I will be visiting Italy with my wife for the last 10 days of June, 2010.

We've been to Italy several times but this trip will be different as we'll be staying in Florence for the full 10 days and doing day trips for about 6 days (one or two overnights).

We will be travelling almost exclusively by train. Even buses will be few in frequency and length.

While I have ideas for the major day trips, I'm trying to plan one or two second tier (bad description) day trips that are close to Florence to be used should the need arise.

Is the combination of the towns of Empoli, Castel Fiorentino and Certaldo of interest?

We're interested in scenery and walking thru towns to see the outdoor sights.

What I have planned so far:
Arezzo/Cortona
Lucca (with a short stop in Pisa). On to Cinque Terre in the evening for the next day
San Gimignano and possibly sleep over in Siena for the next day
Prato (visit Poggio a Caiano)/Pistoia with a stop in Castello to see Villa Castello gardens and Villa La Petraia (maybe even Villa Corsini located between the last two if it's open)

Any other ideas?

Thanks.

You can't get to San Gimignano by train. You need to take a bus from Poggibonsi.

And bus is also better traveling from Siena to Florence or vice versa. The bus arrives in the center of Siena whereas the train arrives outside the walls, and you need to take a taxi to the historic center. A night in Siena is like being transported back the the middle ages, a nice experience.

You could spend half a day going up to Fiesole from Florence, also by bus. Maybe watch the sunset from there.

It's not that I don't like the train (au contraire). It's just that sometimes a bus is better. And generally buses in Europe are very modern and comfortable. Are you buying train passes?

Mimar,

Fiesole is on my list as more of a mid-afternoon to early evening sight from Florence rather than being considered a day trip.

I realize that the Siena train station is somewhat inconvenient, but that's life.

I also realize that to get to San Gimignano a bus ride is required from Poggibonsi. But that is much shorter than from Florence though more inconvenient.

Thanks.

I think I can add Montelupo Fiorentino to the trio of towns that I listed above.

Anybody spend any time in these?

Bologna is only about 45 minutes away by fast train. We've spent a leisurely day there from Florence, including a great lunch and dinner before heading back.

Montecatini Terme is also less than an hour from Florence, and I remember that the fare was incredibly cheap because it was a regional train. MT is a Belle Epoque-era thermal spa town, now a popular for outdoor activities like swimming, tennis, golf, etc. (I might not go there on a weekend in June because of its popularity.) Pretty parks and gardens and, of course, the beautiful spas. There is a small art museum and a funicular that goes up (10 minutes or so) to the fortified town of Montecatini Alto for lovely views and a quieter atmosphere. We did this as a last-minute day trip from Florence and were pleasantly surprised with the variety of things to see and do there.

Jean,

Montecatini looks interesting and could fit at the end of Prato/Pistoia.

I'll keep it in mind.

Thanks.

You can take the train from florence to siena. The train station is about a 15-20 minute walk into the centre of town, or across the street from the train station, you can catch a city bus into the center of town. quite simple.

Myer, I forgot to add that MT was a nice contrast (some would say relief) from the dark, heavy architecture of Florence.

leuk2,
Thanks. yes, i know the train to Siena stops outside of the actual town but it's not an issue getting there.

Jean,
Thanks. It's difficult to tell how fast or slow the day to Prato/Pistoia will go. It starts off with a stop in castello for some Medici villas and I'd also like to see Poggio a Caiano near Prato.

I'll research whether I should stop in Pistoia or go straight to MT if time gets tight.

Thanks again.

I think Certaldo is a nice day trip, Vinci also. You can even spend a half day visiting Certosa which is very close to Florence. The centers of Prato and Pistoia are very interesting and on the train lines.

So why are you wedded to the train when the bus is more convenient?

Mimar,

My wife suffers from motion sickness and buses are a problem. Not trains.

Myer, so does my husband. I'll be interested to read your trip report on your excursions by train.

Jean,

It will be interesting to see how the train day trips work out. All of our previous European trips have been on trains.

We have been on short bus rides that work out fine such as the end of the ride from Madrid to Toldeo during the train construction. However, the Amalfi bus ride from Sorrento to Positano didn't.

I can see a few bus rides such as from Poggibonsi to San Gimignano and Florence to Fiesole.

VIA train you can see a few of the towns you mentioned but some of the most beautiful tuscan towns are just not accesible via train. The very easiest way get to any Tuscan town (and in many places the only way to get to these towns) is via bus and I would incourage you to use the bus or hire a car for a day. Your hotel should be able to hire an inexpensive car for the day and you will see so much more. You can also contact this woman as she is pretty reasonable and can take you where you want to go.... http://www.monikairis.com.

You mention that your wife becomes ill on the bus, but the ride you mention is on the Amalfi coast. I never, never become ill in a vehicle and I almost lost it on that road. We have spend years on all the roads in Tuscany and there is not one road that remotely compares to the Amalfi coast road that you mention. (other than the road to Volterra which is quite windy).

In my mind the most beautiful places in central Tuscany are:

Siena: absolutly a must see and if you can stay a night within the wall and walk around it is even better

A day loop through Greve, Radda and Castellina.

Fiesole is great for an afternoon

Cortona is great

Certaldo Alto is charming but the lower village is just okay

Bologna or Modena are a good day trip via train

Again via train Lucca is just wonderful.

I would still consider a driver for some of the tuscany area as the country is so much more accessable with an automobile or via bus.

If you are foodies, I have a wonderful list of places to eat and beautiful drives in this part of the world, just email me.

Jeannie
vinorossoidaho.com
[email protected]

My impressions of Empoli -- which I have only passed through -- it is that is a poor town with lots of immigrant farm workers. I could be wrong, but that has been my impression.

My recollection of driving the road to San Gimignano was that it was very winding.

Have a great time in Pistoia! I enjoyed lingering there, far, far from the tourist crush. It has quite a variety of delights.

Also, if you've never seen Ravenna, check out the possibility of heading there via train. It might be too long a train ride (I've never thought of it as a day trip from Firenze), but you can actually see the stunning mosaics in a single afternoon. The town is quite compact and flat. If you go, try to include sticking your head into the church of San Francisco and look under the altar (it will cost you a euro to turn on the lights).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDkPUw7g2k0

jnj, stepsbeyond,

Thanks for responses.

No we're not foodies. We eat meals but food is not an important part of the trip.

It's interesting that some people keep insisting that without a bus/car there's no way to see Tuscan towns while others understand the issue and come up with good ideas.

Thanks and keep them coming.

Will you not consider renting a car? That would add so many other possibilities.

If Leuk2 can walk from Siena station to the town centre in 20 minutes, they are significantly fitter and faster than I am. It is a reasonable trek, and all uphill. The buses to the centre from the station take about 5 minutes, and can be caught on the opposite side of the main road from the station itself.

I too almost got sick on the bus ride along the Amalfi coast. (Why did I want that seat on the sea side of the bus?) And that's the only time a bus has bothered me -- though I can't read on a bus and I can on a train.

So the bus along the Amalfi coast is the absolute worst sick-making ride.

A car isn't good if you're based in Florence as Myer plans. Unless you stay on the outskirts of Florence. The Centro Storico, where all the main sights are, has one-way streets and ZTL's, zones where only the locals can drive.

Myer, your planning is very good. You're finding lots to do by train. You could consider spending 2 or 3 nights away from Florence and renting a car for that part of your trip. Maybe get your wife to drive on the curvier roads.