Planning to drive from Florence to Salerno and have some small towns we want to see along the way. We have 3-4 nights to spend -thinking maybe 2 in Orvieto. 3 questions:
Where would be an easy/convenient place in Florence to pick up the car (we will be returning it in Salerno)?
Also suggestions for a route or places to visit along the way would be great!!
We'll have a GPS but what's your favorite map (I prefer them 
?
Two of us going in August. Thanks!!
Driving From Florence to Salerno?
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The general concensus is that you pick up the car at the airport, especially if you want to rent an automatic.
The Italian Automobile Club maps are excellent.
Use Kemwel or Autoeurope for a base price rental. You might find something cheaper, but check for the agency's reviews.
Definitely, airport. We rented from Autoeurope and opted to pick up the car at one of their central Florence locations, which was close to our apartment. We didn't understand the traffic signs or restricted areas, and the GPS was confusing at best ... I still have the scars inside my head from getting out of the center of town! (Once you're out of Florence, it's fine.)
Thank you for your responses! Any suggestions for places to visit or stay a night or two?
Will you have already explored any of Tuscany? Seen Siena?
Depending on your answer, I might choose to spend two nights in southern Tuscany (Pienza, San Quirico) and then stop at Orvieto for a few hours on the way to the next stop. Tivoli, perhaps? Or Lake Albano? Caserta? Really, it depends on your interests, how many hotel changes you want to make, etc.
If you want a scenic drive and not in a hurry, I would take the 222 leaving Florence (unless you are visiting Chianti earlier) and when you get to Siena head towards Pienza (34?) then in the direction of Montepulciano onto Orvieto. Perhaps stop in Pienza for lunch.
Jean, We plan to do a day trip to Siena from Florence. What is making this a bit challenging for me is that my daughter and I really want to see where my grandparents emigrated from (Acquapendente-Lazio, near Lake Bolsena and Sant' Angelo dei Lombardi & Rocca San Felice -Avellino Province, Campania)along the way. Lots of great ideas for the first part of the drive in Tuscany but now I'm trying to break up the drive after Acquapendente. Maybe it won't be necessary? kybourbon, your scenic drive sounds lovely!
If you want to stick to secondary roads (slower and usually more scenic than main roads), then just plug in your route on maps.google.com and pick the options "no highways, no tolls." You'll see a journey that is estimated to take about 12 hours.
If you want to hit the highway only between Orvieto and Sant'Angelo dei Lombardi, then it would be about 4 hours from the Florence airport to Orvieto and about 4 hours from Orvieto to Sant'Angelo. Lastly, about 2 hours from Sant'Angelo to Rocca San Felice to Salerno.
Obviously, stops for meals, comfort and sightseeing could double the times of each segment. It's your call as to how much driving you want to do (versus sightseeing) every day.