Fridaygirl2015

After leaving Rome, we are spending 2 nights in Spoleto and then 2 in Sienna. If we leave Rome by train, where would be the best place to rent a car? Terni? Then drive to Spoleto?

annhig

lots of people recommend Orvieto as a good place to pick up or drop off a hire car, but in this case, Terni may be better - though the train journey is slightly longer, it's much closer to your end destination.

have you checked the train time tables for the day of the week [if not the actual date] that you will be travelling?and do you know what car hire companies operate from Terni? Where the car hire co offices are?

All these things contribute to whether it's good place to hire from or not.

Jean

Did you want to make stops along the way?

There are Hertz offices a few blocks from the train station in both Terni and Spoleto. Both locations are closed 1:00p-4:00p, Saturday afternoons and all day Sundays, so you need to coordinate the train arrival with the office hours.

Orvieto is also easy and the town is worth a couple hours of exploring, but it's in a different direction. However, the backroads drive from Orvieto to Spoleto (SS448-E45-SS418) is really nice and would take about 90 minutes. If you want to see Orvieto, rent the car first to hold your luggage while you walk around.

bvlenci

Rental agencies in Orvieto have similar limited hours.

Fridaygirl2015

Thanks for this good information, especially about the offices closure times. We definitely want to make stops along the way. This sounds like a great plan to train to Orvieto then take the back roads to Spoleto.

bobthenavigator

The Hertz office in Orvieto is very near the stazione and most convenient.

Jean

If you decide on Orvieto and the backroads route to Spoleto, you'll be passing Todi. Depending on your timing, you might want to stop there for a quick look around. Coming from Orvieto, exit SS448 at SS79/Pontecuti (there will be a sign indicating to Todi as well), after about 3 miles look for the "P" for parking sign and turn left on Viale di Montesanto. There is a funicular connecting the parking lot and the town. When you leave Todi, continue on Viale di Montesanto and it will take you to E45.

If you think you need to decide between Orvieto and Todi, I'd pick Orvieto.

Dayle

Give as much time as possible to Orvieto. There is much to see. Still one of my favorites in Italy!

annhig

I don't disagree with Dayle, but if you only have time for one thing in Orvieto, do go and see the Cathedral. the front alone is a top "must see" sight - so beautiful.

to get there, take the funicular and then the bus up to the centre and get off ...at the Cathedral.

bvlenci

If you collect your car in Orvieto, and also want to visit the town, be sure to pick up the car in the morning. Load your bags into the trunk, and head to a parking lot. There is no left-luggage facility at Orvieto station, so you'd have no place to leave your luggage while visiting the town. If you go too late, you may hit the long lunch break.

In Orvieto, I also suggest the Pozzo do San Patrizio (Well of St. Patick), although it's not on the scale of the duomo, which is surely one of the most beautiful cathedrals in Italy, a rare example of Italian Gothic style. (The Duomo of Milan is Gothic, but a more northern Gothic style.)

The Pozzo di San Patrizio has a double helix stair, with wide, shallow steps, going down to the bottom and up again. It was designed so that mules (for hauling water) could go down to the bottom, and back up again, without being distracted by mules going in the other direction.

Todi is also a beautiful town, but I don't know if you'd have time for both in one day.

Fridaygirl2015

Thank you all for your input.