louanne

We are planning a trip to Umbria/Tuscany in the fall. What can you tell us about the roads, driving conditions, etc... Car rental easy, cheap? Any advice, suggestions most welcome. Thanks, Louanne

zeppole

Which part of Umbria?

The part most people go to in order to visit Assisi, Spoleto, Montefalco, Bevagna, Spello, is actually easier than most places in Italy to navigate. There is a big modern highway that circles the valley floor. About the only thing you shouldn't do is drive into Perugia, unless you have a kind of zen personality. Take public transportation in. If you want to see Perugia (I love the city, but it is definintely a city), it's a good idea to spend a night or more there.

Other parts of Umbria can be hilly, remote, really the hinterlands. Roads can be challenging if you go up in the mountains, or slow if you get stuck behind farm vehicles. Parking in all the historic towns in Umbria is at a premium, although many places have huge parking lots right outside the city walls.

You shouldn't have trouble finding a rental. Whether or not you consider it cheap (do you drive stick? what size do you need) or can afford gas these days, I don't know!

If I were planning a trip to Umbria that wasn't centered on Perugia, I would want a car.

RJD

For what it's worth, I agree with zeppole especially on the notion of difficult hill towns. I have cursed driving in Gubbio and fretted navigating Todi. And Perugia is a challenge, but a car really is desirable despite the obstacles for the convenience and flexibility it offers, even in my limited experience in the lower part of Perugia. If you want to go the the old town park and take the escalator to the top of town.

DAX

I agree with zeppole, I think Umbria roads are less crowded and easier to drive. Although Perugia was more congested than the rest of Umbria, we didn't have any major problem at all. We simply drove into the underground parking lot in the city center and left the car there. We also enjoyed the drive around Lake Tresimene even though it wasn't a major tourist destination.

Tuscanson

Driving in Umbria is easy as others say. No need to overnight in Perugia. Easy driving to and from.
6 months ago Perugia's modern mini rail opened. Park at the bottom of this hill town at or near the train station and take the mini rail to the top of the hilltown for 1 euro. Easy and fun.

zeppole

"No need to overnight in Perugia."

To clarify, I didn't suggest overnighing in Perugia because of traffic. I suggested overnighting in Perugia -- or more -- because it has unique and extraordinary history, architecture, and art, and contemporary culture. There is no other place quite like it.

Even if one drives in, one should take the escaltor, and especially one should explore the summit of the town and the Corso Vanucci, where all the major monuments and cafes are located.

dreamer320

We rented a car at the end of our Rome stay and spent a week based in Spoleto in April, and drove to Assisi, Trevi, Norcia, the Piano Grande, Montalcino, Bevagna, Todi, Deruta, Orvieto and Civita di Bagnoregio (not Umbria, I realize). Driving was a piece of cake, and was actually often easier than driving in the US.

The worst was the drive from Norcia to Piano Grande, and only because of the many, many motorcycles that came from nowhere and zipped around the curves. Otherwise, the drive was no worse than driving in the Blue Ridge or Adirondacks.

Road signs were plentiful; just be sure you know the names of towns along your route and beyond. We never got lost except for in towns, getting around in the countryside was easy.

We rented from Kemwel, and had the Mercedes hood emblem ripped off at some point - I was afraid we'd have problems because of it, but didn't.

zeppole

What many people find disturbing about driving from Norcia to Piano Grande is the astonishingly long tunnel near Forca Canapine. The very long dark tunnel is broken by regular bursts of artifical lighting, producing an almost hallucinatory effect on the driver after a kilometer or so, especially since you are traveling fast.

Also, for many parts of the year, the high mountains that mark the border of Umbria and Le Marche, including the road up to the spectacular Piano Grande, can be foggy or socked in with clouds, so some caution is in order. The road can be slick.

However, it is one of the spectacular sights of Europe, especially in late spring.

bon_voyage

We rented a house outside Todi and took day trips to Orvieto, Perugia, and Spello/Assisi/Montefalco. Driving in Umbria is easy (certainly way easier than Southern California where we are from), and you typically have your choice of the straight, quick highway or the more scenic but slower country roads. Sharp-eyed navigators will help you get stress-free to the parking lots outside Perugia and Orvieto.

mermaid_

We criss-crossed Umbria in a small car and didn't have any trouble on either the highways or the mountain roads. The only advice that I can give you that hasn't already been offered is to be sure of what kind of gas your rental car takes, whether it's diesel or unleaded, and learn the Italian terms so you don't mistakenly put the wrong stuff in your tank. Don't laugh; it's happened more times than you think (though luckily not to us).

Truax

I've actually done a lot of driving solo in Umbria, and I think it's one of the easiest foreign places I've explored by car. Depending on where you live, the highway that traverses the Umbra Valley floor might not feel very big, and it's very easy to get around Umbria almost entirely on secondary roads.

I especially enjoyed the road between Spoleto and Aquasparta (on the way to Todi) and the many small roads that criss-cross the hills north of Spoleto (to Massa Martana, Bastardo, Montefalco, Madonna della Stella, Bevagna, etc.). I loved Gubbio.

Good maps are highly recommended, and I really like the ones included in the Italian Touring Club's guide for Umbria. There are town maps for probably every town you'd want to visit, and parking lots are clearly marked. The guide also includes suggested driving routes, historical and tourist sights, recommended hotels and restaurants.

zeppole

By the way, this is one of nicest pictorial overviews of Perugia I've ever seen on the web, although it shows nothing of the richness of the painting in Perugia, or its wonderful restaurants:

http://www.aboutromania.com/perugia.html

anna_h

We are in Umbria at the moment - staying in Spoleto.
Driving is very easy, although some of the road surfaces are a bit poor. Nothing to worry about though.
We bought a Western Europe Tom Tom from the UK before we left and it has proved a godsend for negotiating all the little villages. It can direct you straight to a car park, the tourist office, a monument, or a hotel. It cost about £110.