I am planning a trip to Italy in January, 2007. I am considering buying an open jaw ticket flying into Venice and return back to the states from Rome (with a stop in Florence). I am considering renting a car for the trip between Venice and Rome. Does anyone have suggestions or advice about driving conditions and places to avoid due to weather concerns. I am thinking about visiting Assisi or Sienna among other towns.

There are weather websites that will give you specifics so I will confine myself to a personal perspective. Though we have moved back to North America now. we did live in Italy until recently and traveled frequently in the car in winter. Your travels will take you to the more northerly parts of Italy and there is some snow there in January, especially on the hills, like Assisi. It is not as deep or as long-lasting as Vermont, for example, but the sleety, slushy kind that makes driving less than easy.

Don't despair: Italian roads are well tended and you may not experience any snow at all (do bring a warm raincoat) and you will have the advantage of seeing beyond the hordes of tourists. Florence, especially is charming in the winter: I think the store-owners and restauranteurs are much kinder to travelers there in the off-season.

Hi susan,

Welcome to the board.

How long do you expect to take to travel between Venice and Rome?

Haven't been in Italy in the winter so can't address that issue but perhaps you could take a train from Venice to Florence and renting a car when you leave to go to Rome. I do remember driving in some hilly areas and remember the older Italian cities tended to be built on the top of a hill for defensive purposes. Is this your first trip to Italy?

I suggest you heed LJ's comments; they are all valid. My personal experience is that driving in Italy in winter is generally easier than driving in the American midwest in winter, but conditions can occasionally be a bit dicey (and icy). If you have ever driven in winter in the colder parts of the U.S., you'll have no problem in Italy. I wouldn't recommend trying to get snow chains installed on your tires because it shouldn't be that bad -- at least not for long.

I'm going to contradict the OPs and suggest that you stick to the trains at that time of year, especially if, as i suspect, it will be your first time in Italy. That time of year, you will probably not want to spend much time out in the countryside even if the weather is ok, and you can get to most of the places you are likely to want to see like assisi and Siena easily by train.
Leave the car to another time when you can travel in the spring /autumn, you have done the big three, and have the time to explore at leisure, without having to worry about getting stuck in the snow!
good luck!