OReilly

Hello all:

I have decided to cancel my Madrid/Andalusia trip for late September, due to expected high temperatures (there was a previous thread) and instead consider Italy, which appears to have lower temperatures during that period.

I have prepared a preliminary schedule and would welcome your feedback. I will be using public transportation. I drove through Umbria once/twice, Tuscany several times, and spent most of that time driving through the countryside, and spent little time in the towns, so I now want more time to explore the towns.

Interests: History, Art and Architecture, exploring old towns. Good food and wine is a given.

Where I have been (fairly) recently in Italy and excluding or limiting time on this tip: Rome & Bologna October 2016, including side trips to Ravenna and Orvieto (excluding all). Florence Easter 2014, including side-trips to Arezzo, Fisole and Lucca (limited time in Florence, excluding Arezzo, Fisole, Lucca).

Here is my preliminary itinerary:
• Day 1: Friday: Early flight from London City Airport, landing in Venice at 11 am. Hotel in Venice
• Day 2: Saturday: Full day in Venice. Hotel in Venice
• Day 3: Sunday: Full day in Venice. Hotel in Venice
• Day 4: Monday: Full day in Venice. Hotel in Venice
• Day 5: Tuesday: Full day in Venice. Travel to Florence in evening. Hotel in Florence
• Day 6: Wednesday: Full day in Florence. Hotel in Florence
• Day 7: Thursday: Day trip to either Vollterra/Prato. Open to other suggestions. Hotel in Florence
• Day 8: Friday: Day trip to Siena. Hotel in Florence
• Day 9: Saturday: Full day in Florence. Travel to Perugia in evening. Hotel in Perugia
• Day 10: Sunday: Full day Perugia. Hotel in Perugia
• Day 11: Monday: Day trip to Spello, Hotel in Perugia
• Day 12: Tuesday: Day trip to Spoleto. Hotel in Perugia
• Day 13: Wednesday: Day trip Gubbio. Hotel in Perugia
• Day 14: Thursday: Day trip Pienza or Asissi. Hotel in Perugia
• Day 15: Friday: Full day Perugia or day trip to Todi. Travel to Florence in evening. Hotel in Florence
• Day 16: Saturday: Full day in Florence. Hotel in Florence
• Day 17: Sunday: Full day in Florence. Evening flight from Florence to London

This is very preliminary, and I am willing to take any suggestions on-board. For example, I am using Perugia as a base for exploring Umbrian towns – is this the best base and the best way to do it by public transportation? Can I combine a couple of towns in one day by public transportation? Am I prioritizing the towns correctly, or would you delete some and add others?

Many thanks in advance for your advice and guidance.

Kind regards … Ger

indyhiker

Honestly, I think it is SO much easier to see Umbria by car. I'm not sure you can travel by train to Gubbio or Todi from Perugia, so you're looking at travel by bus. Bus schedules in Umbria are not geared for tourist needs but instead mostly cater to students. So, bear that in mind. I'd definitely be looking up specific timetables before firming up your plans.

But if your intent on not renting a car, I do think you could probably combine Spello and Assisi. Assisi doesn't close down in the afternoon as thoroughly as some towns do, so I'd probably go to Spello in the morning and Assisi in the afternoon.

Full disclosure: We've stayed twice for a week at a time in Spello and found it an easy town to get in an out of with a car thanks to a public parking lot that was a short walk to our apartment (details of which I'd be happy to share). We picked the car up in Foligno; it's a short drive from there to Spello. We've done day trips to all of the places, minus Todi, that you're interested in seeing and they're all quite easy to do. A car would also allow you to see Montefalco and Bevagna--two gems in the area. Some people admittedly find Spello a bit too small and while I don't entirely disagree, it's central location and ease of getting in and out of town more than made up for that for us.

Just my two cents.

OReilly

indyhiker:

NOT driving is NOT a preference ... it is the LAW. I no longer have a valid driving licence. I let my Canadian driving licence lapse after moving to London five years ago, and have not taken the UK test. I am NOT allowed to drive in Europe

massimop

I'm not sure you can expect other people to dig through the train and bus schedules to tell you how to get around without a car in Umbria. But I admit you never know who is willing to spend their time doing that on social media!

Should no one show up to do those tasks for you, worth considering that Umbria is not set up for cultural sightseeing via public transportation. You might find it easier to look for private transporation (drivers, taxis, tours.)

If that doesn't work for you, if you say what kind of travel experiences of you are looking for by choosing Umbria maybe people can suggest a different area of Italy where you could have the same types of experiences in September without being behind the 8-ball for not renting a car.

OReilly

>I'm not sure you can expect other people to dig through the train and bus schedules to tell you how to get around without a car in Umbria. <

I am NOT asking anyone to do above. I am quite capable of doing this myself! I have been on this site far longer than you have!

You are VERY rude! Get off my thread please.

OReilly

Can we please ignore any comments from massimop. I think I do know who she is.

I would welcome any feedback on my schedule from other travelers.

I certainly do NOT expect you to research my train/bus itinerary, as I have already done that, which is how I developed what I originally posted.

I know I have some friends on this site who can vouch for me, and offer good advice.

Bests regards ... Ger

massimop

Nothing I said was rude but you are certainly free to ignore what I said. But I doubt you can instruct anyone else as to what to pay attention to on the internet -- just wait and see how many of them will now turn your thread into a thread about me! (Don't pretend you weren't inviting it!)

You've already been given good advice, in friendly fashion. Umbria without a car is dissatisfying and difficult for most travelers, but if the research you've done indicates to you that you'll be happy with the options you've seen, what more do you need?

tuscanlifeedit

Ger, I read your itinerary and thought "what a great trip!" I would love that trip.

I think you are doing the right thing by spreading out the daytrips in Umbria because of your need for public transportation. I like the idea of going slow. Of course you'll be faced with afternoon closings in these areas, but you can probably work it out. Taxis and drivers are also perhaps necessary here.

massimop has schooled me on Italy, too. Shake my head. If he/she is someone from another identity, then they ought to know who you and I are. I'm not getting a feeling other than that I thought it was zep for awhile.

OReilly

I have based my itinerary around others that have traveled through this area without a car.

Please note, what I said in above post, I DID drive through Umbria - I am now seeking to spend more time in the towns.

Please get off my thread! You are not helpful.

OReilly

tuscanlifeedit dearest, you KNOW my last response was clearly NOT meant for you

Thank you for your response.

Sand, zep and other names I think. So unfortunate, as I often received excellent advice from that person.

CausticDude

Public transport is not so bad there, sometimes can be delays though. Best option in case you can afford it is rent a car so this way you can combine easily seeing lots of near-by towns effectively

CausticDude

Public transport is not so bad there, sometimes can be delays though. Best option in case you can afford it is rent a car so this way you can combine easily seeing lots of near-by towns effectively

indyhiker

For the record, I had NO idea based on what you shared that you CAN'T drive. I thought you just preferred to try the trip via public transport. So forgive me for suggesting a car. But I do stand by the suggestion that you should dig into the train/bus timetables to see how doable your proposed day trips are, especially Gubbio and Todi.

tuscanlifeedit

OReilly, oh I know. No worries.

Thinking more about your trip, trains and buses can easily be supplemented with taxis. I have often found local drivers for the clients I had when I was working but going through hotels and tourist information offices.

Good luck.

zoecat

I spent a week based in Perugia visiting towns via public transportation and found it easy and quite satisfying. Gubbio and Todi were easily visited by bus. The other towns you mention are easily visited via train, with the exception of Pienza (requiring a train to Chiusi and then limited bus service). It can be done but I'd skip that trip.

zoecat

If the weather is nice you could also visit Lago Trasimeno and do a boat trip out to the island in the lake and walk the paths around the lake and through an olive grove.

Peter_S_Aus

For getting around from town to town, I have found the web site rome2rio.com gives sound info.

Leely2

If you are at all outdoorsy/like walking, you could sometimes plan to spend the dreaded pausa in parks, on trails, etc. Assisi has good walking, but of course there's enough in Assisi to keep you busy all day. Anyway, here is one, just an example:
http://www.mapmywalk.com/it/assisi-u...oute-117842897

I've stayed in Spello too. Go in the morning, see the sights, have lunch and head back to Perugia for the afternoon.

Bevagna is indeed interesting with some good restaurants. There was a festival happening when we visited, though, so that may have colored my impression. You could possibly taxi to/from Bevagna from Spello.

Leely2

Oops, sorry, I see you didn't include walking/outdoors activities in your list of interests. I guess I was projecting.

TDudette

I agree that Gubbio or Todi from Perugia required a bus. Check to see if they arrive at lunchtime when museums close. We had a great lunch in Gubbio but missed the big museum. In Todi, we also missed cathedral by arriving at lunchtime.