hogger1

Hi everyone.

We are planning a trip to Italy at the end of May next year for 2 weeks.

Plan is to start at Pisa then work our way down to Rome.

I was thinking:
Pisa - 2-3 days
Florence - 2-3 days
Orvieto - surrounding towns - 5 days
Rome - 3 days

We want to spend longer in or around Orvieto as this is where we got married in 2008 and we havent been back since. Does anyone have any suggestions of nice places ot visit? We have never done Florence Pisa side of Italy before.

From looking on the net im not sure if 2-3 days is too long for Pisa and Florence..we want to see as much as possible but still have some "lazy days" where was can relax around a pool, ive seen some gorgeous campsites thats will be perfect for our relax days.

Thanks in advance

Anna_Galea

I would not stay 2-3 days in Pisa centre - too long for sure.

Maybe you can find accommodation (there are plenty of resorts in this provence, some also with campsites) on the coast not too far from Pisa, and base yourself there. You might make a day visit from there to Pisa and maybe Lucca.

2-3 days is definitely not too long regarding Florence. If you feel you want to see more than what Florence has to offer, you can do a visit to San Gimignano, or Siena or Volterra..

Alternatively, you can base yourself in one location, and visit sites more there.

ira

Hi H,

I suggest 2-3 days visiting the Cinque Terre.
I don't think Pisa is worth more than an overnight.

Not going to Venice?

baldrick

For the Tuscan part of your trip and besides Florence, cities as Lucca, Pisa, Volterra, San Gimignano, Siena come to mind.
For the Orvieto part of your trip, Todi, Terni, the Parco Fluviale del Nera (Cascato delle marmore), Pitigliano,... come to mind. You could even go as high as Perugia or Spoleto.

As you would probably rent a car I presume, I would start in Florence without a car, then renting from Florence for your way down to Rome, and return the car in Rome. It would be easier than your sequence Pisa-Florence-Orvieto-Rome.
Personally, I would plan 2 full days (3 nights) in Florence and at least 3 full days in Rome (4 nights). If you have 13 days (14 nights), that would leave you 6 full days (7 nights) for working your way down to cover some 280km (highway distance). You could divide this on a 2-2-3 night or a 3-4 night schedule according to your centers of interest

hogger1

Thanks Anna - ive been looking at Lucca and San Giminano today, i would like to fit Siena in aswell if we get the chance. The idea of staying near the coast is excellent ill have a look at some places to stay later thanks

Hi Ira:
I have printed off a tour of the Cinque Terre today, just need to speak with hubby on that but sounds like a great palce.

Venice is a bit more North than we wanted to go, and we have been to Venice before and loved it and would love to go back but apart from Orvieto we wanted to visit places we havent been to yet.

Venice will definately happen next year though, maybe a long weekend at the end of the year.

TDudette

Take a look at train/bus trips from Pisa and from Florence to the various towns mentioned above. You could almost combine the Pisa and Florence nights and stay in either one. We have based in Pisa for side trips to Lucca, Siena, San Gim and the Cinque Terre. We had already visited Florence but returned from Pisa to see a Botticelli exhibit.

If you want an un-touristy city, base in Pisa. Otherwise, base in Florence. Have a lovely time!

mama_mia

While in Orvieto, you might also check out Lake Bolsena and the town of Bolsena. There is a medieval section and, closer to the lake, a more modern town that was still nice. I was there in late October and it had a nice, sleepy feel to it.

Here is a description of the town by another writer on SlowTravel
http://www.slowtrav.com/anne/italy_lake_bolsena.htm

hogger1

Wow..thanks for all the ideas and suggestions guys.

Mamma Mia - we have been to Bolsena for the day, when we were married my parents stayed in Bolsena for the week its beautiful.

TDudette: checking all these out as we speak - im collecting websites for trains . buses etc.

Baldrick: THANKS! some great suggestions there, ill definately look into them. We were going to split some train and some car hire, prob take the car more into the countryside / Orvieto part of the trip. my Husband would be doing the majority of the driving, im ok on country lanes but wouldnt dare to attempt their motorways...scary stuff, so thought it would give him a break if we incorporated some train travel into it.