T. Lund

How much time should we allow for a scenic drive to Orvieto and Civita? From ther we are headed to Chianti. We have a night to stay somewhere in between.What would be a good plan for those 2 days?

T.Lund

We are starting from Siena.

BOB THE NAVIGATOR

That is backwards--are you sure you want to do it this way? Do those places <BR>going or coming from Rome. It will take <BR>you all day from Siena.

T. Lund

Bob, WE are not seeing Rome this trip, But we wanted to see Orvieto and Civita, but also Chianti. Our Trip begins in Venice, on to Florence, Then Siena. What we are trying to decide is what to do with our 3 nights after Siena. Does this make sense??

Paulo

Where will you end this trip (flight back home?). How much time you figure you'll have between leaving Florence and arriving in Siena? <BR> <BR>The Chianti district is between Florence and Siena. The fast drive to Orvieto/Civita is about 2 hours from Siena. If you decide visiting, say, Montepulciano on your way, you could add some 2 more hours. Where to spend the night, may depend on your plans for the next day. <BR> <BR>Paulo <BR> <BR>

T. Lund

Paulo, I will give you our itinerary so far. Arrive in Venice, stay 2 nights- Train to Florence, stay 1 night-Car to Siena(stopping at San Gim.),stay 2 nights- 2 nights open(but wanting to see Pienza,Orvieto-Civita,and Cortona), nextnightinCastillina in /chianti- then on to 2 nights on the Cinque terre(B&B in Levanto)-last night in Pisa (flying out of Pisa next am.) We really want to see Orvieto- Civita but is this too much? The only days in question are the 2 between Siena and Chianti. Should we skip Civita , and spend another night in Chianti perhaps a night in Pienza or Cortona. Thanks for your advise as we have never been to Italy. Tina LUnd

Paulo

I can't say I like your 1 night stay in Florence, Tina ... Considering that you'll be arriving from Venice by train, if one add the check in time, etc., and then off to San G. the next day on one's way to Siena this results in way too short a stay in Florence. In your shoes, I would probably stay a 2nd night in Florence and 1 night in Orvieto. When driving from Siena to Orvieto I would visit Montepulciano or Pienza (or both). The next day I would short visit Civita and find my way to Castellina. <BR> <BR>The direct fast route from Orvieto to Castellina in Chianti would take only 2 hours or so (add some from Civita). You'd have time to visit some on your way, if you wish. <BR> <BR>Just to have an idea, the drive from Orvieto to Castellina via Assisi would take under 4 hours, which is perfectly "doable". If one considers Todi (very nice underrated little town) and Cortona instead, the driving time would also be unde 4 hours. <BR> <BR>Paulo <BR> <BR>

kam

Tina, Could you consider this instead? Venice to Florence, stay 2 nights as Paolo suggests. Then Florence to Arezzo, like Orvieto, a hilltown with some wonderful art and little restaurants--I think as charming as Orvieto and less touristy.Then to Cortona,staying one night in either of these two towns. Then on to Siena for 2 nights. Then via San Gimignano to Castellina or Greve or Radda in Chianti then up to the Cinque Terre. I think if you try to get all the way down to Orvieto you'll be rushed--it belongs on a trip to Rome in my mind or one to Umbria. Also, I don't have particular affection for Pienza but as Paolo also suggests, Montepulciano and Montalcino are both lovely wine/hill towns around Siena. Hope this helps. We've spent a lot of time in this area and like to do it rather slowly, not rushing around on the autostrade.

BOB THE NAVIGATOR

Tina, You have just gotten very good <BR>advise from 2 of the best. I like the <BR>itinerary that Kam suggests, and she <BR>knows Tuscany. There is so much to see <BR>that you need not waste a half day of <BR>deadhead time driving that far south. <BR>Buon viaggio !

Dayle

Kam, Bob, Paulo, Tina, may I chime in? I leave tomorrow for Italy and have mentioned before here that we are staying in Chianti 4 nights, then Orvieto 3 nights. From San Sano in Chianti we're anticipating SG, Volterra, Siena, wine tasting and general laziness. Then, hopefully doing some ceramic shopping on the way down to Orvieto. Would Montepulciano be pushing it? In Orvieto, seeing the town, Cita de Bagnoreggio and possibly Todi. We may get more ambitious depending....also changed our car drop plans to La Spezia rather than Orvieto to cut the travel time, but I'm concerned about how difficult it might be to find the Avis office there. From what I've read, Orvieto is small and would be easy. Would greatly appreciate your excellent advice. Tina, depending on when you are leaving, I'll post my trip report when I return after June 2. Grazie!

Gretchen

I have to chime in here because the more I read the more confused I become about what to do with my time in Tuscany. We have 2 nights Venice, 2 nights Florence, 3 nights somewhere south of Florence (Chianti? Siena?) to see other Tuscany towns, then up to Santa Margherita for 3 nights to see Cinque Terre, Portofina, Portovenere. For our 3 nights in Tuscany, thought 1 day driving around wine country between Florence and Siena, 1 day for San Gim & Volterra, then 1 day Montalcino and Montalpuciano. Will this work? Paulo? Kam? Bob? Would Siena be the best base? Is the fact that we'll have a hotel w/ no place to park a car a factor? What about Cianti (near Greve)? Are the roads near there too packed with tourists to make it difficult getting in and out for the day trips? If we stay near Greve, are Montalcino and Montalpuciano too far away? How long of a drive? Best route? Any thoughts? thanks!!!

Gretchen

I should have added to my earlier post that if we stayed in Chianti (Greve), as opposed to Siena, we would spend day 1 doing wine are of Chianti + San Gim (skippingi Volterra), then spend day 2 in Siena, day 3 in Montalcino and Montapulciano. It's either this or stay in Siena with day 1 Chianti, day 2 San Gim & Volterra, day 3 the 2 M's (and enjoying Siena in evenings/mornings).

Paulo

How much time are you willing to drive around on a single day, Gretchen? To visit both Montalcino and Montepulciano out from Greve and back you'd have to allow some 4 hours driving time. Out from Siena this would lower to 3 hours. Don't worry about roads being packed ... times listed above already take into account the likely traffic you'll find. You also shouldn't worry much about not having a hotel with garage/parking lot in Siena. You shouldn't have any problems finding places in parking lots in the late afternoon (Parking lots in Siena get crowded between 10:00am and 4:00 pm or so). One may easily visit both Volterra and San G. on a day trip (either out from Greve or Siena). <BR>Paulo <BR> <BR> <BR>

kam

Earlier I responded to a question about Locanda dell'Amorosa near the town of Sinalunga. This is a very good base for all of your chosen towns Siena, Montalcino, Montepulciano. San Gimignano etc. If it fits in your budget it would be ideal! Enjoy.

celeste

Just want to share our Tuscany trip which we took last week. We prepaid a 3-day rental from Hertz, pick-up from Florence and drove to San Gimignano (stayed the whole afternoon, ate at Gustavo (main street) and bought a local wine vernaccia (excellent)and got my blue and yellow lemon plate as souvenir. From San Gimignano we drove to Siena and based there for 3 nights. AM of first day, we went around Siena (had lunch at Osteria Loggia, another excellent lunch, the olive oil was to die for and forced the owner to sell a bottle to me); PM drove around Chianti. AM of 2nd day, drove to Assissi and passed by Montelpuciano and Montalcino (visited Fattoria Barbi, famous maker of brunnelo, bought a 1994 reserve and vino santo). AM 3rd day drove to Orvieto, the church is beautiful (we were awed even after seeing the cathedrals of Venice, Florence, Siena, San Gimignano, Saint Anthony, Saint Francis, etc.), returned car in Orvieto and took the ES train to Rome. I thought we covered a lot of places but not hectic in any way. Could be the sceneries helped us a lot to relax? I want to come back!!!!!!!!!

mary

Celeste, <BR>We are picking our car up from Hertz in Florence as well-- any tips was it ready on time etc.. What is the most scenic route from Florence to San G. and Siena- we are also basing our stay for three day in Siena --How far was it to Assisi??? <BR> any more suggestions?? <BR>Thanks <BR>Mary