Some days ago saw a posting about driving<BR>Lucerne-Florence.I didn't keep a ttack but did anybody reply?<BR>Shall be grateful if any advice is given.

&lt;&lt;CAN WE AVOID MOUNTAIN PASSES?&gt;&gt;<BR><BR>Well, short answer, no - - but I don't seem to recall it being any big deal - - Luzern to Altdorf to Lugano to Menaggio to Como to Milan to Florence.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR><BR>

Alex,<BR><BR>The response to your question is--NO--you won't have to traverse any mountain passes if you use the route that Rex listed--as long as you take the 10 mile long St. Gotthard Tunnel, rather than going over the St. Gottahard Pass.

You're right - - that's why I don't remember it being any deal. Of course, you still drive up - - and down, but not a true mountain pass.<BR><BR>The descent into Menaggio is a lot of little hair pin turns, though - - but not at "mountain" altitudes.<BR>

topping<BR>

I feel extremly sheepish while correcting my original query.<BR>I meant TUNNELS and not passes.<BR>CAN WE AVOID TUNNELS?<BR>We have travelled by rail from Milan to Lucerne I can imagine how lovely the mountain scenery will be.But I have this phobia about tunnels!

The degree to which you can avoid tunnels depends on the time of year of your trip. If you travel between oh, say, early June and early September, most of the mountain passes should be open, such that you don't need to bypass them by using the tunnels.<BR><BR>If you're leaving Lucerne via the north of the lake, my map seems to indicate that you can avoid at least one major tunnel. But there are probably minor ones that you can't avoid altogether.

If you're traveling after the beginning of June you will be able to avoid the longest tunnels (Seelisberg and Gotthard) by traveling around the north side of the Lake through Schwyz on the A2 and then over the Gotthard Pass (follow the blue route signs for Gotthard). In fact I always prefer driving over the Gotthard Pass myself, it is a good road and very scenic, not at all scary to drive. Of course there will still be some minor tunnels that you absolutely cannot avoid. <BR><BR>As an additional note: if you plan on driving from Luzern to Interlaken over Brunig Pass there is another long tunnel that you'll want to avoid by exiting and driving though the town of Sachseln above it. Also note that the Passes are closed until around June.

Alex--If you drive south and down the Rhone valley to the Simplon Pass, then down toward Milan, you'll avoid all large tunnels. There might be a few small ones---the kind where you can usually see the far end as you enter. The Simplon is my favorite mountain pass for that reason -- maximum scenery, minimum tunnels. Once past Milan, don't take the coastal route toward Florence because it has a zillion tunnels. But I doubt there's any route to Florence that can assure you NO tunnels at all. Have a good trip.