Elizabeth_Antonia

i am pretty sure that we are going to rent a car in sorrento and drop it at the airport in rome. would love suggestions for quick lunch or afternoon stops between florence and rome. we are staying in florence for 3 nights but definitely want to get out into the countryside a bit. i have been to siena but was thinking of san gimignano - any other recs?

thank you!

mamcalice

San Gimignano is pretty close to Florence. You may also want a place further south like Orvieto.

qwovadis

www.orvieto-info.com

BEAUTIFUL little walled etruscan hill town with a funicular

an hour or so north of Roma makes an amazing stop

to/from Rome.

zeppole

Hi Elizabeth,

I've read your other posts and you really need to get your hands on a book like "10 Scenic Drives in Tuscany" or some such.

You would be going ridiculously out of your way between Rome and Florence to go to San Gimignano -- but more importantly, you have no idea where you will be during the Italian lunch hour.

The Italian lunch hour is fairly strict when it comes to getting served in restaurants. It is between 12:30 and 2pm. Most good restaurants are not right on the highway, and figuring out how you will get to one somebody here tosses out in time for lunch is -- sorry -- inane.

If you want to enjoy the freedom of a road trip in Italy, rent a car and enjoy the freedom. You'll find good food.

Don't tie yourself to recommendations you picked up from strangers on the Internet.

Buy some maps, food guides and other guides before you go and when you get to Italy. The country is overflowing with good food. Focus on what's important -- like where you are going to park that car.

(Believe me, you don't want to be trying to park it in San Gimignano and then haul up the hill just to eat. When you are traveling through the countryside, and it gets to be 11:30 or noon, look for white signs that have a knife and fork on them, and follow the signs. You'll find a restaurant.)

bobthenavigator

Orvieto !

Elizabeth_Antonia

zeppole - i hear what you are saying and will definitely look into a book on drives in tuscany. i am not looking for lunch recs per se, just towns that are charming with maybe a nice, quiet piazza during our slow drive back. yes, the reason we are renting is we want that freedom but it also helps to get tips from other travelers and cross reference them with anything else i might end up reading about in a book. would anyone recommend stopping at lago di bolsena if i end up in orvieto?

jnjfraz

I disagree with Zeppole, as I think that with your own research and then asking people, you become more informed.

With that being said, if you are willing to have a bit of a longer drive from Rome to Florence, then get off of A1 at Orvieto and take the S2. You will pass by Pienza, Montalcino, Siena and many more beautiful villages.

Orvieto is wonderful but I don't know any places for lunch.

Here are a couple that are further north, and as Zeppole mentioned lunch is never before 12:30 and you can safely go to a restaurant as late as 2:00.

PIENZA is a beautiful village and Trattoria Latte di Luna is a great place to eat. Closed Tuesday Make a reservation or go early or late! www.portalepienza.it

MONTICCHIELLO: La Porta: Charming little village, good food, sit on balcony. www.osterialaporta.it

MONTALCINO : La Fiascheterria for a glass; Risto di Macchia, Via Saloni 21. Non touristy wonderful food Closed Thursday

Michael

Something does not compute. If I understand the OP, the car will be rented in Sorrento, i.e. south of Naples, to then drive to Florence? Park the car in Florence for three days? and then back to Rome? Wouldn't it make more sense to take the train to Florence and rent a car for a couple of days between Florence and Rome?

Elizabeth_Antonia

i will have parking in florence and will most likely take a trip out of the city one of the days - it would just be a way to see the countryside/explore on the way to florence, while in florence (not driving in the city proper) and on the way back to rome. thank you jnjfraz!