bowds1122

Hello,

My wife and I are booking our 6 week holiday starting in Venice and then driving to Lake Como, Piedmonte, SML, CT, Florence, Tuscany (San Quirico d'Orcia), Umbria (Orveito), down to Amalfi Coast and then fly out from Rome in April-May next year. Can't wait!!!

However, I'm a bit worried about Florence with the car. My thoughts are either to drive to the fairly well into Florence, risk the traffic and the massive fines if I end up somewhere where i shouldn't be, to this B&B (with parking available) - http://michelangiolo.hotelinfirenze.com

Or don't even bother getting close and catch a train (not sure how long) or bus (1hr trip) in for day trips from somewhere like this - http://www.montegufoni.it/

And a bonus question for those driving in Italy - When heading back up from Amalfi to Rome, are we better driving to the airport and catching the train back into Rome for our last few nights before departing, or trying to drop the car somewhere in Rome?? (I'm trying to make the driving as easy as possible!!)

Thank you.

kybourbon

Many of the cities you listed don't allow you to drive in so when and where do you plan to pick up a car?

Michael

I would ask the hotel, but I suspect that if you come from the east you would have no problems because the hotel is on the other side of the Arno from the historical center.

bowds1122

Thanks

KY - pick up the car when leaving Venice, and drop off in Rome

Michael - yeah, there is parking at the hotel, and I was planning on keeping to the south, but not sure how difficult / busy it would be..

Michael

Try Google map. It should take into account the ZTLs.

CaliNurse

we stayed here 4 days (not long enought!( and "day tripped" the 30 minute ride into Florence from the nearby train stn at Figline Valdarno, where there was plenty of parking:

http://www.agriturismosavernano.com/

Trust me--the website photos do not do it justice. Check tripadvisor reviews also--they are accurate

tarquin

We stayed in a very pleasant pensione just outside Fiesole with fabulous views, a friendly atmosphere and lots of reception rooms and terraces. There is plenty of parking but, not having a car, we took the bus down to Piazza San Marco everyday, came back for spritz Campari on the terrace in the evening and ate their family cooking for dinner.

www.bencista.com

annhig

I stayed at a B&B in Florence which was just at the edge of the residents' only zone, so guests could drive to it and park nearby - here's the link to their location page:

http://www.residenzacasanuova.it/where_we_are.html

although not right in the centre, it was about 10 minutes walk to santa croce, and the same to the Duomo. a very nice area full of locals' shops and restaurants. The residenzia is extremely comfortable with a lovely terrace and the owners, Beatrice and Massamiliano, were exceedingly helpful and friendly.

bowds1122

Thanks so much for the responses with the accommodation links, I'll look into them tonight!

bfrac

It is Pensione Bencista in Fiesole. We stayed there a few years ago and enjoyed it very much. There is plenty of free parking and we opted to use the bus No. 7 into Florence. It was perhaps a 15 minute ride at the most.

francophiletasmania

Just to add support for Fiesole - beautiful area, bus is regular, quieter than Florence, good restaurants on bus route. Also historic - many of the Anglo-Florentines made their homes and glorious gardens here.