mph12

Hello, we are a family of four and will be traveling from Florence to Rome, in July, and I thought that instead of taking a train directly to Rome; it might be fun to rent a car and stop in Orvieto for the day and drop off the car at the Termini station. Is this worth doing or are we better off planning a day trip by train to Orvietto once we get to Rome? Thanks so much!

Ann1

I would stop on the way to Rome. If you want to travel around you can rent a car, otherwise just take the train. A car in the city of Orvieto is useless. You have to park at the bottom of the hill and take the funicular up to the town. Then either walk or take the bus to your hotel. If you want to stop other places, then rent a car.

bobthenavigator

Not a good idea!
The car will expensive for one day
You will have your bags
You do not want to drive into Rome to drop the car

Ann1

@ Bob: No offense, but driving into Rome to drop off the car isn't that terrible IF they want to make other stops. It all depends on that. No other stops....definitely train.

annhig

Hi mph,

there's a train from Florence at 9.09 am arriving at Orvieto at 11.22, and frequent trains from Orvieto to Rome later in the day. you could see the Cathedral [the front alone is worth the trip] lave a nice lunch, wander around the city a bit [there's a good view from the top of the clock-tower] and then be in Rome in time for a late cup of tea of early spritz.

annhig

oops - see www.trenitalia.it

mph12

Thank you all! I appreciate the advice. Sounds like taking the train is the best option as we only want to do one stop. Annhig, that's exactly what I had in mind.

annhig

Annhig, that's exactly what I had in mind.>>

great, mph - I'm pleased. it's just what we did and we had a great day, albeit we did it as a day trip from Rome when we were spending a week there.

how much time do you have to Florence and Rome?

mph12

Annhig, just the day. We're in Florence from Sunday a.m. - Wed, Thurs would be the day for Orvieto, and then we'll be in Rome until the following Tues. and from there we fly down south for a week stay. It's been 12 years since I last visted Italy... any itinerary advice/recommendations you may have for Rome would be greatly appreciated. We rented an apartment in Piazza Novona.

Jean

But what will you do with your luggage while you explore Orvieto? There is no luggage storage at the Orvieto train station.

At one time, Hotel Picchio (near the train station) offered to hold luggage for day-trippers, but you'd have to contact them to see if that's still possible.

tedgale

Driving out of Florence is the end of many longstanding relationships and the starting point of many divorces.

You'll have to trust me on this.

Nice thing about the train station in Orvieto is that you cross the road, take the funicular to the upper town and you find the city bus to the Duomo area awaiting you on your arrival. A single ticket covers both means of transport.

kybourbon

Unless you get a decent size car, four people's luggage (even if everyone has a small suitcase) won't fit in many rentals.

Taking the train also creates a luggage problem. I suggest you spend at night in Orvieto.

Dayle

Orvieto is a lovely and unique town. We spent 3 nts at Palazzo Piccolomini (doing day trips by car) and really enjoyed the evenings in town. There is much more to see than just the duomo. We especially liked the underground tour, all the interesting shops and art galleries, great restaurants, the Etruscan museum and the excavations just below town.

DO spend the night!

Jean

We also stayed at Palazzo Piccolomini and would recommend it.

annhig

ok, I found this very useful site setting out the facilities at main Italian railway stations:

http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...003f16f90aRCRD

unfortunately it shows that there is no left luggage dept at Orvieto.

so here's the link for the hotel Piccholi mentioned above. One of the services shown on the home page is "depositi babagli" but whether that's for residents only it doesn't say.

may be worth an e-mail?

I've not stayed in Orvieto, but there's certainly enough there to see for an afternoon and evening, if you did decide to stay overnight.

as for things to do in Florence and Rome, I'd love to help, [as i'm sure that everyone else here would too] but suggest that you search for some of the recent threads about both for ideas and then come back with specific questions, which are easier to answer than general enquires.

kybourbon

>>>ok, I found this very useful site setting out the facilities at main Italian railway stations:<<<

Useful, but not always accurate. It used to say there was storage in Orvieto when there wasn't. Currently it says there is storage in Assisi, but it closed a couple of years ago.

mph12

Thank you all for your thoughtful responses... most helpful. We will review our itinerary. I am so glad I posted! Thanks again!