
Get car in La Spezia, drive to Tuscany location
Tuscany - 7 nights
Drive to Rome - 4 nights
Fly home
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Old May 12th, 2015, 12:17 PM
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A second for Orvieto. Not Tuscany, but nearby. I also recommend taking a look at Locanda Rosati, an agriturismo a few km south of Orvieto that is lauded on Trip Advisor. The giant dinners are over when the grappa is gone.
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Old May 12th, 2015, 12:46 PM
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The drive into Tuscany will be easy, but picking the right location is most important. Here are my favorite locations, many of which are south of Siena in the area known as Val d, Orcia. Take your pick:


BOB’S FAVORITE DIGS IN TUSCANY
A. RURAL LOCATIONS: All have parking and good food options nearby

1. SANT’ ANTONIO APTS. http://www.santantonio.it/ Lovely apartments
in a rural setting near Montepulciano—very helpful owner

2. Cretaiole Agriturismo http://www.cretaiole.it/ Good value for families
Isabella also has 2 apts. in Castelmuzio for rent—wonderful—see her site.

3. Terre di Nano www.terredinano.com 100 to 155
Both rooms and apartments at rural Agriturismo near Monticchiello

4. Casanova di Pescille http://www.casanovadipescille.com/ 100E
Rural B&B 3 KM from famed San Gimignano—we loved the views of San Gim.

5. Fattoria Tregole www.fattoria-tregole.com 110E to 180E
Has both B&B and apartment accommodations. Near Castellina in Chianti

6. Fonte Bertusi www.fontebertusi.it Lovely rural B&B near Pienza with apartments and pool. Wonderful décor by artistic family—fair prices.

7. New historic B&B north of Pienza. http://www.camprena.it/index.htm
Site of filming for THE ENGLISH PATIENT About 90E for double

8. http://www.borgoargenina.it/index.html A special rural B&B in Chianti.
The lovely owner, Elena, will make you feel like family. 170E for double

B. IN-TOWN LOCATIONS: For walking convenience to shops & ristorantes.

1. Palazzo del Capitano www.palazzodelcapitano.com 170 to 210E
Very nice small hotel in center of San Quirico—perfect location to explore.

2. Vecchia Oliviera www.vecchiaoliviera.com/ 150 to 200E
Nice 4 star hotel at the gate into lovely Montalcino---has pool.

3. Palazzina Cesari www.montalcinoitaly.com 80 to 110E
Lovely small B&B in heart of Montalcino—great value—2 night stay minimum.

4. Locanda di San Francesco www.locandasanfrancesco.it 180 to 200E
Nice boutique B&B in a lovely location in Montepulciano—great reviews !

5. Politian apartments http://www.politian.com/ Good value apts. with
minimum stay of 3 nights in Montepulciano---helpful host---85E

6. Palazzo Ravizza www.palazzoravizza.it 170 to 250E
Very nice & popular hotel in Siena with parking.
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Old May 12th, 2015, 01:45 PM
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Just back from Cinque Terre and stayed at La Spaiggia in Monterosso. GREAT base with easy close access to trains and boats! Andreas and his daughter Maria run the hotel and are very helpful and nice!

I'd fly into Genoa or Milan and train to Cinque Terre on the high speed direct train. After that, I'd get a car for driving all through Tuscany and return it in Florence (numerous locations) then train to Rome. I would NOT want to drive in Rome!

Lot of great little towns all thru Tuscany from Siena to Pisa, etc. Get Rick Steve's book on Italy and follow what he says. We've been to Europe 16 times and the last 15 have been using his great books!
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Old May 13th, 2015, 11:59 AM
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I visited the Chianti area of Tuscany last summer. we stayed in the town of Castellina in Chianti at the Palazzo Squarcialupi hotel.
The hotel is probably my favorite out of all the hotels I've stayed at in Italy. The rooms are lovely, a good size, bathrooms modern, a/c quiet and efficient. The breakfast was amazing. They have a lovely terrace overlooking the hills where you can have an apertivo from their bar, and they have a lovely swimming pool. I think it would be a very romantic place for a honeymoon.

Castellina is also a great town to base in. It has several restaurants and little shops but is fairly small so easy to drive in and out of. It's a good location for visiting other places in the area such as the wine towns of Greve and Radda and the small hilltop villages of Panzano, Volpaia and Montefioralle, it's also not a bad drive to Cortona and Montepulciano.
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Old May 13th, 2015, 01:14 PM
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I would not drive in Rome either, but from the Tuscany most people want to visit, driving to Orvieto to drop the car and train to Rome would be a good choice.
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Old May 13th, 2015, 05:14 PM
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I agree with Ellen and would head for Florence upon arrival in Italy. Put all of your Rome stay at the end.

Tuscany is a big area and you can't tour all of it from one base. Is there anything in particular on your must see list besides hot springs? Most people consider southern Tuscany the most scenic (it's what you see in many postcards). Pienza/Montalcino/Montepulciano - somewhere around there.
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Old May 13th, 2015, 08:07 PM
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Book marking. Great lodging info, Bob and Jennifer. Thanks.
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