blissc

What is the best way to get from Florence to San Quirico? Tentatively scheduled to fly from Palermo to Rome, Rome to Florence,and drive from Florence to San Quirico.

How difficult is it to get a car and get on the road out of Florence on a Monday afternoon. Car rental is included in our hotel cost and can be picked up anywhere. Any suggestions or comments?

J62

There are basically 2 ways to drive from Florence to San Quirco.

1. Through Siena - this is a highway from Florence to Siena, then more local rd the rest of the way. The local rd is fine and moves quickly, and you pass through or near several towns along the way

2. Autostrada (toll rd) to Valdichiana/Sinalunga exit, then slower local rd through Pienza.

The latter may be slightly faster, the former more scenic.

6 of 1, 1/2 dozen of another as you'll get lots of Tuscan countryside scenery in/around San Quirco.

Are you stopping in Rome or simply transiting through the airport? If stopping, it makes no sense to fly from Rome to Florence. The train will be far quicker. Since you'd need to get to Rome airport, check-in ahead of time, then wait for departure, you'll be in Florence on the 90min train ride before your flight even leaves the gate in Rome.

bobthenavigator

Why Florence--drive from Rome. S.Q is 2 hours south of Florence and almost midway to Rome.

blissc

We will visit Rome and then attend a wedding in Palermo the previous 10 days. Wanted to see some of Tuscany before heading for Venice and then home. San Quirico looked like it might make a base for exploring. Would that be practical? Hotel deal available includes picking up a car anywhere in Italy. Sounds like we should get a car somewhere after flying to Rome--or would it be better to get from Palermo via another route?

Thank you for the help --

bobthenavigator

San Quirico is a wonderful base location, but I would get the car in Rome at FCO and drive there.

J62

I'm not sure I follow your itinerary 100%, but it sounds like you plan to do this

1. Fly into Rome
2. Visit Rome
3. Fly to Palermo
4. Travel to San Quirco (via Rome, then Florence)
5. Travel to Venice

If you have no intention of spending time in either Rome or Florence between Palermo and San Quirco, then simply rent your car at the Rome airport when you fly from Palermo.

If you want to visit Florence before going to Venice I would pick up car at Rome airport, use car in Tuscany, drop off car in Florence, then train from Florence to Venice. You don't want to have a car when you're staying in Florence, and you definitely won't need one in Venice. If you're not going to Venice, then I would drive from San Quirco into Venice and drop off the car there.

blissc

How long a drive from Rome airport to S.Q.?

Is it possible to get transportation from airport to location halfway to S.Q. and pick up the car there.

Thank you for all the generous help.
You are becoming my security blanket in making my plans.

bobthenavigator

It is almost a 3 hour drive from FCO to SQ. You could train to Orvieto or Chiusi but why? That means a train to Termini and then another train--too much hassle. The drive can be pretty via A-12, Viterbo, and S-2 to SQ.

blissc

Driving does seem to make the most sense. Thanks.